[monkeyboy950]

been working for me the last few months,usually does a good job and seems hard working enough,its all wfp stuff and he does make me money,but last few weeks had a few complaints about him,lost a few custies and then tonight had 3 from same area one said her window was all smears and marks and she had watched him do her house and 2 others in under 10 mins,they are 7 quid houses,another one said they had bird crap on the bathrooms still,i called him about it and said he would have to rinse more and all that,then 5 mins later get a call from a custie cancelling as there was bird crap still on window from work done today i know it was his house he done as he done all the street,im mates with him but i cant afford for him to lose me work,dont know how to go about it?? he is also my flatmate so its kinda difficult

[windowswashed]

Have a polite word with him, ask him to slow down a little to concentrate on doing a more thorough clean instead of trying to rush jobs. Perhaps he's rushing jobs to impress you. Is he on an hourly rate or an incentive to work quicker?

[monkeyboy950]

he gets his days wage(which is very good part of that is he is a mate who lost his job),he wears a backpack and i use the reel and he is always streaking ahead,i have told him to slow down but he keeps on going i very rarely get complaints maybe one or two every now and then but last month its been a few or i have been collecting and noticed the window but custie said nothing

[ronnie paton]

maybe the cancellations are due to them struggling for money iv had it b4 and when you ask to see the bird poo they say no and cancel.

some people are to pround

[Steve B]

Tell him that you told him to slow down and because he did not listen you have now had a flood of complaints as jobs were not being done to a good enough standard. Maybe give him a chance as he is a mate to put things right.

Tell him if he was just an employee he would have to go, or ask him what he would do in your position.

[chrisyg]

Reputation is everything in this game you lose custies they will talk & you lose business.

Say to him you have had complaints a number of them and you need to take them very seriously. Tell him to ensure he does a good job over anything!

If you lose custies, then you lose work and then he isn;t needed! Put it to him simply.

Also, go round to check on these houses you get a complaint on, insist on it for training purposes and redo them for free!

[monkeyboy950]

Tell him that you told him to slow down and because he did not listen you have now had a flood of complaints as jobs were not being done to a good enough standard. Maybe give him a chance as he is a mate to put things right.

Tell him if he was just an employee he would have to go, or ask him what he would do in your position.

yeah think i will say that to him i like working with him,good laugh and day flys in most of the time,just dont like getting complaints all it needs is someone to get a new window cleaner with ladders and i could lose streets of work,i wouldnt mind one or two but when its 4 from last week who i just got round to collecting,i called him about it then when im at my folks phone goes and its some guy from work today going off on one about bird crap still on window anyone else would have been thanks but no thanks see you later

[monkeyboy950]

i always do recleans for free,tell them i would rather know so i can put it right,but this guy was irrate about it usually a nice guy but said it had happened before but wouldnt be using me again

[Steve B]

i always do recleans for free,tell them i would rather know so i can put it right,but this guy was irrate about it usually a nice guy but said it had happened before but wouldnt be using me again

The best thing would be to go round and see him in person and apologise and see if you can get the oppurtunity to put it right even if he no longer uses you in the future.

People always say the best form of advertising is word of mouth, it's also the most damming, so treat it as a damage limitation exercise.

[Oakley Windows]

Didnt you say he's ur lodger?

Get him to read this thread; he's in the kitchen isnt he? 

Dont worry I'll get him

'OI, SLACKAAAA!!! GET IN 'ERE!!'

[windowswashed]

Get your mate to re-clean any jobs he messes up and to appologise to the customer for not cleaning it thoroughly. It will make him more aware of his carefree attitude.
Should start him off on a short trial period at a reduced rate and if he comes up to scratch you'll take him on permanently with better pay incentives to work hard.

[matt]

how we used to get people to leave

lock them in the van for a night or 2, they get out and dont want to work for you again 

[Steve B]

Were all the complaints about the poor standard of work by your mate or was there anything more specific about him that customers were complaining about?

[Steve B]

how we used to get people to leave

lock them in the van for a night or 2, they get out and dont want to work for you again 

There you go problem solved!

[monkeyboy950]

Were all the complaints about the poor standard of work by your mate or was there anything more specific about him that customers were complaining about?

windows were streaky,main big windows were marked,basically not taking his time to rinse the window which i have told him about before,then there was crap on the window which he didnt clean properly

[DaveG]

Get him to clean them  all again for free and apologise to custies

[window wonder]

Sure its not your windows they are complainng about !

Tell Billy boy to get his act together or he will be needing a new job and a new flat!!!

[monkeyboy950]

Sure its not your windows they are complainng about !

Tell Billy boy to get his act together or he will be needing a new job and a new flat!!!

You should have heard the answer machine message i just got about it,been a few complaints but not this irrate plus got complaints of streaky windows and leaving bird poo on them

[mattywig]

He's had complaints about 1.) streaky windows and 2.)bird poo on the windows. I'll tell you the reason why, it's because 1.) he's using wfp which often streaks and 2.) he's using wfp so can't see the bird poo because he's miles away from it standing on the floor.  I know that technically only one reason but I thought it was such a big reason it was worth mentioning twice.  Correct me if Im wrong though

[mark dew]

He's had complaints about 1.) streaky windows and 2.)bird poo on the windows. I'll tell you the reason why, it's because 1.) he's using wfp which often streaks and 2.) he's using wfp so can't see the bird poo because he's miles away from it standing on the floor.  I know that technically only one reason but I thought it was such a big reason it was worth mentioning twice.  Correct me if Im wrong though

I'll correct you. 
Monkeyboy also used wfp and his windows were ok.
It's a toughie. I assume he's heard the messages on the answerphone.
Is any part of his pay tied to a bonus for good work?
It sounds more like a training issue than anything else.
I hope you get it sorted amicably cos you have cornered yourself a bit by taking on a mate who is also a flatmate. You need this to work out really.

If you are determined to get rid you need to do it asap and as gently as you can. But do you really want a skint flatmate with no job cos you fired him from the last one?
Could you not tell him about the situation and re-train him. Giving a month before you assess and then reassess each month afterwards.

Maybe you could print up a specific leaflet reminding them of your guarantee. Tell them it is for training purposes.