[davetherave]

I'm noticing a lot of new customers we are picking up are young-ish and broke.

They always have brand new cars on the drive, blatantly on finance, and a mortgage or rent they can't afford.

And they simply  aren't very interested in paying for things, they love having their windows cleaned however.

They seem to think it is ok and reasonable to keep you waiting for payment for  very long periods, and they all use the stalling tactic, that they will pay you online asap.

I've just in the last year or two noticed a massive increase in these customers. We obviously cancel them pretty quick, often never getting the money owed to us. But I was wondering if anybody else is noticed a similar theme with their new customers.

[NWH]

Always take there mobile number so if they don't pay you can keep pestering them with texts,in the end they will pay on time coz they'll get fed up with you reminding them

[davetherave]

I am surprised you go to those lengths. I think life is too short and just cancel them, and then write the money off.

[Stoots]

i text/email them to death, then if still not paid they get a letter thretening small claims. if still no payment file a small claims, why should they get away with it, f*** that

[Smurf]

The annoying ones are customers that snuff it and don't tell you 

[deeege]

I'm noticing a lot of new customers we are picking up are young-ish and broke.

They always have brand new cars on the drive, blatantly on finance, and a mortgage or rent they can't afford.

And they simply  aren't very interested in paying for things, they love having their windows cleaned however.

They seem to think it is ok and reasonable to keep you waiting for payment for  very long periods, and they all use the stalling tactic, that they will pay you online asap.

I've just in the last year or two noticed a massive increase in these customers. We obviously cancel them pretty quick, often never getting the money owed to us. But I was wondering if anybody else is noticed a similar theme with their new customers.

I had a customer like that once. Eventually got payment and dumped them, never to be seen again. Why waste your time with dregs like that, there's plenty more out there that pay as agreed.

 Also I'd personally avoid the new build estates, these type of customers tend to buy new build properties, again in my experience.

[Smurf]

You will get messers young and old rich or poor so don't think for a min it's down to someones age, what type of house they live in or the types of cars that's on their drive (If they have one). Oh and we won't mention our Asian friends that like to haggle even after the work is completed

[Steven Biggs]

Agree with the above . They seem to like the 3 story town houses .patrt exed the crappy house they were living in with barratts , free carpets no mortgage. For 3 months . Then bang mortgage has doubled , higher bills , twelve months later he's left her for sale sign goes up ,some landlord buys it repossession . Next thing this nice estate is full of mongs renting .

[colin bird]

i text/email them to death, then if still not paid they get a letter thretening small claims. if still no payment file a small claims, why should they get away with it, f*** that
[/quote

I do the same  !

[Cookie]

When The Bank of England increases interest rates and people are paying more for their mortgages there will be even more broke customers!

[gto]

i text/email them to death, then if still not paid they get a letter thretening small claims. if still no payment file a small claims, why should they get away with it, f*** that
[/quote

I do the same  !

after one email, text they probably block your number and email. so they dont even get them.

[dazmond]

I'm noticing a lot of new customers we are picking up are young-ish and broke.

They always have brand new cars on the drive, blatantly on finance, and a mortgage or rent they can't afford.

And they simply  aren't very interested in paying for things, they love having their windows cleaned however.

They seem to think it is ok and reasonable to keep you waiting for payment for  very long periods, and they all use the stalling tactic, that they will pay you online asap.

I've just in the last year or two noticed a massive increase in these customers. We obviously cancel them pretty quick, often never getting the money owed to us. But I was wondering if anybody else is noticed a similar theme with their new customers.

no.not really.

most customers who pay online pay within 14 days.some need a text reminder then pay up.

i have got one though(cleaned on the 3rd sept)8 weekly job £40 who still owes.5 bed house,mercedes and range rover on the drive.ive sent him 3 text reminders now.every time he s come up with excuses and promised to pay on a certain date.still not paid.

oh and another one 8 weekly again( £30) cleaned on the 4th sept.his excuse is his internet is down.he s been a good payer up until now though.

the first one is getting dumped as soon as i receive payment as i usually have to text him twice before he pays up which is usually 4 or 5 weeks after the clean.i picked up his neighbours house about 8 months ago and they pay up every time on day of clean.great customer.

i have a few other late payers that dont pay for 3 months or so but i know these will pay up eventually no problem but these are lower paying jobs.

the late payers are no more than 5% of my overall customers.thank god!if all my customers were like this 5% id be out of business by now.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I am surprised you go to those lengths. I think life is too short and just cancel them, and then write the money off.

That's probably why you have seen an increase, getting a reputation for giving free cleans.   

[Johnny B]

I've had more than a few, especially here in Ireland where messing you about seems to be a national sport. I used to stress over it because my cashflow was very restricted after I moved here, and we were literally living from hand to mouth. Fortunately I have managed to graft my way out of this situation, and can now take it on the chin.

I don't waste time chasing these scumbags any more. I have found more recently some are actually chasing me for a repeat clean, having still not paid and even saying they will pay me when I've done the clean! Yeah, right!

John 

[Smurf]

Don't domestic wheelie bin cleaners ask for payment upfront for so many cleans?
Just curious why don't window cleaners do the same as is no different surely on lower paid work?

 Say for example at the lower end of the domestic job scale 10 cleans per year x £12 is only £120 for the customer to pay upfront which is not a fortune is it now. 

To go one step further say the ideal manageable average size domestic round for a solo cleaner is 300 customers that's £36,000 turnover per year on a average 5 weekly cycle.  That works out cleaning 60 properties a week at £12 per pop all paid upfront without the need to go chasing payments. Sounds simple don't it 

[davetherave]

You are probably right wibble. I am getting a reputation as too nice of a guy who will do sweet fa if they decide not to pay.

I think it comes down to basic human deceny, which some of my younger customers seem to lack.

I have very little problem with the older ones. Who usually pay cash before I have even finished the job. Which is worrying when they finally pop their clogs and I have to resort to having more youngsters

And dazmond, that just sounds crackers to wait 3 months for payment.  I mean for me that is totally unacceptable for any customer to do that. I dont care who it is. 

[SeanK]

You are probably right wibble. I am getting a reputation as too nice of a guy who will do sweet fa if they decide not to pay.

I think it comes down to basic human deceny, which some of my younger customers seem to lack.

I have very little problem with the older ones. Who usually pay cash before I have even finished the job. Which is worrying when they finally pop their clogs and I have to resort to having more youngsters

And dazmond, that just sounds crackers to wait 3 months for payment.  I mean for me that is totally unacceptable for any customer to do that. I dont care who it is.

No your not mate, these scumbags wouldn't dare let on that they owe money to their window cleaner or anybody else as
it might effect them doing it in the future.
Its just part of building a decent round and should be taken with a pinch of salt, I can guarantee that you wont be the first  person that these scumbags will have done it on.
Keep to a no second clean until paid rule and you will never get taken for too much, it will improve as your round gets bigger
and better believe me it only feels like there's a lot of these now but the majority of people are decent doesn't matter if they're young old rich or poor.

[8weekly]

Don't domestic wheelie bin cleaners ask for payment upfront for so many cleans?
Just curious why don't window cleaners do the same as is no different surely on lower paid work?

 Say for example at the lower end of the domestic job scale 10 cleans per year x £12 is only £120 for the customer to pay upfront which is not a fortune is it now. 

To go one step further say the ideal manageable average size domestic round for a solo cleaner is 300 customers that's £36,000 turnover per year on a average 5 weekly cycle.  That works out cleaning 60 properties a week at £12 per pop all paid upfront without the need to go chasing payments. Sounds simple don't it 

Bin cleaning is on £36 for the year.

[Smurf]

Don't domestic wheelie bin cleaners ask for payment upfront for so many cleans?
Just curious why don't window cleaners do the same as is no different surely on lower paid work?

 Say for example at the lower end of the domestic job scale 10 cleans per year x £12 is only £120 for the customer to pay upfront which is not a fortune is it now. 

To go one step further say the ideal manageable average size domestic round for a solo cleaner is 300 customers that's £36,000 turnover per year on a average 5 weekly cycle.  That works out cleaning 60 properties a week at £12 per pop all paid upfront without the need to go chasing payments. Sounds simple don't it 

Bin cleaning is on £36 for the year.

Wheelie bin cleaners charge more than that surely 
Well they do around my way at 3.50 per wheelie bin - washed, sanatised, with fresh bag liners done every two weeks so 2 domestic bins = £7  that's £182 per year upfront ta very much missus

[8weekly]

Don't domestic wheelie bin cleaners ask for payment upfront for so many cleans?
Just curious why don't window cleaners do the same as is no different surely on lower paid work?

 Say for example at the lower end of the domestic job scale 10 cleans per year x £12 is only £120 for the customer to pay upfront which is not a fortune is it now. 

To go one step further say the ideal manageable average size domestic round for a solo cleaner is 300 customers that's £36,000 turnover per year on a average 5 weekly cycle.  That works out cleaning 60 properties a week at £12 per pop all paid upfront without the need to go chasing payments. Sounds simple don't it 

Bin cleaning is on £36 for the year.

Wheelie bin cleaners charge more than that surely 
Well they do around my way at 3.50 per wheelie bin - washed, sanatised, with fresh bag liners done every two weeks so 2 domestic bins = £7  that's £182 per year upfront ta very much missus

I've been corrected. £39 per year. Black bin cleaned monthly (every other emptying as it's emptied fortnightly). http://thamesvalleybinhygiene.co.uk/price-list/