www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/2008/11/07/crosshouse-handyman-driven-out-of-business-by-rogues-81430-22184466/Crosshouse handyman driven out of business by rogues
Nov 7 2008 by Lizzie Struthers, Kilmarnock Standard
TRADESMAN Michael Dorrans claims he has been forced out of the window cleaning business by rogues.
The Crosshouse handyman says he can’t compete against undercutting, unlicensed and uninsured window cleaners.
The father-of-three, said: “I can’t afford to feed my family from making an honest living by cleaning windows.”
Michael understands that householders are choosing the cheaper service in a bid to save cash during the credit crunch.
But he is furious that the council is failing to stamp out on the rogue window cleaners.
Michael, who runs his own company Handymen Services, is registered and licensed through East Ayrshire Council.
He has been police checked and pays every three years for a licence to work in the area.
The fed-up 44-year-old handed his window cleaning licence back in disgust to East Ayrshire Council bosses this week.
He is planning to simply concentrate on his handyman work now.
Michael says he had recently lost 40 window cleaning customers to unlicensed men working for “small change or beer money”.
He said: “I’d try to work an hourly rate of £7.50 so I’d make £70 for about a 10-hour day.
“It was long hours for not a great deal of money.
“I’d built up a good customer base but I found I was being over run by unlicensed operators pushing for business. They were undercutting every time.”
Michael claims that dodgy window cleaners have no fear of the EAC enforcement officers, who check their licence to trade, and simply avoid them.
A public register of all licensed window cleaners can be viewed by contacting the Civic Government licensing section at EAC’s headquarters.
A council spokesman said: “Any person found to be operating without a licence will be reported to police.”