[johnny_h]

called a customer last night to arrange for the gate to be left open to be told we are going out cancel tomorrow come back friday now that really makes my blood boil its only the third time i have done them  thats the last one i take on who wants calling the night before ! rant over

[GMG]

Been there mate got to ask your self who's running my business them or you !!

[pjulk]

get rid of her you can't have customers messing you about

[simon knight]

I thought the whole idea of someone leaving the gate open was so that they don't have to be in when you turn up. And as for "come back Friday"

[Tim82]

Yeah that very irritating.... check out the poll I started about ringing/texting.

[kenaltobelli]

i never  keep them sort of custermers on just cant run like that but alot of times just catch them
when i can if you are going that way makes it worth your while

[AuRavelling79]

What's it worth to you? Business decision, remember.

[Ian Lancaster]

You should make your terms absolutely clear when you give your quotation.  "Ring Night Before" is purely so they can leave clear access, not so they can decide if they want it or not.  If they want to be able to dictate when you will do the job, fine.  That's "Premium Service" and it starts at £50 per visit.

[Paul Coleman]

called a customer last night to arrange for the gate to be left open to be told we are going out cancel tomorrow come back friday now that really makes my blood boil its only the third time i have done them  thats the last one i take on who wants calling the night before ! rant over

They didn't specify what time then?
Perhaps you should have asked them?
The trouble is that such sarcasm would probably go right over their heads anyway.  I suppose it might be possible to turn up at 6 am and clean them but I'm not sure that I would have the front to do that myself.
Mind you, something that I did a long time ago was as follows:-
There was some woman who always used to complain if I was late - even by one day.  I got so peed off with her that I turned out to clean her windows on a Sunday.  I only did this because I knew she was devoutly religious and would disapprove.  When it was commented upon, I made sure that she was aware that I was only working on a Sunday because I was starting to get behind with my work.  She never complained again.  I lost the job eventually but it was one of those ones where I came close to throwing it in a few times so I was happy to see the back of it.
Yes I know it was naughty.
And no, I wouldn't do it now.

[Tim82]

You should make your terms absolutely clear when you give your quotation.  "Ring Night Before" is purely so they can leave clear access, not so they can decide if they want it or not.  If they want to be able to dictate when you will do the job, fine.  That's "Premium Service" and it starts at £50 per visit.

LOL... i've been thinking about offering a "premium service" too.

[dmlservices]

 i dont ring , but i text a few, i have a template on my phone that i send .
'hi this is an automated message from [your comp. name] will be round tomorrow to clean windows please leave gate open.'
i have a delivery port activated on phone , lets me know it is recieved. i tell customer when i take them on that this is what i do , the automated part stops them replying , i tell them it it sent via my window cleaning management software [george to me and you ] , they are very impressed with how pro. we are.


daz

[chris@c.m.s]

i dont ring , but i text a few, i have a template on my phone that i send .
'hi this is an automated message from [your comp. name] will be round tomorrow to clean windows please leave gate open.'
i have a delivery port activated on phone , lets me know it is recieved. i tell customer when i take them on that this is what i do , the automated part stops them replying , i tell them it it sent via my window cleaning management software [george to me and you ] , they are very impressed with how pro. we are.


daz

Now that would be a good one for Paul at George to get to work on 

[elite mike]

i dont ring or text never know when i will do a job,some have given me keys,otherwise if they are out i split the ladder and climb over,if this is not possible i miss the backs and knock the price down,saves hassle

dead right 

[Paul Coleman]

i dont ring or text never know when i will do a job,some have given me keys,otherwise if they are out i split the ladder and climb over,if this is not possible i miss the backs and knock the price down,saves hassle

You should try WFP.  You can vault over the gates.  Don't try it with carbon though.
Seriously though, I am building quite a collection of keys for gates.  I've felt a bit tempted to relax my attitude to pre-arranging lately due to losing a chunk of work, but I know I would regret it.

[Londoner]

I have found there are more and more people that you need to phone because they are getting more security conscious.

Example, one of my customers had a simple gate with a bolt that I could undo. About two months ago that was replaced by a much bigger gate with a lock. The reason was because another house in the cul de sac got burgled.

Now I have to phone them.

[john tomkins]

I have found there are more and more people that you need to phone because they are getting more security conscious.

Example, one of my customers had a simple gate with a bolt that I could undo. About two months ago that was replaced by a much bigger gate with a lock. The reason was because another house in the cul de sac got burgled.

Now I have to phone them.

It ain't such a bad thing phoning/texting , only takes few seconds, and at least the payment is left.....sometimes :

[AuRavelling79]

I have found there are more and more people that you need to phone because they are getting more security conscious.

Example, one of my customers had a simple gate with a bolt that I could undo. About two months ago that was replaced by a much bigger gate with a lock. The reason was because another house in the cul de sac got burgled.

Now I have to phone them.

Ask for a key. Or a lock with a combination.

[karygate]

we ring all our customers night before. that way they know we are coming and always leave the money(well 99%) of time. the only problem is it leaves it open to a not this time but it is very occassionaly .

[simon knight]

i dont ring or text never know when i will do a job,some have given me keys,otherwise if they are out i split the ladder and climb over,if this is not possible i miss the backs and knock the price down,saves hassle

You should try WFP.  You can vault over the gates.  Don't try it with carbon though.
Seriously though, I am building quite a collection of keys for gates.  I've felt a bit tempted to relax my attitude to pre-arranging lately due to losing a chunk of work, but I know I would regret it.

Hi Shiner, you having quite a collection of keys!...how does that work from the insurance point of view?

The reason I ask is that I also get given keys, alarm codes, get asked to lock-up after I leave etc. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable in that should the place get burgled after I've gone the first question old bill would ask is: Who was the last person on the premises?  you can see the point I'm trying to make!

[Pole 2 Pole]

I got a new customer about 3 months ago. Similar thing. She gave me her number so i could text her the following month. Which i did 4 weeks later, only to be told that they were still clean and didn't need cleaning(but please don't forget me next month" her words. Sooooo, given her one more chance i text her a month later only for her to say that it looks like it might rain the next day or so, so please don't clean. But don't forget me next month(her words again) I was due back down her road today and guess what i forgot to do last night?? Text her. What do these morans take us for? She's been dropped from such a height, only her dental records might giver her identity away. Can't wait for "that" call asking when i'm due round again I'll just have to say that i can't do them this month, BUT don't forget to text me next month The daft thing is she said that she's been looking out for a decent window cleaner for ages. Then she finds one, then she loses me just like that. Hey Ho