[dave f]

had a customer who I had not seen for ages asked if I was doing there windows to day, they were bad payers and never in they caught me by surprise. I said  I'm just off for dinner ill be back. I had just finished what would be your reply I had sacked them off a while before but just could not catch em in.

[Cookie]

Just say that you're too busy to take on any extra work. No need to go into any detail.... They should know why you have dumped them!

I had to do the same for two of my customers last week. Whenever I text them to say I'm cleaning their windows they say it's not convenient & they seem to think they need to be there when I actually clean the windows (in spite of me advising them to the contrary). I've saved their numbers in my 'phone so when they call I'll just not answer. They are easily replaceable since I'm getting so many walk-ups at the moment.

[Johnny B]

I would be honest with them.

John.

[mop-n-scrim]

Tell them 'sure will be straight over, but you just need to sign up to GoCardless first'.  Got a few more to do first, I will get an email confirmation when done, then be over shortly after, no problem'.

Thats how I deal with it, 90% of the time it means you maintain a customer, with no more messing. 

If they don't sign up you know they would mess you about whatever, but they won't ask again.   

[SB Cleaning]

Tell them 'sure will be straight over, but you just need to sign up to GoCardless first'.  Got a few more to do first, I will get an email confirmation when done, then be over shortly after, no problem'.

Thats how I deal with it, 90% of the time it means you maintain a customer, with no more messing. 

If they don't sign up you know they would mess you about whatever, but they won't ask again.   

+1

[dazmond]

I would be honest with them.

John.

yep i agree johnny.in fact ive told a few of  them the reasons why i stopped cleaning for them.they never ask again!

whats wrong with people?most are shocked when you tell them the truth.no one expects it!(anything but the truth!)

[Lee Pryor]

As our round rolls back to people, if they still have not paid for the last clean I cancel them, We never do a clean if 1 is outstanding. Then if they want to re join they have to use go cardless as mentioned above. This tactic combined with new customers we take on having to use go cardless from the start means our round refines itself over time.

[Smudger]

As our round rolls back to people, if they still have not paid for the last clean I cancel them, We never do a clean if 1 is outstanding. Then if they want to re join they have to use go cardless as mentioned above. This tactic combined with new customers we take on having to use go cardless from the start means our round refines itself over time.

your such a harsh man !!!

Those who have messed around and left then want to come back firstly get a price review and rise then its 3 months in advance and go careless and a first clean price ( usually double the reg price )

this soon sorts out the wheat from the chaff !!

Darran

[JandS]

Not paid for last clean so sacked......wow bit harsh...I have several customers who go 3 and 4 cleans before payment....they do not do online banking and I don't do go card less.........always paid when I catch them in and a couple of months up front to boot....tbh I like it because it is a nice wedge when they do pay and am not desperate.

[nathankaye]

Think honesty is the best policy. Learnt this the hard way after a number of experiences.
I sacked one customer off as garden was always full of dog mess. She bumped into me n asked why stopped. So i told her, she asked me to text her before i come so she knows to tidy up b4 i come. (Some lazy people, if i dont text her it will never get shifted) so far shes been ok since.

Another one, same as yourself a bad payer. They asked and so i explained. I got the expected line "we never have money in the house"  so they now pay on a regular monthly standing order.
So i gained my customers back by telling them (in a nice way) honestly.
So whenever im getting rid i will now tell them to their face. It keeps it professional and everyone knows where they stand

[Stoots]

Not paid for last clean so sacked......wow bit harsh...I have several customers who go 3 and 4 cleans before payment....they do not do online banking and I don't do go card less.........always paid when I catch them in and a couple of months up front to boot....tbh I like it because it is a nice wedge when they do pay and am not desperate.

Sod that, been stung a few times with non payers, letting them go more than 1 clean only makes it worse.

I send half a dozen reminders before there next clean I'd due, if they can't manage to pay in that time and have ignores all my messages them they are an expletive and not worth bothering with. Anyone who hasn't paid up by next clean gets skipped and them told why, in most cases if it had got to this point they have no intention of paying and end up getting a debt letter.

The only exception would be the very few cash customers who I trust and have been good loyal customers for a long time. And even then I wouldn't go past 2 cleans at most.

[dave f]

i am a shyte bag  I don't like confrontation. ill have to grow a pair

[Johnny B]

i am a shyte bag  I don't like confrontation. ill have to grow a pair

I hate confrontation too, but still tell them the truth in a polite and diplomatic way.

If I am owed for 2 or 3 cleans, I leave a note in their door stating how much they owe, then leave it at that.

If they tell me 'not today' more than twice without giving a good reason,  I just say 'no problem', walk away and stop calling to them.

In both cases, most will eventually ask why I stopped calling.

It is very easy to tell them truthfully that  I couldn't find them in to pay me, so didn't want to add to their financial burden, or in the second case that I didn't want to keep bothering them if they really didn't want me to call to them.

It leaves the ball in their court every time, and I have been honest with them without causing a scene.

John.

[slap bash]

What is it with you chaps be straight if the bad payers tell them instead " no we off to lunch" don`t be a girl thingy cat. Be a man. I go mad with this dishonesty. Be forthright and honest it`s not tactless been honest. When you cover up a bad customer you are just as dishonest as them who don`t pay. If the want to steal my service I will tell them so they know where they stand. It's like customers who don`t want their window cleaned anymore, telling you, " they have lost the gate key."  It`s not polite it`s a fffff lie. One does not need to be rude but be honest they might just change their ways.
Dave you amaze me not dealing with confrontation you don`t do too bad on here mate, are you a man or a mouse or should I pass the cheese?
This is proof how we folk are socially modified in this beautiful country. P/C  has robbed of our genitals

[nathankaye]

Some are good keyboard warriors, others put pen to paper at one point in history.....but come face to face that seperates the men from the boys.
It also shows the mentality of some (people in general) because they feel that confrontational means being nasty or a bully when its far from it. Though granted some are.......but you dont need to be in order to have your say

[windowswashed]

Persistent bad payers are dumped second time and never to be taken back on. Life is too short for unneccessary stress, better off without them, that's just my opinion. If they ask I tell them straight why I dump them as I don't need the hassle of persistently chasing debts anymore in my life

[paul alan]

i am a shyte bag  I don't like confrontation. ill have to grow a pair

It doesnt have to be a confrontation, just an honest conversation.

And to be fair mate, it takes balls to make the above statement on here, you could of said anything. Who knows what the % is of whats been said on here is truthful, at least you are.

[Plankton]

Just got rid of some work last week. Took the guy round and pointed to all the houses that used to be on the run before I sacked them. He was like "you don't mess around do you!" Don't have time for ignorant slow payers that think it's ok to wait three months before paying you.

[Plankton]

It's all right for those that have huge runs and are constantly taking on loads of new customers to say one miss and your out. For some people it's not that easy and it's not that they don't have the balls. They won't want to lose numbers in a street so put up with it for a bit longer and so on, others don't have lots of new customers coming on so have to be cautious when dropping them.
It's easy advice to say tell them this or tell them that, thinking of an old post "there's a lack of confidence" (some girl talking crud) but it's true people do have a lack of confidence when approaching certain things so it's not so easy applying that advice.

[nathankaye]

It's all right for those that have huge runs and are constantly taking on loads of new customers to say one miss and your out. For some people it's not that easy and it's not that they don't have the balls. They won't want to lose numbers in a street so put up with it for a bit longer and so on, others don't have lots of new customers coming on so have to be cautious when dropping them.
It's easy advice to say tell them this or tell them that, thinking of an old post "there's a lack of confidence" (some girl talking crud) but it's true people do have a lack of confidence when approaching certain things so it's not so easy applying that advice.

Its not always easy taking a step out the comfort zone, but by doing so it will get easier and you will appreciate it in the long run.
Dont forget the ones who try to give this advice (myself included) have all been there in those shoes but we have learnt to progress.
What i did in the past in the scenario you mentioned, is when i got a new customer, i priced it well. Then as soon as the repeat offender/messer does it again, they have already been replaced. Therefore you can make your excuses to them in whichever way you wish, and expalin they need to find a more suited cleaner for them.
So you are always rotating/cleaning you customer base