[pdale]

Thought this would be a bit of fun on a rainy day. 

Ok i don't expect anyone to post that they have.

So hopefully this poll is anonomous, it would be interesting to see how many have done this. I suspect that many started out this way, i know of a few that have. May be i am wrong, let's see

Paul

[matt]

personally i havent

though i cannot wait to see the high moral replies

this really should be a entertaining post 

[seandyer2003]

personally i havent

though i cannot wait to see the high moral replies

this really should be a entertaining post 

People will say no no never done that hate them spongers, and then con the taxman year in and out, whats the difference, both as illegal!

[Oakley Windows]

Good post sean.

Only claimed for the dole for a 2 week period since I left school, 30 years ago.

[ronnie paton]

i know off plenty of window cleaners that do, i think in council areas its very common(im from a counsil area) this is one of the reasons why i think a licence is a good thing, the Cowboys who dont pay tax have a at least 30% price advantage

[Clive McDonald]

i know off plenty of window cleaners that do, i think in council areas its very common(im from a counsil area) this is one of the reasons why i think a licence is a good thing, the Cowboys who dont pay tax have a at least 30% price advantage

Strongly agree with this.... but if someone was starting and needed a three or four month buffer while they came up to speed i wouldn't condemn them morally or go out of my way to cause trouble for them.Sometimes you've got to do what you got to do.

As a permanent life style, totally wrong and unacceptable.

[dai]

I have answered yes, when I started after being made redundant from my engineering job,
I was paid £40 a week enterprise allowance, I was happy to receive this for 12 months.
I bet there are a few of us on here that got started that way too.

[TVCS]

does this include things like working tax credit. 

[seandyer2003]

I have answered yes, when I started after being made redundant from my engineering job,
I was paid £40 a week enterprise allowance, I was happy to receive this for 12 months.
I bet there are a few of us on here that got started that way too.

Enterprise allowance isnt the same as claiming unemployment benefit though? You were in your right to receive this??

I agree with Ronnie i see a lot of WC(If you can call them that) who are doing a few days here and there and claiming dole, its a common thing in Manchester, i think that's how some manage to work for pittance, its just beer money to them, thankfully they never have much work, but its annoying to see. Bringing in licensing and maybe banning ladders properly if that could be done?(Cause they wouldnt be able to afford to go WFP!) would soon stop it though! Im all for it!

[TVCS]

there are some dodgy , pikey lads that clean in my street, only on a friday tho.  (beer money me thinks) The street I'm on a very good price would be £10,  5 windows and 2 doors per property no conservatories.  They charge my neighbours £20 each.  CASH ONLY.   if no-one is in they sit out side the house till they can collect.  No sending these boys a cheque.  They asked me if I wanted mine doing one day as i was emptying my van of the days bits and bobs.  I pointed out the sign writing on the van and told them I could manage my own windows.  I then got a warning about poaching work from their area.  I nearly messed myself laughing at him.    They came round one friday and I was wfpling my windows and they had a right laugh at me.  Calling ME a cowboy etc. 
Its pikeys like this that give w/c a bad rep.  White shell suits that havent been washed for......ever.   stubble and generally llook like thwey would mug you if you couldnt pay.   I bet these boys are claiming job seekers allowance.

[ronnie paton]

ean were a bouts in manchester are you from pal??

Some of these cowboys have samll rounds but some have substantial rounds and make very good money but with out paying tax and insuarnce, we would all love to save 30 % on our income but we do it the right way.

i

[seandyer2003]

ean were a bouts in manchester are you from pal??

Some of these cowboys have samll rounds but some have substantial rounds and make very good money but with out paying tax and insuarnce, we would all love to save 30 % on our income but we do it the right way.

i

I was born in Blackley and lived there for 13 years, now living in Middleton, nr Oldham, but my work is not round here, only work in Manchester is a round in hulme and then marple and hazelgrove is where the majority of my work is, do have some half days here and there near me in oldham and moston for when i got half day, and bit of commercial nearby too, need more though yet.......Where abouts are you cleaning? Your based in Hyde??

[Gordon Saunders]

I Claimed housing benefit when i first started as i was on a low income .
I also claimed  Family Tax credits for a year but ended up having to repay the lot.

  Gordon

[Paul Coleman]

i know off plenty of window cleaners that do, i think in council areas its very common(im from a counsil area) this is one of the reasons why i think a licence is a good thing, the Cowboys who dont pay tax have a at least 30% price advantage

Strongly agree with this.... but if someone was starting and needed a three or four month buffer while they came up to speed i wouldn't condemn them morally or go out of my way to cause trouble for them.Sometimes you've got to do what you got to do.

As a permanent life style, totally wrong and unacceptable.

I claimed unemployment benefit (as it was then called) when I first started window cleaning.  I did it perfectly legally too.  I had been on PAYE.  I was unemployed in the early 90s recession.  I worked one part day a week for under c. £50 (the level at which I would have stopped qualifying for UB) and I received five sixths of my unemployment benefit (it was based on a 6 day week).  I was totally open about it with them.  I even went in to sign on one day and told them I was a bit concerned.  I asked the question, "How do I tell if I am an unemployed person with a little biyt of casual work OR a self-employed person who has got very little work?"  Their answer was a classic.  It was "Fill in this form"  LOL.  There were a number of questions on the form.  I think the key one was "If you were offered a job, would you take it and discontinue the casual work?" (or something like that).  I truthfully answered "Yes" which, at that time, was true.  I even got the odd week driving for an employment agency.  I would phone in and my claim would be temporarily suspended until I could get to the office the following week to sign on again.  I must say that, contrary to all I had believed beforehand, the staff at the signing on place bent over backwards to assist me in being partially employed.  It was that help that allowed me to make the break from benefits after a few months.  Pity the housing benefit people weren't so helpful.  I still had to pay full rent.  I had some savings that were below their threshhold so I paid my rent out of that.  I got around the UB bit by canvassing loads of work to start after a date in the near future.  I then knew I had enough work after that date to live on (just) so I eventually signed off.

[ronnie paton]

sean yes im fro hyde i do work in and around stockport too, whats your company called?

might see you about!

[seandyer2003]

sean yes im fro hyde i do work in and around stockport too, whats your company called?

might see you about!

Its Dolphin Window Cleaning, dont ask why just struggled to come up with a name and that stuck, theres loads of similar on internet, not local though, You prob wont spot me yet though as not sign written yet, got wfp trailer, but waiting to get van!

[bumper]

 
Question: Have you ever claimed benefits, whilst window cleaning? 
im still am 400 a week plus councill tax paid and rent and water rates

[L.J.Thorpe]

 

Question: Have you ever claimed benefits, whilst window cleaning?
im still am 400 a week plus councill tax paid and rent and water rates

if you are a wind up merchant then fair enough
if your for real i really do hope you fall off your ladder and smash your pelvis
lying poncing lowlife scum, er no offence

[kris martin]

I Claimed housing benefit when i first started as i was on a low income .
I also claimed  Family Tax credits for a year but ended up having to repay the lot.

  Gordon

why did you have to pay it back did you get caught?

[matt]

Question: Have you ever claimed benefits, whilst window cleaning? 
im still am 400 a week plus councill tax paid and rent and water rates

what you only earn 400 a week, you should really work for more than 8 hours a week  : : :