[jr windows]

Hi All,

I bought a domestic window cleaning round four years ago, the bloke kept his commercial stuff but sold all the houses to me as he and his wife had bought a sandwich shop.

Cut a long story short, the shop is up for sale and he is contacting all my customers saying he is going back to window cleaning full time. He is slagging me off saying my brush (wfp) doesn't work. He has been at it for a few months and I have had four customers go back to him. I didn't sign any contract with him - he gave me a book with all customers names and address and I worked a month with him.

It's not the fact he is trying to get the customers back as there are plenty more of them! But, the fact he is slagging my name and system off really does my head in.

Any ideas?

Cheers Jason

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Im sure your customers are happy with you or they would already have left you.

 Make sure you tell all your customers that you paid for his round, that will make him look a right pillock.

There is always someone ready to slag off the pole system. :


Bob

[cvdewsbury]

the man sounds a right T**t, all you can do is plod along with your work if you are cleaning them ok and get along with the customers you should be ok,as you,ve been established with them long enough now.

[kris martin]

kick his butt

[jr windows]

I wouldn't mind if he canvassed new customers, it's a free world. But 99% of the custys are retired and he is going for the sympathy vote. If I kick his butt would I be as bad as him? I'm worried that if he slings enough mud some of it might stick?

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Cheers, Jason

[kris martin]

im only joking when i say kick his butt, you would probably end up in prison (that wont do) just do what your doing, keep going, if your not crap your custys will see that and if he takes some houses then for every house make it your mission to pick up 2 houses....    double the price..

[Ian Lancaster]

Never mind that you didn't sign any contract, the fact that you paid him makes it a legal contract (same as buying something in a shop - still a legal transaction even though you just handed over money).  Get a free initial consultation with a solicitor - then you could have him write a letter - it will cost, but should give the git a shock - I bet he never thought his cheating you could land him in court.

[kris martin]

yeah thats what i would do, it would prob never go to court but i reckon would shock him..

[Tony Warren]

The most effective way will be to tell your customers the truth. You may loose a few to him who preffered there windows done trad but work hard to replace them and don,t worry about loosing unfaithfull customers.

It might be the first thing that springs to mind but giving him a pasting at the moment will only help his plea to your customers. Wait while things settle down and then think about his punishment. And remember you don't have to be physical, pyscological torture gives a much greater satisfaction!

[kris martin]

i had a fellow wc who worked in the same area tell me he was going to offer my customers cheaper prices an take them all (he already had 5 timeas as many as me in this area) but him and his lads were crap, anway i have all the customers now and he dosnt even wc..  but in the process he put dog crap in my bucket (dirty sod) and threw eggs at 2 dozen of my custys windows.....   so maybe you could do that to your non loyal custys   

[jr windows]

Hi Tony,

I did 2.5 years trad and 18 months wfp I have added lots of happy custys to my round I think its because I enjoy wc that its getting on my nerves.

[NWH]

yeah thats what i would do, it would prob never go to court but i reckon would shock him..

You were right the first time Kris when you said kick his butt lol.

[kris martin]

did you not get a reciept off him of some sorts to put against your tax, that is what as always happened with me...

[NWH]

A letter will do the job,it will show him you mean business aswell.

[jr windows]

Hi Ideal,

Dont know if true but ive been told that if you buy good will then he doesnt have to pay TAX?

[kris martin]

Hi Ideal,

Dont know if true but ive been told that if you buy good will then he doesnt have to pay TAX?

dont understand

[jr windows]

I bought a book with names address and amount per property only goodwill of the  householder to say every month they want the windows cleaned.

[kris martin]

i got reciepts to say how much it pay's per fortnightly/monthly , how much i paid for it who from who too  etc etc etc    signed & sealed

[rugby]

kick his butt

i would,  if i paid someone good money for a round and then he tried to take my customers back,never mind slagging me off in the process i would put giving him a thump very high on my list of ways to stop this wa***r blackening my good name and in my eyes stealing work that i paid him for.

i know we all want to be proffesional etc etc, but their comes a point when enough is enough

[steve.ternent]

Hi Ideal,

Dont know if true but ive been told that if you buy good will then he doesnt have to pay TAX?

Sorry I don't know if this helps...
If I sell my round... lets say 3x value lets say value is £1000 for ease +£3000

I have just earned £3000

The argument I think you are putting is that the "Round" is not classed as an asset!

For instance As you put it only at the "goodwill of the  householder" therefore not tangible!
This is irrelevant, He sold something for "Real" cash... He earned it!

No tax man/woman would look at it any other way!