[Cherubs]

Something to be aware of!  On building sites they normally employ two sets of cleaners.  One to carry out the builders cleans and one to carry out the handover cleans (sparkle cleans before occupany).  It came to my attention that the other cleaning company was giving the site manager a back hander (cash on a weekly basis) to secure their cleaning contract. 

I am not in a position to give anyone a back hander and would rather secure a job on merit than giving my hard earned money away.  Consequently we dont work for that site any more and the site manager is quids in.  Have you ever heard of such goings on?

[Robert Parry]

Does not suprise me in the least I am afraid, but rather like yourself, I would not have anything to do with it.
When clients are only concerned about price, I am afraid things like this are going to happen. The cleaning industry as a whole really does not help themselves when things like this happen, we all have costs, these must be covered, when somebody goes down this route, you have to wonder and worry about their other shady practices in the really important stuff, such as employment legislation and Health & Safety etc, best off out of it imho, regards.

[Seers]

This goes on with lots of new build sites. Site managers are spending the companies money and will often sign off extra work in exchange for cash, free carpet cleaning, anything they can wangle!

If you can build up good relations with site mangers, qs's and contract managers they will often take them with you from site to site.

Of course we wouldn't go down this route though, honest.

Cheers,

Huw.

[Andy Foster]

Hi.

Backhanders are not necessary in my experience.

If you do a good job for a sensible price and do the little things that make a difference, you will be the first company they call when a new job comes up.

Its all about customer service.

If a site manager expects some service or cash in order for you to get the job I would not be happy working for them as they would drop you like a hot stone if a 'better offer' came along.

I know this is the way some work, but I avoid them like the plague.

Your choice though.

Andy

[martin19842]

hi there

we have been build cleaning for over two years now, and are working with some of the big boys in the house building game.

never had anything like that happen on our sites, and would never entertain it.

they pay our cost which isnt the cheapest and work to our requirements, else we dont do the work, simple.

martin

[Seers]

Over the last seven years we've built a sound reputation in terms of getting apartments handed over on time and to spec. We are currently responsible for some of the largest developments in Cardiff.

However, there are one or two construction firms who we have never worked for and can make no headway in this direction. I know for a fact that some site managers etc accept back handers from the cleaning firms that undertake their work.

We have girls working for us who used to work for these cleaning firms who actually used to deliver the backhander to the site agent on a monthly basis!
Even when these cleaning firms fail to get flats handed over on time, they never seem to get kicked off site, I wonder why?

Backhanders are something we have never done and will never do.

Cheers,

Huw.