[*Mr Tumble]

Go to house...

Owner tells me that two Polish men called a couple of weeks ago saying that I had 'moved on', and that they had taken over my round.

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but's that's not very nice is it?  I wonder if it's illegal?

I'd read on here before about people going around saying that the w/c was 'dead' or 'in prison', and now it's happening here.

What you make of that?
Anything practical I can do (legally?)

[simon knight]

Not being funny but if your customer didn't even have the common sense/decency to phone you to confirm that this was the case then...well... words fail me!

What I can't understand is how did they know how much to charge?

Legally I don't expect there's much you can do really...I mean I don't think telling porkies is illegal (unless of course you're in court!)

Illegally you can round up the boys and give the see-you-next-tuesdays a good kicking!

What did your custy say after you'd explained she'd been conned?

[*Mr Tumble]

No, the custy didn't pay htem, and the men did no work.


It was an attempt either to take over the round, or part of it, or to do a one-off hoping to be paid for it.


What I dont get is how could the men know what the price was? For all they knew, it could have been VERY under-priced, unless they went in with their own quote.

Puzzled.

[charlton]

it would be best to tell all customers that only you will do there windows and if you are unable to do them they will receive a call from your business number.

[Moderator David@stives]

It is illegal, it is called fraud !!

[TennetClean]

Dave is right, this is obtaining money by deception, which is a type of fraud which is illegal

[Ian Lancaster]

Another good argument for uniforms and signwritten vans.  All our custies know anyone claiming to be part of our organisation will be instantly recognisable

[simon knight]

No, the custy didn't pay htem, and the men did no work.


It was an attempt either to take over the round, or part of it, or to do a one-off hoping to be paid for it.


What I dont get is how could the men know what the price was? For all they knew, it could have been VERY under-priced, unless they went in with their own quote.

Puzzled.

Ah right i can see the picture now.

Polish guys: "Halo mizziz, can we you windows clean?"
Custy: "No it's ok I've got a window cleaner"
Polish guys: "No, e's gone on...e giv we is jobs."
Custy: "Sling yer hook."

Nowt much you can do about it except possibly pop a note through all your customers doors explaining what's going on and that you and only you will be doing their windows. Personally I wouldn't even bother with that....just trust that your customers aren't that stupid :

If you don't fancy going down the "kick their effing heads in" road what you might do is if you see them door-knocking, follow them, try to get a couple of pictures on yer phone and report them to social services...guaranteed they're on benefits

[windowwashers]

Not being funny but if your customer didn't even have the common sense/decency to phone you to confirm that this was the case then...well... words fail me!

What I can't understand is how did they know how much to charge?

Legally I don't expect there's much you can do really...I mean I don't think telling porkies is illegal (unless of course you're in court!)

Illegally you can round up the boys and give the see-you-next-tuesdays a good kicking!

What did your custy say after you'd explained she'd been conned?

I is illegal for them to do this, call the police and have it logged, years ago I had a guy do this to me on a round I have in Cambridge, my first thought was to wait and catch him and give him a slap which I intended to do (not the best thing to do at all) it was only when an old lady that trusts me and guy working for me at the time let this guy in her house, she never called me, he said I had broken my leg and he was working this round from now on.

This to me was a step to far as the lady was very old and it reminded me of my nan, I called the police and it was logged I explained to this lady never to let anyone in her hosue unless they had our uniform on and if she not know the face to call me direct to verify.

Police did nothing as usual, he stopped doing it when he went back the next time cleaned windows lady did not pay him and said she was calling police because she knew he was a liar (through her door)

never seen this guy since.

CALL THE POLICE, AT LEAST IT IS LOGGED.


Ian

[*Mr Tumble]

If I involve the police I don't want to bother the custy about it - that would be a turn off no doubt.

[simon knight]

It is illegal, it is called fraud !!

Yes you're right it is fraud!...one of my problems, type first think later :

[tomy jackson]

i had two lads do this to me on old foks flats oldbill sad it iscompertishon after i gave them car no he swore , il be rond ther i sad no & no & st names his eyes nearl fell out i sad it wont be long be for ther back in

[simon knight]

Was that the end of it Tomy or did they come back?

[windowwashers]

If I involve the police I don't want to bother the custy about it - that would be a turn off no doubt.

I would not say this was a turn off at all, more that you respect them and do not want people that are clear lairs knocking there door, I have thought about this, if it happened to me, I would want the worker to tell me
Ian

[TennetClean]

I dont think customers really want to be involved in a turf war over something as trivial as having their windows cleaned.

If you start involving them they are likely to say "listen thanks and all but lets just forget it shall we"

Personally I'd keep them out of it as much as possible

[windowwashers]

I dont think customers really want to be involved in a turf war over something as trivial as having their windows cleaned.

If you start involving them they are likely to say "listen thanks and all but lets just forget it shall we"

Personally I'd keep them out of it as much as possible

Turf war or someone just conning people is a little different would you not want to be told if someone might con you ?

I would what to know.

[s.w.c]

 ;)sounds like to me the jolly foreign boys are gonna start the old style window cleaning wars off again, ive been around long enough to remember the way it was in 80s an early 90s people being pushed of there ladders so they cant work just to nick there rounds, whats next they going to pinch your van with system in it to put you out of work or car jacking in broad daylight , keep your eyes peeled some of theses boys are crazy enough to try.

[*Mr Tumble]

Its funny how the few people I talked to today about this started off talking about Polish people being 'hard worker', then it wasn't long before it was they was 'crooked', 'corrupt' etc. and 'not surprising they had a bad name'.

[macmac]

Shoot the lot of 'em, problem solved!

Tony

[*Mr Tumble]

Hmm..   

They're just trying to make a living.