van insurance

This is an advertisement
Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here

Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

tonyoliver

  • Posts: 610
Advice needed on slow / non payers
« on: December 23, 2024, 03:58:20 pm »
Hi
How do you all deal with slow or non payers ?
One is obvious the other is a bit more tricky as they owe you  need to get your money without the nuclear option they
have  a habit of calling you  to clean  but
Seem to conveniently forget the last one two  or three unpaid invoices 
The as and when’s seem to be the worst

A middle class phonon !!

I need a cute way of putting them straight without unsettling the other jobs  nearby
 I did a mini review of the slow/ non payers and was shocked to find the amount unpaid was  well over a thousand  this year
Not including the well pay next moth  brigade  the sum will triple if I added them on
How do you all deal with them
Surely it’s not just me who gets them !!


Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 649
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2024, 04:23:02 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

Bungle

  • Posts: 2533
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2024, 05:28:03 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔
We look at them, they look through them.

Splash and dash

  • Posts: 311
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2024, 05:30:43 pm »
Stress at the quoting stage payment is due by xx after the jobs done , if they persist in slow or no payment dump simple as that , it’s very rare we have a problem like this theses days .

dazmond

  • Posts: 24294
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2024, 06:38:51 pm »
Hi
How do you all deal with slow or non payers ?
One is obvious the other is a bit more tricky as they owe you  need to get your money without the nuclear option they
have  a habit of calling you  to clean  but
Seem to conveniently forget the last one two  or three unpaid invoices 
The as and when’s seem to be the worst

A middle class phonon !!

I need a cute way of putting them straight without unsettling the other jobs  nearby
 I did a mini review of the slow/ non payers and was shocked to find the amount unpaid was  well over a thousand  this year
Not including the well pay next moth  brigade  the sum will triple if I added them on
How do you all deal with them
Surely it’s not just me who gets them !!

I have one or two and they pay in the end so they dont bother me too much. I've actually got paid over £100 more than I've actually earned this tax year(not including xmas tips either!)due to previous rolling debt from the last tax year.my current debt is down to around £250 at present which is very good.

Non payers are always customers that have died so obviously I have to write it off but it's only £50-£100 per year so not a mega amount to lose out on.
price higher/work harder!

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 649
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2024, 07:06:26 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Bungle

  • Posts: 2533
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2024, 08:43:03 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Very good Humpty Dumpty. Now answer the question that was asked.
We look at them, they look through them.

Splash and dash

  • Posts: 311
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2024, 08:48:49 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Very good Humpty Dumpty. Now answer the question that was asked.


It’s none of your business what his average price is . He doesn’t do just window cleaning so you aren’t going to get an average price anyway

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4076
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2024, 08:54:16 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.
You are going to mono block a public path? Bash on, it’s only a matter of time before the council come along and rip up the expensive mono block!

Spruce

  • Posts: 8581
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2024, 09:01:17 pm »
You have to chase some debt from time to time. We knock on doors every so often and put "Friendly Reminder" slips through the door if they aren't there.

We don't let the debt mount up. Each clean we do is paid for before we clean again. We have £64 of residential debt atm and £74 of commercial debt. The commercial debt was a job completed today.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Tam1872

  • Posts: 106
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2024, 09:04:04 pm »
Hi
How do you all deal with slow or non payers ?
One is obvious the other is a bit more tricky as they owe you  need to get your money without the nuclear option they
have  a habit of calling you  to clean  but
Seem to conveniently forget the last one two  or three unpaid invoices 
The as and when’s seem to be the worst

A middle class phonon !!

I need a cute way of putting them straight without unsettling the other jobs  nearby
 I did a mini review of the slow/ non payers and was shocked to find the amount unpaid was  well over a thousand  this year
Not including the well pay next moth  brigade  the sum will triple if I added them on
How do you all deal with them
Surely it’s not just me who gets them !!

Don't ever be scared to loose bad customers,  sign up to go cardless. Everyone who doesn't continually pay within 7 days then on the next clean post a note with your slip explaining that from the next clean, this is going to be the payment method used for collecting the window cleaning payment. So if they could sign up to the payment option before the next clean is due.

The ones who aren't signed up by the next time your round don't get done, simple as that.  We have all been there and tolerated it like yourself at some stage, until you pro actively do something about it then itl never change, and youl have the same problem 12 months down the line.

I put up with it alot longer than I should have because like yourself, you put up with it in fear that you loose the work.  The majority of the ones you do it to will sign up, let the ones who don't be someone else's headache.  Youl regret not doing it sooner.

All new customers get told at the first clean that if payment is made later than 7 days twice within a 12 month period  the option of bacs payment is taken away and they go onto go cardless. 

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4076
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2024, 09:17:29 pm »
I have to admit, I have a certain amount of tolerance in order to keep my round compact. It’s kind of like back in the trad days, customers with bungalows used to get a wee bit more leverage because I didn’t want to lose what was effectively easy work.

Bungle

  • Posts: 2533
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2024, 09:27:31 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Very good Humpty Dumpty. Now answer the question that was asked.


It’s none of your business what his average price is . He doesn’t do just window cleaning so you aren’t going to get an average price anyway

Spose he's not telling porkies though 😉
We look at them, they look through them.

deeege

  • Posts: 5104
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2024, 09:51:42 pm »
You have to chase some debt from time to time. We knock on doors every so often and put "Friendly Reminder" slips through the door if they aren't there.

We don't let the debt mount up. Each clean we do is paid for before we clean again. We have £64 of residential debt atm and £74 of commercial debt. The commercial debt was a job completed today.

£3517.00 of debt, both commercial and a few domestic. Completely normal and expected when carrying out commercial jobs with 30/45 day payment terms.
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26299
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2024, 10:29:00 pm »
Hi
How do you all deal with slow or non payers ?
One is obvious the other is a bit more tricky as they owe you  need to get your money without the nuclear option they
have  a habit of calling you  to clean  but
Seem to conveniently forget the last one two  or three unpaid invoices 
The as and when’s seem to be the worst

A middle class phonon !!

I need a cute way of putting them straight without unsettling the other jobs  nearby
 I did a mini review of the slow/ non payers and was shocked to find the amount unpaid was  well over a thousand  this year
Not including the well pay next moth  brigade  the sum will triple if I added them on
How do you all deal with them
Surely it’s not just me who gets them !!

I don't tolerate bad payers. Think about it. You refuse to clean until the debt is settled and you think they will moan to their neighbours? Not a chance.

If you had a gardener you and your neighbour used and you didn't pay him promptly and he reminded you or dumped you would you tell your neighbour?

No. Because you don't want to embarrass yourself as a tightwad who bumps the gardener.

Your customers need a good reliable window cleaner. If that's you then stand tall give and expect respect. And expect prompt payment.

If they forget occasionally then fine. I just send them a text to remind them. If I feel they are taking me for granted they get dumped.



It's a game of three halves!

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26299
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #15 on: December 23, 2024, 11:18:00 pm »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Very good Humpty Dumpty. Now answer the question that was asked.

Not really any need for the name calling.
It's a game of three halves!

jay moley

  • Posts: 525
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #16 on: December 24, 2024, 07:38:39 am »
You simply cannot accept people that continue to not pay you.

I give people 7 days to pay. It's on the bill I leave each time.

Once they go beyond this I text them to ask for payment. 90% pay. Everyone's busy and they probably just forget. I will keep texting them until they pay.

I also use SumUp on my phone (takes card payments). If I'm in the area I will knock to take the payment. If you catch them there's no way out for them as everyone has a card. I recently got paid by two customers that had not paid for 6 months, very satisfying. I'll then offer to keep coming if they set up a direct debit.

I used to do two cleans even if they haven't paid, but I've reduced this to just one.

You will always get some that never pay, but just let it go and move on.

I will then text them to say that unless they pay for the last clean I will have to stop coming.

Dump and just get a new customer.

richard connett

  • Posts: 321
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #17 on: December 24, 2024, 07:43:35 am »
Never clean more than once without payment. Even if they are begging you
Send  a debt text two weeks after clean if not paid
Send another one  every week until payment
If they take more than 2 reminders strike them off the round  anyway
Trust your instincts they are usually right
You may still lose out sometimes but not by the amount you have been



Bungle

  • Posts: 2533
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #18 on: December 24, 2024, 08:31:04 am »
The sooner you dump the here and now mob then the better you will feel. You run your business not them. When I started up I let my new customers order me about because I only had 10 customers. Now I have over 100 and have the bottle to dodge folk and don't even return their calls. Got one in posh area and she said the guy that covers the area didn't come back I asked did you pay him, yes was her answer. So I did it and got paid and I thought another good customer on my books then the next month she failed to pay so I dodged her. She even had the cheek to text me to clean before Christmas. I text back, okay pay the one you owe and another one and I will come and clean them, I'm still waiting.
What I do with messers, I ask them to set up a DD and I will continue and they usual fail to do it and I'm set free. Too busy to even talk to these people now but I'm established and don't even need to advertise now.
Good luck.

You say you're doing really well. What's your average price per job? Just wondering 🤔

Last week was my best week but I do add-ons. Monday £400, tue,wed,thur £200 each, Friday £600, sat & sun £400, I have certain runs I have to complete and can make £300 but when I get £200 the novelty wears off and I want to go home for the horse racing. Boxing day is good with 12 meetings on. Will begin laying a monoblock path out at my lock ups where we have a much deteriorated public path. I have 10 sq metres of expensive monoblock I need to get rid and half ton of sand so will dig up the path and lay the block paving, neighbours know what I'm doing. I do all the maintenance where I stay for free and they let me park my van at the lock ups. Win win situation, they don't want me to move but I'm running out of room.

Very good Humpty Dumpty. Now answer the question that was asked.

Not really any need for the name calling.

If you're a bragger or Billy buller then I believe you need calling out. I can't stand either of them and there's no need for it 👍
We look at them, they look through them.

Stoots

  • Posts: 6321
Re: Advice needed on slow / non payers
« Reply #19 on: December 24, 2024, 09:01:45 am »
I just dump them these days.

I used to go down thr debt latter route and even took a couple to small claims.

I've been down the revenge route as well a few times and whilst lobbing half a brick out of the van window onto a non payers car bonnet sounds very satisying theres that many cameras and ring door bells etc about these days it's probably not worth the risk anymore.

I just write them off now, dump and move on. I don't know how much I've lost this year I would guess a couple hundred quid to non payers but in the grand scheme of things 20 quid a month before tax isn't much loss for a business. Most businesses will Incur losses and write offs we are actually lucky most are jobs are low value I'll bet other trades getting taken for a lot more.