[Jack Wallace]

Following on from a thread last week, someone was worried about a customer who had not paid for 3 weeks.
On the whole customers always intend to pay I think, but the odd one just gets wrapped up in their own little world and forget about us.
I try not to worry about them as in the end it usually comes in.
HOWEVER! if it gets too much they need a push sometimes, The thread last week got me thinking so I had a look at my debt list and noticed I had 1 customer who had not paid anything since last August, he owes 6 cleans (£60)

I sent the following text.
Please contact me ASAP. You have an outstanding window cleaning bill of £60. If this bill is not settled by the end of the month I will pass it onto a debt recovery agency, they will add their charge of £75 to the bill. Also interest will be added from the date each clean was done. A letter will follow outlining full the details.

I got a knock on the door last night just as I was starting my second glass of Pinot Grigio, It was said customer with £60 in cash. "So sorry, I have been working away during the week for a few months and it just slipped my mind"
No problem I said, You’re just in time as we will be round next week to clean again, have a nice evening.
I am happy, he is happy! And I did not lose a customer.

The Point I am trying to make... Don’t always assume the worst in people, and don’t throw your rattle out of your pram too early!   

[lee_dewing]

  it was me who started thread last week, jack glad you got your money.

I must admit i can be abit anal on the money side but it shows though if you don't keep an eye on some it can soon add up.

I would never clean a property more than twice, without payment; i just think more than that and it starts to get confusing, custy usually remembers "oh i owe you last time as well"

6 times in a row that's dangerous water; you got your money.

But say this custy said no it's only 4 cleans or i haven't recieved payment slips how do i know you've done it.

or they've moved or died.

I must admit 98% of people are good.

My post got some good tips; especially hermski's re:  capex debt collecting.

I'm glad i've now got george to keeps tabs on who owe's what.

I except from what those said to me that as i continue to grow so will my debt;

if i'm that desperate then bang on the doors for the money!

But; to me that would undo all the work i've done with custy's using s.a.e's

as they will think, sod i'm he'l have to come and get.

so on i go i'l try not to "throw my rattle out the pram"

but i wont be letting people go more than twice without paying, i think that's fair.

from the other side of the fence as a custy i wouldn't want it running up too far!

window cleaner i use to work for would not collect and would not leave s.a.e's as he wanted cash.

if there were any cheques; i got them made out to me as part of my wage :

custy always had a rant about not letting it run up so high!

I would hate having to send a curt letter out to custy over ther w/cleaning bill.

Thanks for your post jack.
keep one eye on that debt

[Jack Wallace]

Hey Lee.
I agree with you about trying to keep debt down to a minimum, after all. if all our customers were bad payers we would soon go out of business.
Not letting them go more than 2 cleans is good practice and where possible I try to adhere to that also.
I think over the years I have developed a more laid back approach so allow some to slip through the net. plus I am in the fortunate position to be able to afford to have a high amount owing, but in the early days when cash was tight I had no choice but to make sure it came in on time. so I do understand its not always easy to sit back and think "it will come in eventually"
But I have learned not to let it wind me up. this is the one job I have done (and there have been many) that is almost stress free. its a great career and can be a very good provider.
Money is the big demon which can undermine that feeling of being in control.

[lee_dewing]

so right jack.

I do get a bit up tight with people sometimes.

I do realise, i'm not then most important thing on people's minds (but i should be )

I could say alot of things to custy's, but bite my tongue alot.

The other week i showed up on saturday at oap custy's house, who is akward to say the least, i was ready for a row as she been a bit cheeky last couple of times, last time she was out, did and finished.

as she come up the road she said i couldn't of done it looking at her watch :

anyway stormed in saturday and started guy come out about my age and said i shouldn't of bothered, i could feel my self boil up but said "oh, everything alright"

not really; my mum died this morning .

Pays to be polite and stay cool.

even though i do not always feel like it