[The Jester of Wibbly]

Time to expand on the annoying subject posts but how about annoying customers?

I hate it when its chucking it down and the customer keeps you talking about all sorts and won't shut up while they are stood inside their doorway in the dry whilst I am getting soaked stood listening 

[Cookie]

Following you around and talking to you whilst you're cleaning the windows.

[dazmond]

Following you around and talking to you whilst you're cleaning the windows.

I clean a large house where the customer virtually follows me around  to every window(90 min job)and 9 times out of 10 insists on playing the piano for me(badly)too....

[david mark]

You could show him how to play the drums over a cup of tea

[Plankton]

Maybe they want to see your instrument Daz

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Clean in the rain.   Bet they won't follow you around in that case.

[dazmond]

You could show him how to play the drums over a cup of tea

It's a lonely older woman who's husband works away in Dubai for months at a time!no thanks!😂

[richard connett]

The ones that keep you chatting on the doorstep while they tell you about their new artificial hip or some other ailment whilst at the same time waving your £20 around. I just feel like snatching it and saying see you in 6 weeks !!

[mac74]

Coming up to you whilst you are struggling with the pole on a high window, saying can i pay u now, with their money out and wanting change. The next time i have my exhaust done, im going to rush under the ramp and say there u go mate, its the £373 quid i owe u, whilst he is got his hands full, and covered in sh*t.

[nathankaye]

The non professional cleaning customer who insists youve done a bad job because they have just cleaned their inside windows and it cant possibly be their fault! 
Then you turn up and wow, you know what,,,,,,,,,,,,oh look at that the professional cleaner isnt at fault and its on the inside........fancy that! 

[mac74]

The non professional cleaning customer who insists youve done a bad job because they have just cleaned their inside windows and it cant possibly be their fault! 
Then you turn up and wow, you know what,,,,,,,,,,,,oh look at that the professional cleaner isnt at fault and its on the inside........fancy that!

Yep, ive had that too

[Shrek]

The non professional cleaning customer who insists youve done a bad job because they have just cleaned their inside windows and it cant possibly be their fault! 
Then you turn up and wow, you know what,,,,,,,,,,,,oh look at that the professional cleaner isnt at fault and its on the inside........fancy that!

I had this last week! New build house full of stickers and sticker residue-

‘ Hi Shrek,
Thanks for coming to do the windows today.
The frames and the sills of the upstairs windows are still a bit dirty, not sure if this is because it’s the first time they’ve been done??
Also, there are two windows upstairs on the side of the house that don’t look like they’ve been done as their frames are much dirtier than the others, they are accessed by a path down the back of the house?
Like I say not sure if it’s because they were particularly dirty before as it’s the first time we’ve had them done but thought I’d mention it?
Thanks 😊’

I went back round straight away as I was round the corner from her, got my ladders out checking every single window.
Txt her back saying they are full of stickers and the builders haven’t finished the job, she needs to contact the building company and get them back. She txt bk ok no problem.
Later that night I got another txt -

‘ Did you re do any at the back when you came back?
Only reason I ask is one side of the patio door looks streaky now...’
(Picture attached to txt)



I thought that’s strange because iv never left windows like that , apologised and said I’d be back first thing.
Got there at 8:30am and they’re still in bed  , looked at the window and it’s bloody clean! Ask her to open the patio door , got a cloth out and started wiping all the dirt from the inside  .

[dazmond]

Did she apologise profusely?I hope so.......you'll find you wont here a peep off her in future now......

[Shrek]

Did she apologise profusely?I hope so.......you'll find you wont here a peep off her in future now......

No apology  just a txt later that night to say she’s paid . I hope your right 

[JackieW]

Not annoying just amusing,  customers who close the top openers after I've cleaned them.

[dazmond]

Did she apologise profusely?I hope so.......you'll find you wont here a peep off her in future now......

No apology  just a txt later that night to say she’s paid . I hope your right 

No apology then I wouldn't be going back ever again...decent customers would apologise and be embarrassed that you had to go out of your way to call round again when it was clearly her mistake......

I've never NOT had a customer apologise for calling me out for their mistake......

[Plankton]

This came in yesterday at 1930

Hi Alan,

My daughter, xxx and her partner xxx , have just moved up to xxx and they're looking for a Window Cleaner.
Also, she thinks it was possibly you she used in her previous flat at XXX and that she may even have an outstanding bill with you as she struggled to contact you.

Can you confirm OK to take them on as customers?

Thanks

I'm thinking are you drunk! Seriously they've owed two payments for over a cooking year! They had notes and invoices through the door with probably enough details to defraud me but somehow they've struggled to contact me  FFS I'm ten minutes walk from them or at least was, the parent on the other hand always pays but I'm tempted to tell them where to go after sending that on a Saturday night.
What they expecting? For me to say oh that's alright, I'll clean the windows on their new house and maybe I'll get paid before 2021 

[SB Cleaning]

The ones who cant make a decent cup of tea.

[robbo333]

The ones, who after the first clean, decide they are not happy leaving the side gate unlocked after all!

[kikjason]

One of my favourites is.. Coming out of there house and saying morning.. Then driving off without paying you😁the other one is the do you want a drink then takeing about 20 mins to make it

[Johnny B]

I get a bit flouncy when the customer is drinking or making tea and not offering me one!

John

[Stoots]

When they are in

[Stoots]

This came in yesterday at 1930

Hi Alan,

My daughter, xxx and her partner xxx , have just moved up to xxx and they're looking for a Window Cleaner.
Also, she thinks it was possibly you she used in her previous flat at XXX and that she may even have an outstanding bill with you as she struggled to contact you.

Can you confirm OK to take them on as customers?

Thanks

I'm thinking are you drunk! Seriously they've owed two payments for over a cooking year! They had notes and invoices through the door with probably enough details to defraud me but somehow they've struggled to contact me  FFS I'm ten minutes walk from them or at least was, the parent on the other hand always pays but I'm tempted to tell them where to go after sending that on a Saturday night.
What they expecting? For me to say oh that's alright, I'll clean the windows on their new house and maybe I'll get paid before 2021 

Just say you are full save having that conversation

[mac74]

What about the "would you like a cup of tea" just as they know your finishing the job.

[James Styles]

Ones who haven’t paid and when you send a reminder text few days later they just ignore it, not pay and not even reply.

[zesty]

When they are in

Same.

[lal]

  How about you turnup to a job, cars parked in the drive, you ring the doorbell, you say hello and is the side gate open,
  they say yes, i say thanks i will get on with it, so because their cars are taking up the driveway, i have to unreel hose
 from fixed reel from back of van facing away from house on the road, so eventually I'm cleaning the back windows, i always
 start from the furthest point first, then someone appears while your cleaning the back windows,    ( can you move your Van
 please, i need to get my car out)  this used to do my Freaking head in, in the past.    Nowdays i call them before i arrive,
 and ask if they can move any cars in front of the alleyway to the back of the house, so that i can reverse my van in.
You live & learn. 

[Stoots]

When they are in

Same.

When you pull into the street see their car on the drive and get that sinking feeling.

I love it when I pull up and know they are out

[zesty]

When they are in

Same.

When you pull into the street see their car on the drive and get that sinking feeling.

I love it when I pull up and know they are out

Quite right mate!

[Phil J]

I have a customer who always seems to leave the house and drive away without paying as we are in the middle of cleaning the street.

[Windy Miller]

When they are in

Same.

When you pull into the street see their car on the drive and get that sinking feeling.

I love it when I pull up and know they are out

I know the feeling, a few I'll drive on to the next job and come back hoping they're gone!

I can't stand the ones who ask you to do a sneaky thank you job at no extra cost, like a section of guttering or fascia. It's so awkward trying to explain that it'll be an extra charge as it's usually some of the old dears and you feel obligated to throw it in.
Also the people who ask you to use your window cleaning pole to knock swallows nests down. Or can you reach that bit of grass growing out of the chimney pot!

[nathankaye]

When they are in

Same.

When you pull into the street see their car on the drive and get that sinking feeling.

I love it when I pull up and know they are out

I know the feeling, a few I'll drive on to the next job and come back hoping they're gone!

I can't stand the ones who ask you to do a sneaky thank you job at no extra cost, like a section of guttering or fascia. It's so awkward trying to explain that it'll be an extra charge as it's usually some of the old dears and you feel obligated to throw it in.
Also the people who ask you to use your window cleaning pole to knock swallows nests down. Or can you reach that bit of grass growing out of the chimney pot!

Nah, its about changing your mind set, so you dont feel like a charity case or obligated.  Just simply say, yes I can do so when im finished but it will be an extra £x...........simples!

I do have two customers though that I try to avoid as they can talk for england, but then I normally leave them to the last call of the day.  There both old and dont see too many people and so Im happy to hear the same long story every month lol

[nathankaye]

The customer who you text the night before about the gate and they reply, no worries!
Only to unlock the top bolt and totally ignor the bottom bolt 

[Windy Miller]

I do have that mindset most times Nathan although there are a select few elderly folk who come off with the 'could you just sweep those cobwebs off the porch gutters' etc and it's almost as quick to just do it rather than explain pricing 😬
Have you ever text the night before to leave a gate open and when you arrive they've pushed a heavy wheelie bin tight to it to emphasise the point that it's a 'not today' 😂

[James Styles]

Have you ever text the night before to leave a gate open and when you arrive they've pushed a heavy wheelie bin tight to it to emphasise the point that it's a 'not today' 😂

I have one customer who does that but I think it’s to stop the gate blowing wide open and constantly banging with the wind.

[dazmond]

some of you must have the worst customer relations with some of these replies!

we all have customers we d rather not talk to but sometimes a 5-10 min chat here and there and a coffee can help both theirs and your day along.......lots of my customers are usually out or busy with other things but the odd quick chat/banter is good for all of us during our working day from time to time IMO....

theres too many ignorant people these days(usually staring at their phone/ipod with headphones in)as it is......dont add to it!

your also more likely to keep the customer/job for many years(if you build up a bit of rapport)then when another guy comes round offering to clean their windows cheaper their more likely to tell them to sod off!

[Johnny B]

some of you must have the worst customer relations with some of these replies!

we all have customers we d rather not talk to but sometimes a 5-10 min chat here and there and a coffee can help both theirs and your day along.......lots of my customers are usually out or busy with other things but the odd quick chat/banter is good for all of us during our working day from time to time IMO....

theres too many ignorant people these days(usually staring at their phone/ipod with headphones in)as it is......dont add to it!

your also more likely to keep the customer/job for many years(if you build up a bit of rapport)then when another guy comes round offering to clean their windows cheaper their more likely to tell them to sod off!

Totally agree!

John

[NBwcs]

I get a bit flouncy when the customer is drinking or making tea and not offering me one!

John

I had a customer once (a man of the cloth as well) whos gardiner was busy at the bottom of the garden , he opened the downstairs window and shouted out to him "do you want a cup of tea?" The gardiner couldnt hear him so he asked me to go ask him which i duely did.  "he says yes please" said i ,to which he promptly made him a cuppa, bought it out to him without offering me one. !! I was speechless.

[Spruce]

Not annoying just amusing,  customers who close the top openers after I've cleaned them.

 

I also have a 'sinking feeling' when this happens. I thought I was the only one to experience this as its quite profound in my case. I'm glad to discover I'm not the only one to experience this.

Especially those top openers above a large pane of glass underneath. You just know you're going to have to redo the bottom pane again when the top have finished dripping down - the jobs going to take longer.

[Spruce]

I get a bit flouncy when the customer is drinking or making tea and not offering me one!

John

When you get older John you will grateful for them not offering you tea.  Its not drinking the tea (or in my case coffee,) its the aftermath of drinking it when the problem begins.

[Spruce]

Time to expand on the annoying subject posts but how about annoying customers?

I hate it when its chucking it down and the customer keeps you talking about all sorts and won't shut up while they are stood inside their doorway in the dry whilst I am getting soaked stood listening 

I've enjoyed reading some of the posts on this thread. Thanks.

[Johnny B]

I get a bit flouncy when the customer is drinking or making tea and not offering me one!

John

I had a customer once (a man of the cloth as well) whos gardiner was busy at the bottom of the garden , he opened the downstairs window and shouted out to him "do you want a cup of tea?" The gardiner couldnt hear him so he asked me to go ask him which i duely did.  "he says yes please" said i ,to which he promptly made him a cuppa, bought it out to him without offering me one. !! I was speechless.

Wow! If that had been me I think I would have had a Gold flounce moment!

John

[Spruce]

The non professional cleaning customer who insists youve done a bad job because they have just cleaned their inside windows and it cant possibly be their fault! 
Then you turn up and wow, you know what,,,,,,,,,,,,oh look at that the professional cleaner isnt at fault and its on the inside........fancy that!

I had this last week! New build house full of stickers and sticker residue-

‘ Hi Shrek,
Thanks for coming to do the windows today.
The frames and the sills of the upstairs windows are still a bit dirty, not sure if this is because it’s the first time they’ve been done??
Also, there are two windows upstairs on the side of the house that don’t look like they’ve been done as their frames are much dirtier than the others, they are accessed by a path down the back of the house?
Like I say not sure if it’s because they were particularly dirty before as it’s the first time we’ve had them done but thought I’d mention it?
Thanks 😊’

I went back round straight away as I was round the corner from her, got my ladders out checking every single window.
Txt her back saying they are full of stickers and the builders haven’t finished the job, she needs to contact the building company and get them back. She txt bk ok no problem.
Later that night I got another txt -

‘ Did you re do any at the back when you came back?
Only reason I ask is one side of the patio door looks streaky now...’
(Picture attached to txt)



I thought that’s strange because iv never left windows like that , apologised and said I’d be back first thing.
Got there at 8:30am and they’re still in bed  , looked at the window and it’s bloody clean! Ask her to open the patio door , got a cloth out and started wiping all the dirt from the inside  .

My lighthearted response with a smile on my face to this is;

If I could clean the inside glass from outside I wouldn't be a window cleaner.  I would have been working for NASA and been on a good pension by now.

[dazmond]

the most annoying thing about a customer is when they say "ill pay you right now by BACS no problem Darren!".......a week goes by and they still havent paid you ........

[Spruce]

the most annoying thing about a customer is when they say "ill pay you right now by BACS no problem Darren!".......a week goes by and they still havent paid you ........

Or when you go to the door, they give all the signs of transferring money across on their phone. "Yes, I've done it,"  but it never arrives.  When you chase them up again they never query that they have already paid you.