[Walter Pole]

I have a strange problem with one of my recently aquired customers....
 
This is a 1990's 3 bed semi detached house that I normally charge £12 for including cons.  Had a call from someone I thought was the owner a couple of weeks ago asking me to clean the conservatory roof next time I cam around.  Anyway, I went to the house on Wednesday, she was out so cleaned the front, reached over the back gate unbolted it and did the back and conservatory roof, which was covered in pine needles and leaves.  I spent an hour on the property and without wanting to seem majorly expensive I put a card through her door for £25. (Yes I Know should have been higher)
 
The next day, she called me and said
'you have tresspassedin my garden, the gate was locked and I am only going to pay for the front to be cleaned because you broke into my garden whilst I wasn't there'
Now, I am reasonable kind of person but am quite annoyed with her attitude.  I plan to write a letter to her and maybe threaten small claims court action.
 
Do any of you have experience with small claims of £25.....or is it too small an amount to bother about?

Thanks
Mark

[sjm]

Do you still have then pine needles and leaves ?

[LWC]

yep pine needles and leaves definatly gotta go back on conserv dude!

this annoys me, theyve asked for soemthing to be done and then accuse you of this...when they asked for it! ooooo dont get me started on this one

[Joe Lauzon]

I wouldn't go that route, she could do a lot more damage that 25 quid to your business.

I would go round to see her face to face.  Its easy to get angry with someone when they are not in front of you.  Smile pleasantly, tell her its common practise to do what you did.  How did she expect you to clean the windows without accessing the property?  I expect she will realise her over reaction, be a little embarrassed and pay you.  

[sjm]

Seriously , dont let this get to you !  Cut your losses and move on  : Ask yourself if she is worth losing sleep over and getting wound up ?

[TennetClean]

dont bother going to court over £25, total waste of time and after it you'll wish you hadn't.  Also, how can you even prove that you were asked to do the conservatory roof.  That will be her word against yours.

At the end of the day, this is a misunderstanding, not a dispute.  As jow has said, go see her face to face, you'll probably find she apologises straight away as people dont like to be mean to your face.

[Walter Pole]

Thanks fellas

Yup, not worth wasting too much energy on, I will go and see her in a non threatening sort of way, maybe take the pushchair and baby and take it from there.......

Funny how you reap what you sow - last time someone didn't pay me, within a month and without realising, their daughter started using my taxi firm so I got the money and much more!

Regards
Mark

[Clive McDonald]

I spoke to someone i thought was the owner....

explain

[LWC]

my mom always says "kill em with kindness" lol. be overly nice, ive done it, it works well...but if not pine needles back on conserv roof cause they are a proper pain to get off

[Walter Pole]

I spoke to someone i thought was the owner....

explain

I had a call 2 weeks ago, whilst out working, I cannot be 100% certain it was this homeowner as I have recently taken over 9-10 houses in the same development.  I didn't write the instruction down but was 90% certain it was this property.  When she called me and I said 'but you asked me to clean the cons roof' she said she didn't - and maybe she is right.

The point that got up my nose was being accused of trespassing and that because of it I would be paid for doing the front 3 windows and door and not the back which includes the conservatory.

Regards
Mark

[Dave Turley]

I think i'd take the £12, bin them and forget about it. it's easy to let things like this drag on and  wind you up

[frames to panes]

Umm......... so there is a ten percent chance you may have cleaned the wrong house?

[Paul Coleman]

I think i'd take the £12, bin them and forget about it. it's easy to let things like this drag on and  wind you up

That sounds like the best way to me as well.  I would also add that after you have the money (cleared if it's by cheque) write to her politely to explain why you are not continuing the service.  If this person is being awkward now, there is a good chance they will continue to be awkward in the future.  Apart from that, I wouldn't wish to continue working for someone who had already cheated me out of some of my money.  I would feel a twinge of resentment each time I visited.

[elite mike]

hi mark

sorry you  have been ripped off??

how is the chimney sweeping going??

mike

[David Slater]

I spoke to someone i thought was the owner....

explain

I had a call 2 weeks ago, whilst out working, I cannot be 100% certain it was this homeowner as I have recently taken over 9-10 houses in the same development.  I didn't write the instruction down but was 90% certain it was this property.  When she called me and I said 'but you asked me to clean the cons roof' she said she didn't - and maybe she is right.

The point that got up my nose was being accused of trespassing and that because of it I would be paid for doing the front 3 windows and door and not the back which includes the conservatory.

Regards
Mark

If I was in that position I'd go round and explain the situation. I'd apologise profusely for doing the wrong house and explain due to my error, obviously there will be no charge for the con.

You cant really expect her to be anything but disgruntled if she's come home to find that here w/c has tried to rip her off (as she may see it) by doing work she never asked for.

My sister had a situation with a painter once - she asked for the living room walls to be painted and when she came home, he'd also gloss painted the skirting and wanted an extra £150 !!!....but when I paint the living room its normal to do the skirts as well - genuine mix-up or painter trying to pull a fast one?

You live and learn. Probably best to ask for a text confirmation in future   

[dai]

It's annoying when they take the mick, in extreme cases you can fine them £70, or whatever Sky charge these days for dish realignment, it only takes one tap on the LMB arm and the signals gone.

[kris martin]

crap the amount of people i have cost seventy quid with my ladders then 

[rugby]

when ever a customer refuses to pay me i fill a back pack up with dirty tap water and give them a free clean, i have only had to do this 4 or 5  times,it maybe a bit childish, but boy does it feel good.

ps
     shows how mean some of our customers are, none of them have thanked me for the free clean