[John Gregory]

Thanks Dave

This women was as mad as a hatter , last night when i went round to give her money she told me that her husband was in bed with scarlet fever , she is proper looney toons for the sake of a couple of hundred quid its not worth the myth er , I'm more annoyed at myself for letting it  reck my chrimbo and my family's

John

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

John

I know what you feel like, and the sense of relief when you can move on from these situations is wonderful.

If we met people like this all the time we would become inured to them. It's only because they are so few and far between we forget what they are like and are always taken by surprise when we again meet one of them.

Here's to a good 2008.

Roger

[David_Annable]

Hi

LOL

I've been to bed with Scarlet Fever, the wife wasn't to pleased when she found out.

Dave

[John Gregory]

Dave that was a really crap Joke . go to bed

John

[richie]

John,  Did you just give her the money to get it replaced or did you get the carpet?  I would not have give her the money, i would have firstly fitted a door bar n said there you go sorted.  If that wasnt possible coz the bar wouldnt have covered the area i would have paid for the carpet and not given the witch the money directly.

Richie.

[PaulKing]

I'm more annoyed at myself for letting it  reck my chrimbo and my family's

John

just moved absolutely everything away from my home and i really does make it easier, we had the nightmare lady  send a register next day delivery letter that was written on the 11th of dec but timed to arrive christmas eve, for maximum effect. Normally something like that would wreck my christmas or at least upset me for a day or two.

 I got it at 11.30 read it, put i on my desk and said it think about in the new year. And went to the pub with everyone else. Just replied to it this week.

pete did like you insight about a "qualified financial loss being proven" a very good point did you get it from a source somewhere as sound very professional.

Usually they make you come out after hours when they are finished work and then want compensation of their time, might well use that if i need to shut someone up. Another point is to let them know you will only reimburse on a imdemity basis i.e "like for like".
 Know how you feel they just like to twist the knife sometimes,



Paul was this the mother of a famous person job/

[Joe H]

I definately have sympathy with you John, as I had a problem late November (which i posted on here and got lots of encouragement) when 3 spots appeared after the clean.
My "problem" has gone quite, but not gone away I dont think.
It does affect your life, its always on your mind, and in your case it seems you have a particulary difficult client.
At least now you can forget it - done and over.

[JS2]

Dear Paul and John

The point I made about a quantifiable financial loss is how I understand the system of compensation for damage actually works.  In other words, a fair civil complaint is met with a fair and reasonable response.  As another forum member put it, if you accidentally scratch somebody's car then you are only liable to return it to the condition it was in before your action occurred (and I'm far from convinced that John even did anything seriously wrong at all, since the fault was waiting to happen because of the inferior state of things before he arrived).  However if during the time the car is being repaired the owner has to use alternative transport that costs more than the expense he/she would have otherwise incurred, then they can fairly make an extra claim for the surplus amount.  Any frivolous claim for inconvenience has on its own no financial value attached.  OK, if the house couldn't be used to host an important event because of the carpet damage then a financial loss might have occurred - but with all common sence this won't have happened in this case and the intelligence of the legal adjudicators would surely arrive at this conclusion (don't forget, in a County Court case we' re delegating the matter to very educated people).

However, please accept that these are my views and I may be incorrect.  I'd hate to be wrongly labelled some sort of 'forum Lawyer'.  Anyhow I expect that claims are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity for others to comment on the issue for the benefit of all colleagues since threats by customers, for whom forum members work so hard, are incredibly upsetting.

Regards

Pete (JS2)

[*paul_moss]

Js2, I take your view and I would have stood my ground in terms of repair/make good.

[turneylogan]

I know it would never happen but I'd love to create a register on here of all customers of whom carpet cleaners and domestic cleaners (and any other categories) should be wary - i.e. non-payers and nutters.

[murky]

Betterclean,

You have email.

[Joe H]

I know it would never happen but I'd love to create a register on here of all customers of whom carpet cleaners and domestic cleaners (and any other categories) should be wary - i.e. non-payers and nutters.

The list would be too long.
and of course there is the Data Protection Act

[*paul_moss]

Joe is yours still ongoing ? or have you now delt with it.

[Joe H]

Paul
She gave me one last chance to order the new carpet for her, then she said she was going to hand it over to her legal team (I think her home insurance said they would take up the challange).
Her date expired Dec 24th.
So far heared nothing but I am sure I will.
If she is still going to be involved maybe she is delaying cause her baby is due about 20th if I remember correctly.
Like John Gregory, it is always in your mind. Every time the postman comes you wonder if there will be a solicitors letter.
When, if, anything comes I will be consulting a solicitor for advice.

I took one of my domestic cleaners to small claims 2 years ago (took 16 months to get her to court).
She had fiddled her time on a regular basis ie daily, in a office clean where you gain accesss thro a electronic tag - so all times were recorded.
As it was so clear to see I handled my own case, but she got free representation from some council tax funded legal advice, and she won.
So I paid for her defence (via council tax)!!

That was a spread over 16 months and part way thro I got anonymous mail accusing me of being something rather nasty.
Went straight to the police with it.  Upshot was, they thought it would be her but as it was only 1 letter they would not do anything with it, not even give her a visit. They suggested I contacted her, tell her I had taken a piece of unwanted mail to the police, who are taking it seriously, and if any more came then action would be taken.
No more came, but I am sure you can imagine the mental torture you go thro. Not just on the accusation, but then "waiting" for the next one to arrive. Or worse still, the letter threatened to pass it (the lie) thro the neigbourhood.
No more did come, but when the court case came I had said to myself "win or lose - it will be finished" (as long as she did'nt start again).

Not a happy time in my life.
but then I thought - I only lost a few hundred quid pay thro a faulty justice system.... some have lost their freedom for things they have never done........ and others have gone free for serious crimes they have done.