[Neil Williams]

That'll be the number of 'No Shows' I've had and each occassion it's been those tiny job types.
Just a small living room booked over the phone and with times being hard went well below my normal min charge, but no one in, no answer to the phone call so left a compliment slip stuck to the front door thanking them for wasting my time.
Was tempted to leave an invoice for wasted time etc but the last time I did that the Police got involved after the guy phoned up threatening to do me, the dog, the house and van in.

[JandS]

I've had 3 this year.

John

[garyfindlay]

I`ve had 3 cancellations this week. One was giving birth. 1 ceiling fell in, and one out of their house, staying in a hotel having it repaired and would not be in in time. Pain in the a!se.

On the bright side, 1 lady tried to phone me, called the number above mine in the paper, and when the guy came to the door sent him away cos he was not from Elite. Could be worse, could be that guy

[Carpet Dawg]

I have atleast one a month! In a good month lol

Gary, see those "other carpet cleaners" that advertise in your newspaper in your neck of the woods. Could you tell me the name of thier so called company please.

thanks
tony

[garyfindlay]

Why?

[Carpet Dawg]

Just to see if who i think it is. Thier cheap pricing rings a bell and they used to also advertise in the papers in Edinburgh. Just want to see if its the same guy's. I kinda know him.... lol

[Mike Halliday]

if you do cheap jobs for the crap off society then exspect this sort of thing.

a minimum charge is'nt just about covering your basic cost its about deterring idiots from booking you, if you book jobs 'well below minimum charge' then you will be doing work for people who have no consideration for your time.

but if you have had only 3 in 9yrs then its not too bad

[clinton]

Sometimes even worse when you go to the clients door and they have a look of shock on there face..

Then say to you oh we forgot you were coming to clean this morning :

That happened to me last year and i just went back to the van and left..

Mike is right on the deterring the clients that will mess you around..

[mitch2810]

We always send a confirmation letter as soon as we receive a booking which includes a list of our terms and conditions stating that if the client wishes to cancel then they must give us 24 hours notice. If they do not we have the option to charge them a cancellation fee of £85.

[Karl Wildey]

Part of the job, not a nice part but thats just the way it is. I hate those clients.

[Daria Taylor]

if you do cheap jobs for the crap off society then exspect this sort of thing.

a minimum charge is'nt just about covering your basic cost its about deterring idiots from booking you, if you book jobs 'well below minimum charge' then you will be doing work for people who have no consideration for your time.

but if you have had only 3 in 9yrs then its not too bad

yeah thats true i agree with you about the minimum charge, we only had one client like this so far, but at leats he had decency to cancel the job, although it was 2 housr before the star. so was annoyed but what can you do.

Dash t

[David_Annable]

Hi

The trick with these people is to give them a price so they will just say No!

I know its difficult if your struggling, but you will be better off in the long run.

Dave

[mark_roberts]

Year on year for the past 10 years December is the worst month for cancellations and no shows.  This is across the board of customer type so its not just poor people not having enough money.  Maybe the rich ones decide to replace.  Who knows but it is annoying as work is usually turned away at this late stage of December.

Mark

[Mike Osbourne]

The worst ones are when you know they are in and they don't answer, usually because they are lazy buggers and are still in bed.

Best plan is to put a dog turd in a jiffy bag and light it just before you put it through the letter box. They soon come running to the door then.



Disclaimer: Don't do this unless you are a nutter. :

[garyfindlay]

Mike is that called a POWERBURST

[Ian Rochester]

Two cancelled jobs yesterday that were supposed to be done today!!!

[Matt Lindus]

13 (Unlucky for some) : non payers lined up for court hearings on the 18th/19th/25th/26th Jan. 01st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th Feb 2010. These were from job completes in July 09 and failed to make payment.
All having TV sets and all unwilling to pay when things go wrong with them.

4 Commercial contracts that have breached payment terms and cannot/will not pay, to be held at crown court due to amounts outstanding.

17 CCJS entered by default for the month of September and we are awaiting payment if they comply with the court terms. Failing that, bailiffs over Christmas.

9 Online claims submitted on Money Claim Online for the month of October 09, they have 14 days after served date to acknowledge service, admit liability, or form a defence.

23 invoices still outstanding for the month of November!

.........And you guys think you have it hard! Never known it like this before.

Matt

[Kinver_Clean]

If I understans an article I read lately correctly, cancellation charges are illegal.
If you book over the phone or in their home then distance selling regulations come in to effect.
If you have an office and the customer comes in then the regs do not apply.
You even have to tell them they have 14 days to cancell with no charges.
It our beloved eurocousins again.

Trevor

[Carpet Dawg]

I dont know who metioned doing cheap jobs or not, but the cancellation i get come from all walks of life. Wealthy and not so wealthy!

Plus, I dont care if they are not loaded as long as i do a good job, they are happy and I get paid!