[pylofm]

Did a clean the other day (wftp first clean)...3 storey....we did a normal bit of phoning the customer in the evening to make sure all was ok (normal for our first time customers).

Well the lady of the house phones today and says....we what exactly did you do?none of the woodwork (facia's etc) were done...thats right we cleaned the windows and frames and not the woodwork.....

Lady continues to tell us that there are plenty of other window cleaners who'll do the front back and all the wood work for the price we gave her boyfriend to do the fronts and sides of the house.

So she drops us...not for the standard of work that we did but for reasons unknown to us....

Feel really bad as we worked very hard on her house but what can you do....

Sorry guys just feeling a bit crap and down...

So over to you...please make me feel better 

Just got another phone call from an old lady the we have done once...."says I do not need you anymore as I am now moving..."....jeeeeeeeees...am I a mug or what !!

Cheers
Dave.

[marc al]

  I had similar last month, done the windows, got paid, 12 quid job, all frames ettc clean up. 15 minutes later the wife rings, the old dear had been on the phone to say she was cancelling me because I hadn't done the conservatory roof!

   Wife explained that she needs to tell me what she wants doing and that 12 pound wouldn't cover that, she was addament it should and didn't want me back!!

    As a great philosopher once said "win some, lose some, it's all the same to me"  (lemy - Motorhead)

[AuRavelling79]

Did you get paid? If so then let the unreasonable mare go without a second thought.

I'd hate to be her plumber (Pb) - can you imagine?

Her: How much to fit an outside tap?
Pb: £60 plus vat missus.
Her: OK, go ahead.
Pb does job and gets paid by husband.
Her: (phoning to complain) Why didn't you fix the guttering and downpipe while you were here?
Pb: Well ...  duh!

[batterbee]

Hi Mate,

Don't get to downhearted with such an unreasonable customer, sounds your best red of her mate.

We all get customers that are complete t---ts but you soon get thick skinned to these sort and realise there are plenty normal customers to not worry.

By the way if you didn't get paid, a dozen eggs might help you feel better if you know what i mean

Regards

John

[Wozza]

And if you do the egg thing, then do it 2moro !

Then she gets to look at it all weekend !

Top job !

[matt]

book a holiday for next year


it has given me a spring in my step again

[neil100]

Unfortunatley you are allways going to get something like that happening now and again, You did the job right who knows how you might gain from it in the future.

I did a new clean last week. The previous month I spoke to the lady of the house as they had just moved in. They had not been cleaned for a year. Told them the price, upvc with leaded glass. £14.00. Bit expensive she said leave them this month but clean them in November.

So I cleaned them last week, Worked really hard to get them spotless.Left a card. The following day her husband rings me up. Who told you to clean our Windows?

Your Wife Did.

No she NEVER DID.

Look I am a busy Fella, I will not clean anybodys windows unless they say I can. Your Wife said to clean them in November, I have.

No she never, She said she would think about it. We have. You are charging an extorinate amount of money. So we dont want them cleaning.

In the end I had to accept they were not going to pay. He refused to pay.

I said fair enough, Enjoy your nice clean windows, they do look good dont they. But if you ever ask me in the future to clean them, You will have to pay me double for the first clean and you will have to pay in advance.

Its only £14 lost, Nothing to get uptight about.

Nel.

[john tomkins]

What you have got to remember is that Dave, along with myself have only been going a couple of months and dont as yet have a huge customer base that can warrant the "it's only £10/£15/£20 it doesn't matter" response.
For me to lose even one at this time make me pig sick, especially when it's not due to the quality of work, just an arsey customer .
I can relate to you Dave, keep smiling, we will get there

[geefree]

Dave.

its not like you to get down over something like that..

it will happen, and so will other things..

you can handle it... think of how many new customers you will get to replace each dozy one mate.

keep smiling

Gary.

[EasyClean]

Word of warning to the newbie window cleaners- beware of the 'Newbie' customers this time of year as most of them only want their windows cleaned once ready for Xmas. Either charge them double (at least) for the first clean or tell them that you have a full round and that because you are regular you can't clean theirs until after Xmas as that sorts out the genuine potential customers!!!!!

[pylofm]

Thanks guys....it really does make a difference to hear from you and your stories...puts it all into perspective...

Once again..many thanks for taking the time and 'understanding'

  Dave...

[Malcal]

[quote author=neil100 link=topic=27976.msg213962#msg213962 date=116370

In the end I had to accept they were not going to pay. He refused to pay.

I said fair enough, Enjoy your nice clean windows, they do look good dont they. But if you ever ask me in the future to clean them, You will have to pay me double for the first clean and you will have to pay in advance.

Its only £14 lost, Nothing to get uptight about.

Nel.

Nel your right "In the end I had to accept they were not going to pay. He refused to pay." but your not right in "Its only £14 lost, Nothing to get uptight about." if you stole £14 of kit from thier home you'd be done, the've stolen from you and thats the way to look at it, the've stolen your time, when you could have been earning money from loyal customers.
Good luck in the future Mal

[simbo]

i do not easily get riled but i would have to revert to my childish side and egg 1 window on that one, a prominent upstairs one at that, it would eat me up if not. We do all get them but this bloke is a prize t**t.
simbo " sorry but really gets my back up"

[geefree]

or even wf/ pole it again...... with tap water and a touch of dirty from the bucket.

that way there is no comeback or crininal offence.... just pure satisfaction of putting the dirt back 

[JM123]

or even wf/ pole it again...... with tap water and a touch of dirty from the bucket.

that way there is no comeback or crininal offence.... just pure satisfaction of putting the dirt back 

yeah I done that once - some numptycheese riled me, so I gave him a free clean - with tap water (tap water in the area about 350ppm)

LOVELY!!

[KJG]

Word of warning to the newbie window cleaners- beware of the 'Newbie' customers this time of year as most of them only want their windows cleaned once ready for Xmas. Either charge them double (at least) for the first clean or tell them that you have a full round and that because you are regular you can't clean theirs until after Xmas as that sorts out the genuine potential customers!!!!!

Excellent bit of advice.

[tartan cleaning]

hi you'll always get this sort of customer and unfortunately usually there is a new window cleaner around to take them on! I usually won't clean a new house unless they are in never assume that they still want them doing as i've caught out a few times with the same senario you have just posted I once did a house which a few days before the couple in question they agreed to have windows cleaned then when i did them he phoned me up and threatened me with tresspassing on his property. I was not enchanted by his phone call and put in down to a bad job but it really annoyed me at the time!  :

[Londoner]

I'm going out in about an hour to do  a woman who I am sure will be on of those  "once cleans".

I leafleted her road about April / May and she phones up this week in a panic, must be done Saturday morning. Baby being Christened Sunday.

[scrimit2]

I hate to admit it but I really do take troublesome customers to heart, I know I shouldnt but they do get to me, it would be nice to just let it go right over my head, maybe in time,

when I find the sloution I will let you know

[Pat Purcell]

Have not done this but I have seen the results of it, next time a customer does the dirt on you if they have a water feature they will usually only turn it on to impress the visitors or something so just load it up with fairy when its turned off, when its turned back on "white christmas"