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jo5hm4n

  • Posts: 954
Stupid Customer wont pay
« on: March 11, 2016, 02:00:43 pm »
So i text a customer a reminder that we are collecting the money outstanding from the last clean which was on 25/02/16 for £12.  She text back saying she cancelled.  I said yes you cancelled after we cleaned them.  She said no she didn't.  I said check back through our messages i sent you a text the day before we cleaned and i didn't get any reply to say you wanted to cancel until we came to collect 3 days after we had cleaned them.  Now she's not replying to my texts.

Part of me thinks just write the debt off rather than letting it get to me and waste lots of my time, but at the same time i want to prove a point and get the money i deserve for the time that was spent to clean their windows.  What's the best way to scare them into paying?  Has anyone got a letter template i can send them in the post like if they dont pay within 10 days i will take legal action?

Suggestions appreciated ;)

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2016, 02:05:33 pm »
Not worth all the hassle for 12 squid surely?
Take it on the chin and move on is what I would do as life is too short to get all bitter and twisted over such a small amount.

jo5hm4n

  • Posts: 954
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2016, 02:10:53 pm »
I don't like to admit it, but i think your probably right with that.  It's not worth letting if affect me, waste any more of my time or let me get bitter over a 20 mins wasted job.  Good advice

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2016, 02:21:36 pm »
Good man  ;)

Soupy

  • Posts: 21263
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2016, 02:23:29 pm »
I don't like to admit it, but i think your probably right with that.

I hate admitting it if CIU members are right. Especially Smurf.

Doesn't happen too often luckily enough.
#FreeTheBrightonOne
#aliens

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2016, 03:03:10 pm »
I don't like to admit it, but i think your probably right with that.

I hate admitting it if CIU members are right. Especially Smurf.

Doesn't happen too often luckily enough.

Cheeky devil  ;D

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2016, 03:29:20 pm »
Least you're not a sweaty sock.
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

Soupy

  • Posts: 21263
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2016, 04:11:28 pm »
#FreeTheBrightonOne
#aliens

Stoots

  • Posts: 6351
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2016, 07:54:03 pm »
Either small claims or revenge

Getting away with it is not an option.


NBwcs

  • Posts: 983
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2016, 08:08:13 pm »
Personally I would at least go round and try and get it face to face. Too easy for a customer to play up by text, bit different if they have to meet you especially as your clearly in the right. If you still get no joy then that's the time to let it go. ( although that's easy said than done).

duncan h

  • Posts: 1875
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2016, 08:41:39 pm »
Personally I would at least go round and try and get it face to face. Too easy for a customer to play up by text, bit different if they have to meet you especially as your clearly in the right. If you still get no joy then that's the time to let it go. ( although that's easy said than done).
as above. Quite a few new customers last month or 2.  A couple tried it on. No reply to text or Face Book. So I knocked on door.
One said why has it gone from £8 to £9 to £10. I said "what are you on about, I quoted 10" I said pay £9 then. She took ages and paid £9. Went home paste and copied Face book message saying £10. She said call it a draw at that then. I said sent her message back saying that she was trying it on and would pay, or to that effect.

Next one. Same street. No repys to anything. Knocked on door. Hubby answers. "hasn't she paid it online yet?" NO. Ill do it Saturday. Saturday never came.
Took it on the chin. Considered getting nasty. I don't like being taken for a mug. Ill see them get out of a car one day. That car will alter a little. CARMA. Cant do with scrubbers. I think they were housing association property's. 3 story, bigger than my shack


Johnny B

  • Posts: 2385
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2016, 09:24:31 pm »
I just walk away from customers who act up in this way, never to return.

Sooner or later they will approach you again to ask you to clean, sometimes as if nothing had ever happened.  When that time comes, just be polite and friendly, but firmly remind them of their previous debt, which upon payment as well as payment in advance for the clean they are requesting, you will be happy to proceed.

I have two of these on the go at the moment. I am getting quite a kick out of their desperation to have their windows cleaned, and to turn me over again! Service with a smile has a different meaning when I'm in their neighbourhood!

John
Being diplomatic is being able to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2016, 10:13:59 pm »
I just walk away from customers who act up in this way, never to return.

Sooner or later they will approach you again to ask you to clean, sometimes as if nothing had ever happened.  When that time comes, just be polite and friendly, but firmly remind them of their previous debt, which upon payment as well as payment in advance for the clean they are requesting, you will be happy to proceed.

I have two of these on the go at the moment. I am getting quite a kick out of their desperation to have their windows cleaned, and to turn me over again! Service with a smile has a different meaning when I'm in their neighbourhood!

I started a post not long bk about striking revenge on the principle of the matter.
In the areas where I work, I have the huge majority of houses. So I used to take the above stance, as in, at some point they will ask again! But they dont and its been yrs, yes iv seen cowboy workers come n go from their property's.  So thought, yep they will ask soon, but lets not fool ourselves into thinking this. They know perfectly well what they've done and are stubborn and wont ask!

John
facebook.com/1NKServices
1NKServices.co.uk

hotsteam

  • Posts: 425
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2016, 10:22:07 pm »
Why not take it all the way if need be, a small claims court would with costs at about £50 to them, they might think again before trying that again.
Its your money make them pay up !  ;D

Johnny B

  • Posts: 2385
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2016, 10:43:05 pm »
I just walk away from customers who act up in this way, never to return.

Sooner or later they will approach you again to ask you to clean, sometimes as if nothing had ever happened.  When that time comes, just be polite and friendly, but firmly remind them of their previous debt, which upon payment as well as payment in advance for the clean they are requesting, you will be happy to proceed.

I have two of these on the go at the moment. I am getting quite a kick out of their desperation to have their windows cleaned, and to turn me over again! Service with a smile has a different meaning when I'm in their neighbourhood!

I started a post not long bk about striking revenge on the principle of the matter.
In the areas where I work, I have the huge majority of houses. So I used to take the above stance, as in, at some point they will ask again! But they dont and its been yrs, yes iv seen cowboy workers come n go from their property's.  So thought, yep they will ask soon, but lets not fool ourselves into thinking this. They know perfectly well what they've done and are stubborn and wont ask!

John

The 2 cases I mentioned have both asked me recently (more than once) to clean their windows again. I reminded both of them how much they owed, and how long ago I last cleaned for them (over 4 years in both cases). So the ones I am talking about here aren't stubborn. Shameless, yes, but also more stupid than they think I am if they think I am going to entertain their custom again!

John
Being diplomatic is being able to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

Miko67

  • Posts: 86
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2016, 12:10:24 am »
You's are all very anal on here.
12 quid and your having a hissy fit.
And all you's are consoling him ,
Get a grip for sure.

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4303
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2016, 09:14:36 am »
Send them a firm but polite letter saying the next thing they will receive if they don't pay is a small claims summons that will add a minimum of £50 to their debt.

If they don't pay, forget it and move on.

Look at it this way.  If someone came up to you in the street and said they'd give you £12 to do an hour's admin filing a small claims court claim then possibly spend half a day in court if the person defended their case, would you do it?

Vin

Tom.m

  • Posts: 75
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #17 on: March 12, 2016, 11:07:33 am »
Just reapply the dirt you removed?


slap bash

  • Posts: 1366
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #18 on: March 12, 2016, 03:26:18 pm »
Wait till she`s out and put you delivery hose through her letter box. She will get home and phone the plumber ;D ;D ;D ;D and spend a lot more.

Ian Lancaster

  • Posts: 2811
Re: Stupid Customer wont pay
« Reply #19 on: March 12, 2016, 11:37:12 pm »
We use this one.  Of all the versions I've tried this gets the best results (edit as required):

Dear
At your request and in accordance with our quotation which you accepted we commenced providing our window cleaning services at your property on the 28th April 2014.

Our terms as stated were £12 per visit on a 4 weekly basis and our payment terms were as standard, i.e. within seven days of service provision.

We only ever received payment for the first visit, your windows have been cleaned a further 4 times, on the 30th May for which £12 is still outstanding and following a ‘skip’ at your request in July, on the 4th August, 2nd September and 6th October, all priced at £7 each as there was no access to the rear, despite us having texted you (as agreed) the previous evening to ensure this.  The total outstanding is £33.

My franchisee Mr … suspended the service pending payment of the outstanding amount. Despite numerous requests for payment via phone, letter and in person none has been received.

I have to advise you that if payment of the full amount of £33 is not received within 14 days of the date of this letter we will, without further warning, take one of the following options:

1.    We will make application to the Small Claims Court – this could incur additional costs
for you as well as adversely affecting your credit rating.
2.   We will pass the account to our Debt Collection agency who will pursue you for the full outstanding amount, plus their and our additional costs.
3.   We will put the matter in the hands of our solicitors to take whatever steps they deem necessary.

If you wish to avoid incurring the considerable extra costs any of the above will involve you must pay the full amount as stated above.

Please pay by BACS, send a cheque or deliver cash by hand to Mr …. at …..

Yours sincerely,



Ian Lancaster

Director: Ian Lancaster Window Cleaner Ltd


            Company registered in England No: 6944294 Registered Office: 31 Woodberry Drive, Sittingbourne Kent ME10 3AT
                                                                             Directors: Ian Lancaster, Lise Lancaster