About a year ago I took on Mrs. K. (a surgeon's wife) who lives in a detached house in about an acre of land on the outskirts of Bristol. It was agreed with Mrs K. that I would clean the outsides of her house every 8 weeks and the insides every other time (16 weeks).
Once or twice she would mess me about, (but even worse would follow me or Dan about nitpicking or asking "have you done that one?" when all Dan was doing was waiting for it to stop dripping above) usually by asking for the insides to be done more frequently and I would put up with it as the insides were priced a bit higher.
Then her in laws whose English isn't so hot have a bungalow built in the grounds and we agree the same schedule and I reiterate that I find it hard to accommodate doorstep changes to work as I have a full day scheduled.
So time before last she asks me to change the schedule of work and I say "sorry no" to which she huffs and puffs and asks me to come back tomorrow and I say "sorry, no" again and she says she definitely wants the extra work done next time to which I agree as that was what was scheduled.
I go back about 9 weeks ago ready to do the scheduled work and she says "don't do the bungalow as they're away but do the insides of mine instead" which sounds ok but is a pain as her insides take about three times as long as the bungalow and it'll be 16 weeks between cleans on the bungalow.
I bite my tongue go to the van and consult with Dan and we decide to "do and dump" in other words do the job as we're there, take the money and don't go back - but not say anything at that point, put the cheque through and wait for her to call.
Sure enough she does and recognising her number I ignore it. Then I get another call; I ignore it and fire off a letter headed "Discontinuation of Window Cleaning Service" and politely explaining why.
I've had two missed calls and a text in the day or so since I reckon the letter landed on her doormat. If I get a letter I'll let you know.
As the late great Paul Coleman once said "if you get a feeling of dread when going to a customer it isn't worth keeping".
Having a cull ready for winter and loving it.