Modified Sept 10th 2014:
BUMP! If you've read this thread before go to the next page for the update ...
Why do I do it? Every time someone on here says "give 'em another chance" I do it at least once and I always regret it. Here's the latest.
When I was trad over ten years ago I was approached by Mrs N**gia who asked me to do her windows and we agreed to every other month. All went well, through change to wfp and everything until Mr N**gia retired and for some reason payment became patchy and long winded until in 2006 I hand delivered a letter saying payment was overdue two cleans.
Payment arrived and all was ok until 2008 when similar happened and I ended up getting paid - with a post it note saying please leave until further notice which I did.
In 2012 Mrs N comes over and asks if I am doing her windows (we obviously all look the same) and I say no because she changed. She apologises and says it was her husband looking for a cheaper deal but that the new windy is unreliable but she'll stick with it.
In January this year Mrs N comes over again says will I start again and she's sorry but Mr N changed window cleaners without her knowledge but she wants me back as the other window cleaner was unreliable and has "disappeared". (I know I know!)
I spell out that it must be every 8 weeks, paid on time, no doorstep cancellations and she agrees and apologises for her husband and so in February I charge her £45 first clean on a £35 job.
So I tip up today, 8 weeks to the day and her son comes to the door and this is how it goes.
N junior: "not today thanks"
Me: "is Mrs N in?"
N junior: "no, but my dad is - DAD! can you come and talk?"
N senior: (from within with asian accent) "we don't want them doing today"
N junior: (parroting dad) "we don't want them doing today"
Me: "can I speak to your father please?"
Me: (at Dan who is coming in the gate with pole no.2) "hang fire Dan, we're getting a case of de ja vu coming on here"
N senior: "we don't want them doing we're quite busy today"
Me: (levelly) "ah, you obviously haven't been apprised of Mrs N's instructions to me ..."
N senior: "she's away on holiday"
Me: "let me explain ... Mrs N asked me to clean last time and told me that you changed window cleaner from me without her knowing and now that window cleaner is unreliable and hasn't turned up and she would like me back (breathe) and so I explained to her that I would, on the basis that I wouldn't be turned away and that I would call every 8 weeks and clean the windows."
N senior: "I don't know anything about that, she's on holiday and so you'll have to call back again when she's back."
Me: (sighing audibly) "Obviously I'm not making myself clear so I'll run through it again for you ... a few years ago you changed window cleaners, not long back that window cleaner stopped coming (musingly and rhetorically) I wonder why? ... Anyway this is now the second time you are trying to do this to me and so you can tell Mrs N I won't be back to clean your windows ... ever!"
(Then I do a flounce that would make John Inman proud and march off down the path)
N senior chasing after me: (Light dawning that he is gonna be in trouble when Mrs N returns) "You can do them, you can do them, I didn't realise, I didn't know, she didn't tell me."
Me: (Reeling away my hose) "Well it seems you have a communication problem in your marriage doesn't it?"
N senior: "Why didn't you contact me first?"
Me: "Because I agreed with Mrs N that I would call every 8 weeks to clean your windows and here I was, on time as reliable as clockwork like she always wanted."
N senior: "Well you can do them, but she is away on holiday."
Me: "I don't blame her; good day!"
N senior: "There's no need to be rude! Now will you clean them?"
Me: "No, never."
N senior; "don't go, come and do the windows."
Me: "No sir; good bye!"
And that was that ...
Dan the Man tells me I was unprofessional (true) but I have decided that if Mrs N asks me back then she can pay me six cleans up front or find yet another windy.