[Richy L]

I have been cleaning this flat for about 7 - 8 months, and he owes me for three cleans, its only a total of £15 for the three times, as it is only a small flat.

However, everytime I go to collect the money from him he says to call around tomorrow!
 I called there today, and after ringing the doorbell, he didnt answer, as i walked away, he popped his head up behind the window, I saw him so I knocked the door a few more times, but he wouldnt answer the door!!!!!

This isnt the first time hes done it either! I know its not a lot of money, but its the principle! Any suggestions on what to do?!

[ian m]

I suppose the short answer is dump him.

Don't clean his windows again but try calling a few more times, keep it friendly, no threats, dont give him any reason to bad mouth you to others.

Ask him to send on a cheque / postal order, keep on nagging him till he coughs up.

I think we all have had experiences like this.

Even if he does pay up this time chances are you'll find yourself chasing after him in the future.

So whatever happens  might be a good idea to dump him.


Ian

[Richy L]

Cheers ian,
I'm goin to dump him anyway, but i just cant seem to get him to pay.

[David 'Duck' Clare]

I feel for you - i had this bloke that owed me a tenner, i went round every night for 2 weeks and he turned light off when i knocked on the door etc...

But last week i turned up banged on door and this customers lodger poked his head out, i explaned to him the situation and he gave me the cash and said he would take it off his rent - BONUS  

But the short answer is i still dumped the bloke as he is obviously a 'four letter word!'

RE your issue dump him no questions asked, but i'd send him a letter saying pay up in 7 days or the 'matter will be refered for further consideration'.

My father in law runs his own business, ive known him to take people to small claims court for £10 before - his argument is if he didnt they would tell their mates and everyone would be doing him over for a £1o!

Up to you, but i'd consider doing his windows with really dirty water and making sure he cant see at all out of his windows! That would show him ! hahahah

In the real world however I suppose neither is a good thing to have to do

David

[Richy L]

i have been very tempted to dirty his windows! maybe get some eggs!
But seriously, i guess I'll have to keep trying, I just dont want him to get away with it now.

[DavidX]

Do a phil mitchell , sort him out . NO don't only joking. Best thing to do write a note to him to say what he own you and you be round to pick up the money. When you get the money say thank you for the money and you won't be cleaning his window anymore.

[spotless2000]

Send him letter giving him 14 days to pay or you will pass on his details to a debt collecting agency and explain you will also record this information on his credit file with someone like experian.  This will cause him problems if he tries to get credit in the future.

You don't have to follow through with these actions but sending the letter may just make him pay.

Whatever happens - terminate your business relationship with him!

Good luck!

[ronaldo]

Leekson, if it was me he owed the pennies to i would go round and launch half a dozen eggs up his window and tell him to sort that out.

[Pole2pole]

Ronaldo.......Have you considered Anger Management? 
On a more serious note. You can buy a dozen eggs for a few bob more. If ya gonna do it...... DO IT RIGHT 

[brett walker]

eggs eggs eggs 

job done

brett

[Richy L]

right ...  so it seems eggs the the anser then! thanks guys!

[Richy L]

......only joking, i might do what you suggested  spotless2000. Hope it scares him into paying

[Paul Coleman]

I have been cleaning this flat for about 7 - 8 months, and he owes me for three cleans, its only a total of £15 for the three times, as it is only a small flat.

However, everytime I go to collect the money from him he says to call around tomorrow!
 I called there today, and after ringing the doorbell, he didnt answer, as i walked away, he popped his head up behind the window, I saw him so I knocked the door a few more times, but he wouldnt answer the door!!!!!

This isnt the first time hes done it either! I know its not a lot of money, but its the principle! Any suggestions on what to do?!

Cancelling the window cleaning goes without saying.  Sounds l;ike you need to write the debt off as you aren't going to get it anyway.  Might be an idea to leave a bill with an SAE in case he has an attack of conscience but don't hold your breath.

A little old lady I once knew used to come out with many pearls of wisdom.
She once said something like the following to me:-
"If you lend your neighbour a fiver and he doesn't give it back, then you have a problem.  However, if you lend your neighbour a fiver and he doesn't give it back then he moves to Australia, then you DON'T have a problem".
Basically, the t*sser has conned you.  Write it off.  Pretend he's moved to Australia. No problem then !!

[macc]

aplicater, opps,drop it on the flower beds by mistake of coarse, then aplicate glass & frames.

[spotless2000]

Whatever you decide to do, keep us posted if you get a response!

Steve

[windows_chepstow]

Leeksons (Richard), is this flat in Station Close?  I guess it is and I think I know your customer; he's got a dog. 

I clean the neighbor's house and she told me 'a young window cleaner' had been knocking and not getting any answer, so I guess this is you.

Richard, it happens on a rare occassion.  I think this has only happened to me on around four times in three years, and remember when you first start up, you take on a lot of customers you don't know, and who're not always decent people.

I'm in a similar situation with a young single-mum in a small council house in Caldicot.

Every month, when I clean the houses next to her property, I always knock, never get an answer and leave a note.  I've been doing this for three months now; obviously I'm not cleaning her windows though.

I'll catch her one of these days; purely out of principle.  I've been nice though.  Had she been an able-bodied bloke, I maybe a little more pushy.

My advice is to put it down to experience, write a short note out for your books and deduct it as an expense from your tax.

PS.  Good price by the way.  £5.00 for one of those flats.  There's only three windows in them!  I do the neighbor for £3.50, and I've tried my best to drop her, but she's disabled, knows my number - phones me if I'm overdue - and steals my time - bribing me - with cups of tea!

[craig jwc]

I have had the same problem.
 
Called round quite a few times just to be told she had no money or turning the tv and light off pretending she was out.

Lost count how many times i left a note and SAE.

The last time i was in the street i managed to get her to answer the door as an estate agent had called round to put the property on the market.
 
I watched him putting the sign up with her stood there.

I approached them and said would you like to settle up your bill for the windows.
She said she didn't have any money with her but if i called back next week she would pay. (yeah right)

The estate agent said it would look really good if i could clean the windows before he took the picture. The women agreed and i agreed.

I went back to the van and changed my brush on the pole for one i do the gutters with and went over to the house with just the pole (NO water).

The brush was minging. 

I brushed all over the frames and glass with this brush leaving it a complete mess.
The estate agent looked just looked at me.

I told him that i had carried her for the last 4 months now with the same excuse and wasn't going to let in go on.

He understood where i was coming from and even he had a chuckle

I felt alot better after that and haven't lost a single customer in the street.
A couple of my customers mentioned it to me and thought it served her right.

Craig
 

[Pole2pole]

Beautiful Craig.......Beautiful 

[macc]

nice one Craig i bet you hated every minute, NOT. 

[craig jwc]

I'm back in the same street tomorrow have to see if there windows have been done.

It did make me feel better but not really a professional approach.

Craig