[Jimmy1]

Hi everyone, would like your advise please. Recieved this today via the website:

Address: AS a local window cleaner in and around limavady and dungiven , i and several other cleaners in the town have become increasily disgusted with the methods you are useing to obtain work . therefore we have decicded that if it cotinues we will collectively seek legal help regarding the slanderous comments you are making against us and our buisnesses.We all agree that everyone is entitled to seek work but using fabricated stories against us his unacceptable . We hope that you will take on our concerns and and that the matter need not go any further.The window cleaners in limavady are well establised and trusted, and have a good understanting between each other regarding seeking work we hope you can adhere to this to.yours sincerely oisin mullan.

Can I just explain, that I am the only WFP window cleaner in the town and as most of you know I started last march. After canvassing mist of my work has come via recommendations. I do commercial & residential. When I do have to canvas, especially to commercial contracts I point out the fact that their window cleaner should be insured and let them know I am. I see nothing wrong with this - do you? I have never even canvassed Dungiven and do no work there, I don't know this man and he never left a contact number so I could at least talk to him  and explain. At no time have I ever made slanderous comments about other window cleaners. I'm not worried about the legal threat as its a load of rubbish (he must think I'm stupid) These window cleaners are obviously talking about me as one accosted me this morning and threatened (out side a clients shop - very professional eh!) to "drop me where I stood" he wouldn't listen when I told him he was talking/hearing it the wrong way - and marched off. Whats everyone's thoughts???   

[supernova77]

Just ignore the empty threats and carry on as you have been!

Andy

[dave.e]

Hi mate just like andy said ignore them sound like a load of bull sxxt if thay don't leave you alone then call the police and if that don't work then get a bunch of your mate and kick the living day lights out of the tosers. dave

[Tosh]

Keep a small hammer in a pouch just in case you need to defend yourself!

No seriously, I'd reply nicely to the email asking for further information; stating that you haven't slandered anyone.  Kill him with kindness!

But the incident outside the shop needs to be reported to the police.  Seriously.  We had similar when we started, only that bricks, windows (ours) and Wor Little Un and her school was mentioned; indicating that they'd done 'their homework'.

I was overtly aggressive back, in that I said 'let's go then' (if you want a fight) and stood right in front of their vehicle and wrote their numberplate down before they departed.

I then reported it to the police who said the following:  

They could find the guys and speak with them (I'd taken the number plate down), but this could further inflame the situation.

Or, if any further incident happened between them and us, we could get them on harrasment which consists of two or more unpleasant incidents.

We opted for the latter, but even though this was seven years ago and the window cleaner and his 'gangsta' Father aren't around; if I ever find out where they live....  

[matt]

Hi mate just like andy said ignore them sound like a load of bull sxxt if thay don't leave you alone then call the police and if that don't work then get a bunch of your mate and kick the living day lights out of the tosers. dave

oh i can see that remark going down well

i predict, the following responses from people to that post :

your a thug
you should be more professional
blah blah blah

you watch the replies 

[AuRavelling79]

Even if you are "bricking it" appear tough. Sounds like someone's lost a contract to you and is trying to put the frighteners on. Use the cops if it escalates.

He probably has no social skills, is a bit thick, probably uninsured and hates the fact that wfp really does do a good "health and safety" job when explained properly....

[Tosh]

Remember, this is in Northern Ireland.

Things can work a bit differently over there; and there'll be certain people who you really won't want to mess with.

[cozy]

Yep, that's about all of it covered. Tosh has been thru all that so stand your ground mate. Best revenge is success May seem hard now but you be laughing about it later

[eclipse]

Its the so called Proffesional window cleaners like this that give us a bad name

i have a decent size round on a local park home site now there is only me and another cleaner on there im WFP he is traditional and only goes when its sunny and the beer gardens are open

untill last year it was all done by him until one onf my carpet cleaning customers requested me to clean there windows word of mouth has gotround and i have a good little round there

now this week i went and out of a 100 or so park homes 6 of them had had egg thrown at the windows the night previous... no as i drove round i looked at all of the homes and you guessed it the 6 that had been egged were park homes that he used to clean but now are cleaned by me
no even to me the odds of only being my customers are pretty slim dont you think....
stand your ground

[AuRavelling79]

Remember, this is in Northern Ireland.

Things can work a bit differently over there; and there'll be certain people who you really won't want to mess with.

I bow to your wisdom Tosh but would "sleeping" ex- IRA/UDA types bother posting on his website? Or would he have lost his wheels or kneecaps by now? A genuine Q. by the way.

[Tosh]

Remember, this is in Northern Ireland.

Things can work a bit differently over there; and there'll be certain people who you really won't want to mess with.

I bow to your wisdom Tosh but would "sleeping" ex- IRA/UDA types bother posting on his website? Or would he have lost his wheels or kneecaps by now? A genuine Q. by the way.

Malc,

There's a lot more 'terrorist' organisations in NI than just the IRA/UDA!  Firstly it's PIRA, not IRA; or RIRA, or OIRA. Then you've got/had the INLA (they killed that Airy Neave bloke and were infamous for their close up assasinations), the UVF, Red Hand Commandos, Orange Volunteers... and probably lots of other 'gangs' I can't remember.

The 'Troubles' in NI is a long and complicated affair, but Northern Ireland has been plagued by terrorist organisations for much more than purely political purposes. 

Taxi companies in NI, for example, have been ran by either Loyalist or Republican organisations; so if you were a 'Prod', you wouldn't use a 'Fenian' taxi firm to drive you home.

Even hospitals are Loyalist or Republican.  Honest to Allah and depending on your political view point, you wouldn't want to go to the wrong one; even if you are in pain.  It's been a while, but my eldest daughter was born in the 'prod' Belfast hospital; but if she was taken into the Belfast City hospital, I couldn't have visited her safely, since I was a Squaddie; not without an armed escort.

Two of my ex-wife's cousins were both UVF and they both worked in a supermarket stacking shelves by day; and beating the hell out of people by night; you wouldn't want to mess with them; I've heard their stories; and they look and act the part.

I doubt even window cleaning has been untouched by the 'Troubles' and predjudice which I know still exists.

[ftp]

Blimey, how many ex - wives have you got tosh?

[bluez]

Blimey, how many ex - wives have you got tosh?

Brilliant lmao

Jimmy times are a it tougher now so it maybe that they feel they are losing out to you even if they are not. Particularly as You are the only one locally with wfp and sign written van uniform etc you are probably making them look a bit like yesterdays men and causing a bit of the green eyed monster.

I would reply in a friendly way and say nothing to answer for and live and let live and see if they follow up. Would be good to have a nice friendly email sent back just in case the situation ever came to the cops attention you could prove yuo were not the instigator.

After  that ignore them.

[trevor perry]

hi jimmy i have just read some of your previous posts and you mention about the leaflets you had posted in early feb was there anything on those leaflets that slagged of traditional cleaning methods, you certainly seem to of upset more than one person if i was you i would try and make a point of stopping and talking to any local windowcleaners you see so they get to know you personally and say if ever they have any issues can they come and speak to you so they can be sorted out.
 also if you have the blokes name why not try and find out his phone number in book so you can ask what you have said thats upset him.

[Tosh]

Blimey, how many ex - wives have you got tosh?

I've amended my post to indicate just the ONE.  You anal git.

 

[Jimmy1]

There was nothing in my leaflets at all to cause any upset, I don't see any other window cleaners working, today was the first time, but when I do, first off I think I will try a friendly wave, then maybee follow up with a chat. I can't email this man back - he left no email address or contact number, because that was my first thought - email him and sort it out, but I can't. I think I'm in a no win situation, as I think theve all lost clients to me and to be honest will probably continue to do so, as I know I do a better job, so everytime I gain and it turns out it was one of there clients - they will start to say Ive been saying things. By the way one of my clients who is a police mans wife phoned me one night to tell me that her ex window cleaner told her I'd just come out of jail (I haven't lol) but she was furious, she told him she couldn't care less and that I did the best job and she was staying with me. she had previously tried to cancel him 3 times and each time his workers just turned up and did her house, poor woman was paying for 2 cleans each time, this finally ended after her third request for them to stop. I think as Bluez said its a touch of the green eyed monster as times are so difficult. I thought about reporting this mornings episode, but thought I'd let the hair sit and hope it dies a death.

[alanwilson]

tosh is right with this one.

my wife is from Limavady and most of her family live in NI.  Two of her cousins are wc's and from speaking to them there is still that hatred and bigotry (we have it in scotland too), but the difference over there is the numerous small armies of 'ex' paramilitary psycho's who would think nothing of having your knees done in, or worse.

By the way Jimmy they're not in Limavady, they're in Belfast and Londonderry so its not them anyway!

[windowswashed]

I was over in Belfast when they blew up Musgrove Park hospital. I was just outside it when it went off. Certainly made me jump out of my skin. Will probably take a generation or two until all the hatred really diminishes over N.I.

[elite mike]

Keep a small hammer in a pouch just in case you need to defend yourself!

No seriously, I'd reply nicely to the email asking for further information; stating that you haven't slandered anyone.  Kill him with kindness!

But the incident outside the shop needs to be reported to the police.  Seriously.  We had similar when we started, only that bricks, windows (ours) and Wor Little Un and her school was mentioned; indicating that they'd done 'their homework'.

I was overtly aggressive back, in that I said 'let's go then' (if you want a fight) and stood right in front of their vehicle and wrote their numberplate down before they departed.

I then reported it to the police who said the following:  

They could find the guys and speak with them (I'd taken the number plate down), but this could further inflame the situation.

Or, if any further incident happened between them and us, we could get them on harrasment which consists of two or more unpleasant incidents.

We opted for the latter, but even though this was seven years ago and the window cleaner and his 'gangsta' Father aren't around; if I ever find out where they live....  

blimey tosh

you got to tell me who they are 

[pingu]

It was Squeaky ...I know it was!!