[stuart_clark]

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from a lady, she said she wanted a couple of persian rugs cleaning and the NCCA had given her my details, I booked her in my diary to go and survey the job, do a few colour tests and give her a price for the work, anyway about half an hour after the I took yhe booking she rang and said she had forgot that she was having some building work done on the day I was supposed to be comming and could we rearange , I said no problem and did so
the day after she rang again to cancell and rebook and the day after sh re booked again , at this point I should of heard alarm bells ringing but as she had been recomended by the NCCA I gave her the benefit of the doubt
on arriveing at her house a week later I was greeted by her husband, it was an asian family and it soon be ame apparent that rhey wanted a lot more than a few rugs cleaning,the quote was to involve a considerable amount of upholstery as well as 9 very high quality persian rugs
I gave them a written quotation and said it would take approx one and a half days to undertake the cleaning, they were happy with the price and I arranged to carry out the job last wednesday and thursday! I arrived on time at the customers house at approx 9.30 am only to be told by the lady, can I leave the cleaning untill after easter ?  I just couldn't believe what she had said, I had tied two days up that I could of  been cleaning elswear! I asked her why she hadn't given me any notice to cancell the job as she had 8 days since I gave the quote she just gave me a stupid dum look
she diddn't even have the common decencey to ring me and cancell the job, she allowed me to come to her house some 8 miles away from mine, I have been in business 24 years and have had my fair share of time wasters , but never had anything like this happen to me before

[Simon Gerrard]

There's always one, as they say. 

Simon

[from edge2edge]

Jeeps thats a real pain in the xxxx never got close to that but had a few who were just disrespectful  .I can only suggest lots of beeeer and shouting at the telly.Regards Alan(swindon)

[Craigp]

Sounds like Champaign lifestyle Lemonade money.

In other words they realised they couldn't afford to have all that cleaning done.

[garyhumphreys]

I hope you're not planning to go back after Easter.

[COLIN BRIGHT]

it happens, but on the bright side a least you got a couple of days off

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Bloody pheasants

Shaun

[Carpet Dawg]

I've had similar. Pain in the arse.

Could you not have taken the rugs away for an offsite clean? They might have went for that. Better than nothing.

[Mike Gwilliam]

As above....there's always one.

Luckily they only come along once in a while. Either they are the type to f*ck you up hill and down dale or they are the bad payers.

I often label them on my phone as "dont answer" 

Its inevitable when dealing with many people, youl get the odd one that are not worth the hastle of dealing with.

[Adrian Evans]

I have had this happen plenty of times in the past, I now make a point of taking deposits over the phone or when i am there and given the quote to them, they tend to not let you down once they realise they could lose money. 

[clive ware]

I`d have told her there and then to stick it and then go to the driving range or fishing!

[Jamie Pearson]

Take deposits to secure dates.

Especially on work that will take days rather than hours.

On commercials have it in your contract that you will charge x% for denial of access by security staff / keyholders / other trades.

[bennymon]

If she phones after Easter book the job in and don't turn up mate . But I don't think she will call  . Del

[M W.]

Boils my P"**. Allocated a full day too do similar for a large family. agreed price and start date/time which was 9am, was called that morning @ just after 8am by same women that had originally booked, too say they want to wait a while, and will contact me in the new year. my work was spread over 3 homes, and they couldnt give me 1 of them.. never again.  on the upside at least we were given 45mins notice

[Simon Gerrard]

Write a cancellation clause into your quote.
'Cancelation within 48 hours of agreed job date will incur __% charge.'

If this written into the quote and the customer books, they have not only agreed to your price, but also to that clause.

Simon

[Craigp]

They have a 14 day cooling off period Simon, in that time they can cancel at no penalty to them.

If the booking is made over that time frame you could charge a cancelation fee, but they would have to had signed a contract stating such.

[Simon Gerrard]

They do, but many won't realise that and so be deterred from cancelling at the last minute.
Simon

[Craigp]

True 

[stuart_clark]

The woman in question actually rang back today, and actually tried to rebook the job, I hung up! Dont think I will hear from her again, I only give her the benefit of the doubt originaly as she was a recomend from the NCCA   as I thought she may of been a timewaster to start with

will take jamies advice in future and take deposits for bigger domestic jobs