[dazmond]

The other day I shut a custys back gate and the top of one wood panel just fell off!the whole gate is rotten.

Anyway went round last night collecting and she's not happy.I didn't charge her for the windows this time.I would fix it if I thought the gate would stand it but no chance.the wood is just crumbling!

If it was a newish gate then fair enough but not an old rotten gate!

I've told her she needs a new gate and that I'm certainly not paying for it.I apologised and waived the clean price.thats it.

What would you have done?

[PoleKing]

Denied all knowledge 

[Xtremely Clean]

I'd of told her not paying for damage to a rotten gate and I'd of still wanted paying 

[Richard iSparkle]

we distinguish between accidental damage, that I pay for, and wear and tear.

in the case...

the gate is old and falling apart.  if you closed it in a way that would not cause damage to a normal gate, and it broke because it was in poor condition, then this is normal wear and tear. 

if you tripped over (for example), fell on the gate and it broke, it is accidental damage.

insurance policies will usually pay for accidental damage but not wear and tear.

also if you rent our property, your tennants are responsible for accidental damage but you are responsible for normal wear and tear.

in your case it sounds like normal wear and tear that broke the gate (i.e., the years of not maintaining for it damage it, you were just the guy who happened to close it on the day it gave up).  in your possiition i might offer to fix it (like you did) as a good will jesture.  i would not however pay for a new gate.

a client who is reasonable will be OK with this distinction.  (of course, some clients are not reasonable )

hope this helps

[bobplum]

The other week I shut a custys back gate and the top of one wood panel just fell off!the whole gate is rotten.

Anyway went round last night collecting and she's not happy.I didn't charge her for the windows this time.I would fix it if I thought the gate would stand it but no chance.the wood is just crumbling!

If it was a newish gate then fair enough but not an old rotten gate!

I've told her she needs a new gate and that I'm certainly not paying for it.I apologised and waived the clean price.thats it.

What would you have done?

tell her she has  a duty of care to people visiting her property and here is your solicitors number

just be blunt "i am not being held responsible for a rotten gate"...good bye and dump

[dazmond]

shes a good payer and ive been cleaning her windows for years.im certainly not going to dump her as its on very compact estate work.she said the gate is only 5 years old(more like 10!).

the neighbour had just brought out a cuppa for me as i shut the gate.the wood at the top is wet and crumbling(think of wet cardboard!)the side of the gate where the latch goes was already split down the middle.

im a fair guy and ive repaired gates before for some customers even when i havent done anything esp if they are elderly and live on their own but this gate has had it.i shown her why i couldnt repair it because of the rotten wood.

[C o z y]

The other week I shut a custys back gate and the top of one wood panel just fell off!the whole gate is rotten.

Anyway went round last night collecting and she's not happy.I didn't charge her for the windows this time.I would fix it if I thought the gate would stand it but no chance.the wood is just crumbling!

If it was a newish gate then fair enough but not an old rotten gate!

I've told her she needs a new gate and that I'm certainly not paying for it.I apologised and waived the clean price.thats it.

What would you have done?

Same as you.

[dazmond]

about 20 years ago i picked up a new customer and she said it was ok for me to stand on the flat roof kitchen extension.being young and foolish at the time i climbed on it against my better judgement.i didnt want to let the customer down

the flat roof was about 20 years old and was sagging in places.i fell through it!both feet came through the kitchen ceiling and i caught my balls on the wooden joists!ouch!!

her snotty husband came out to see me a few days later as i was up the road and said"we need to claim on your insurance".i nearly punched him there and then!i said its your problem not mine!the roof was not fit for purpose and he was trying to get money out of me to pay for a rotten 20 year old roof!!

even now to this day his wife totally blanks me when she shes me!......oh and ive never cleaned her windows since!!

[AuRavelling79]

It's a fine line sometimes - I think you were right not to replace the gate or go beyond your good will gesture.

I've had two situations in the last two years which cost me £100 each.

1. DtM uses gate ladder to reach over gate to get to bolt. Bolt further down other side than he thought so he goes to van and gets stick (with cuphook type end) to reach it; wind blows ladder over onto car denting top of wing. £100 mates rates repair. We paid it. (Dan actually)

Customer dropped us two months later and then came back.

2. Cleaning inside old storm porch single glazed trad and I press scrim against glass on the edge and it cracked from side to side. I could have taken the view that it was old and rattly and not my fault but I paid mates rates for a friend to fix it. I could have thought glass too thin, not in the frame securely but as a "judgement call" I stumped up.

Customer still with us.

Oh and about five years ago I broke a pair of ornamental plant pots and gave free cleans to the value of £40. Customer dumped me shortly after! Hey ho.

[bumper]

I would of caught a pigeon it it's head on the gate make sure you. Get some blood on gate then ask her to show you,and pick the pigeon up and say look this pigeon is the culprit

 

[paul13]

I would of caught a pigeon it it's head on the gate make sure you. Get some blood on gate then ask her to show you,and pick the pigeon up and say look this pigeon is the culprit

 

 

[AuRavelling79]

I would of caught a pigeon it it's head on the gate make sure you. Get some blood on gate then ask her to show you,and pick the pigeon up and say look this pigeon is the culprit

 

Dick Dastardly

[robertphil]

i keep a stash of cable ties under  van seat for  makeshift repairs

 tother year i repaired a stone dragonfly i took it home and spent hours on him  used missuss lipstick on his back to colour match  and put him in his spot a month later nobody noticed