[geefree]

I had a lady call me yesterday,..she said i will have to cancel, as my husband is now going to clean the windows...

i said, ok but you were over the moon with the conservatory and windows above.... etc etc..

she babbled on a bit then said its , well its the cheque sending too!!!..  its a bit of a pain sending out a cheque for a tenner each month....

oh, i said, well you can pay me two monthly if it would kake things easier, or we can arrange a place for collection,....

or i can simply call and collect the money...

she agreed with leaving it with a neighbour... so i still have that customer.


But is has got my mind ticking , would i like to write a cheque once a month?.... is it another bit of hassle some can do without?

And does it make us easy to get rid of?..... as in ... well at least i dont have the hassle of writing the window cleaner a cheque out once a month?......

or do you simply think it will or has become the norm?


Gary..

[sageorgeta]

Gary,
I think it is perfectly ok to expect a cheque to be written by a customer if they are sending you your payment for the job being done.
I have several customers who write me a cheque even though they know i am coming and are in when i do their windows,they prefer that method of payment so it is ok with me.
I reckon your customer was having one of them moments with her hubby...."sod that love a tenner...i'll do it from now on"....yes you know them type,they never do it that's why you got her back onside.
 

[karygate]

i think if you are local anyway they expect you to come back. if you live some distance then they would understand.

[Steve CM]

offer more payment services! some people are just rubbish at sending in payment! :

if its that much hassle just get her to write 1 cheque for 12 cleans upfront

then you'll see how much of a pain she thinks it really is

[LWC]

The cheeck! Sending the cheque!

Thats realy stupid and winds me, i used to leave SAE's and towards the end people stopped sending them, one customers comment "well i didnt send the money last month as i know your not desperate for the money"....im not saying i am, but imagine if all your customers thought like that, they have a SAE that youve paid for and then dont send the cheque!!!!!!

I do offer nochex and paypal which is slowly picking up to be honest.

Offer that gaz

[groundhog]

i think if you are local anyway they expect you to come back. if you live some distance then they would understand.

I clean my next door neighboors windows, and they get a payment slip and envelope the same as everyone else, my time is far too precious to waste time collecting!!!! If they can't be bothered to send a cheque, then I can't be bothered to clean their windows!

[geefree]

The cheeck! Sending the cheque!

Thats realy stupid and winds me, i used to leave SAE's and towards the end people stopped sending them, one customers comment "well i didnt send the money last month as i know your not desperate for the money"....im not saying i am, but imagine if all your customers thought like that, they have a SAE that youve paid for and then dont send the cheque!!!!!!

I do offer nochex and paypal which is slowly picking up to be honest.

Offer that gaz

Thanks

i have this all set up and ready to use... i just dont know how i will seperate all the "smiths" ..etc.... now if the reference on my statement provided the address....that would be fine, and eventually i could send reminders via email.

Does it do this? i have heard its just a ref number and a name....


thanks for other answers too

[mark dew]

I don't think we are a pain. You did ok keeping that job and i don't like losing any myself, but i need to be paid for work i have done.
How they do it is up to them. But i think posting a cheque is better for them instead of them dropping it off around my house.
It will be interesting to see if this job lasts another 6 months. 

[russ_clark]

Offer payment online via Bank Transfer.
You give them your bank details
They pay online using their address as payment reference.
Costs nothing
Russ

[Pj]

I never collect
I don't leave envelopes
If they don't pay there and then - they send it.
I've always done it that way, no one has ever complained.

[tonylee]

Offer payment online via Bank Transfer.
You give them your bank details
They pay online using their address as payment reference.
Costs nothing
Russ

I offer this a lot. But the list of people that want to pay directly and the people who actually do is another thing.
People who drag their heels in paying, will do so in any method we offer.
Tony

[Mr Formby]

When they pay by Paypal you get a email saying Mrs X has sent you payment, it has there details on .
Also you can use there emails to send them any offer you might want to do this month like Gutter cleaning .

[sair]

should have put it up to £25.00 a clean to make it more worth her while

[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

If they can't be bothered to send a cheque, then I can't be bothered to clean their windows!

Have to agree here.

David

[pjulk]

I don't collect and if the customer is not in the get a SAE.

99% pay within that month.

Quite a few that are in have a cheque ready for me when i have finished.

My customers have said to me its a good idea leaving SAE if not in.

I would never go back out collecting.

Cheques work for me.

[matt]

i leave a little " your windows have been cleaned slip "

it has the words, you can send a cheque or we will catch you next time

i must admit, most send them, them who dont, and i have a few, they pay me every other time BUT i ask for payment on he 3rd clean

[sparklebright]

I think for a lot of people, giving you a cheque or sending is a useful way for them to keep track of things.
I leave envelopes (no stamps) and pretty much everyone pays

[martinsadie]

dont ask for cheques just take them when offered

[LWC]

Gaz, this is an email i just got from nochex, as an example i have taken a few details out.

Transaction Amount: £10.00
Postage & Packing: £0.00
Insurance: £0.00
Sub Total: £10.00
Transaction Charge: £0.49
Total Received: £9.51
Current Balance: £12.42


Customer Email Address: paul@btinternet.com
Customer Phone Number: 0112 1234 1234
Customer Message:


Billing Name: Mr P Jones
Billing Address: 7 Smith Close, Oswestry
Billing Postcode: SY00 1AA

[leapstallbuildings]

Offer payment online via Bank Transfer.
You give them your bank details
They pay online using their address as payment reference.
Costs nothing
Russ

Just make sure you don't bank with Abbey thouigh as they have stopped showing those references.  Next time I pay an Abbey credit card I think I will just put "Fred Bloggs" as my pay reference and let them work out who it's from.