[Pete Thompson]

We had a similar situation with one house where the backs could only be accessed by next door’s garden (they had a right of access)

Needless to say, the idiot bloke next door didn’t like that, and every time we went he’d come out and complain about the hoses being a trip hazard, the water spilling onto his property etc etc.

I prevaricated for a while, because on the one hand, the idiot neighbour had no right to go on like that, but on the other hand I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle.

Anyway, after about 3 lots of idiot bloke coming out hassling us. eventually I told the customer (who rented the house out as a holiday let) that I wouldn’t be doing it anymore because it was more trouble than it was worth dealing with an abusive idiot.

She was a bit annoyed and said she’d have a word with him and see if she can ask him to be reasonable. I said well you can if you want, but I’m still not doing it, sorry, and that was the end of that.

Now, I will never ever take on a job that requires the use of a right of access, or could potentially upset neighbours (eg an upstairs flat).

And I will certainly never tolerate another idiot, especially now that I employ a worker, we have a zero tolerance policy with abuse,  and customers will get dropped the second anything goes awry, even if it’s not their fault.

Customers are easy to replace. Good employees, on the other hand, are like gold dust.

[AuRavelling79]

Had a couple like this over the years. The end of a terrace of six didn't like me using the shared path to two properties in the middle.

One summer she said to me 'I don't want some stranger looking at my grandchildren in the paddling pool.'

I nearly blew a gasket but reined it in and said 'Sorry? what do you mean?' through gritted teeth.

She got flustered and blustered 'Well errr I don't like you turning up unannounced!'

I said 'Fair enough madam but statistically adults that show an improper interest in children are likely to be much closer to home.'

Her jaw hit the floor!

Then I explained in full the issue to my customers and only did the backs when I could go through one of their houses.

I have since passed the work on and learned to be more careful about who I take on.

[Stoots]

Had a couple like this over the years. The end of a terrace of six didn't like me using the shared path to two properties in the middle.

One summer she said to me 'I don't want some stranger looking at my grandchildren in the paddling pool.'

I nearly blew a gasket but reined it in and said 'Sorry? what do you mean?' through gritted teeth.

She got flustered and blustered 'Well errr I don't like you turning up unannounced!'

I said 'Fair enough madam but statistically adults that show an improper interest in children are likely to be much closer to home.'

Her jaw hit the floor!

Then I explained in full the issue to my customers and only did the backs when I could go through one of their houses.

I have since passed the work on and learned to be more careful about who I take on.

There's  nothing more awkward than having to go through someone else's back garden whilst they are sunbathing or throwing a party to get to the neighbours.

I only have a couple of terraced like this now and thankfully never encountered the neighbours but I would dump it if I had to go past kids in a paddling pool too socially awkward for that kind of confrontation haha

[AuRavelling79]

Hence the reason why I passed it on after changing my way of doing the job.

[Arnold Palmer]

Had a couple like this over the years. The end of a terrace of six didn't like me using the shared path to two properties in the middle.

One summer she said to me 'I don't want some stranger looking at my grandchildren in the paddling pool.'

I nearly blew a gasket but reined it in and said 'Sorry? what do you mean?' through gritted teeth.

She got flustered and blustered 'Well errr I don't like you turning up unannounced!'

I said 'Fair enough madam but statistically adults that show an improper interest in children are likely to be much closer to home.'

Her jaw hit the floor!

Then I explained in full the issue to my customers and only did the backs when I could go through one of their houses.

I have since passed the work on and learned to be more careful about who I take on.

If you had a bit of go about you and weren't such a miserable faced flouncer; you would have got the end terrace person on your books.

[AuRavelling79]

Had a couple like this over the years. The end of a terrace of six didn't like me using the shared path to two properties in the middle.

One summer she said to me 'I don't want some stranger looking at my grandchildren in the paddling pool.'

I nearly blew a gasket but reined it in and said 'Sorry? what do you mean?' through gritted teeth.

She got flustered and blustered 'Well errr I don't like you turning up unannounced!'

I said 'Fair enough madam but statistically adults that show an improper interest in children are likely to be much closer to home.'

Her jaw hit the floor!

Then I explained in full the issue to my customers and only did the backs when I could go through one of their houses.

I have since passed the work on and learned to be more careful about who I take on.

If you had a bit of go about you and weren't such a miserable faced flouncer; you would have got the end terrace person on your books.

I don't have your engaging, flexible and personable people skills or your ability to cheerfully deal with adversity Soupy.

[Arnold Palmer]

Had a couple like this over the years. The end of a terrace of six didn't like me using the shared path to two properties in the middle.

One summer she said to me 'I don't want some stranger looking at my grandchildren in the paddling pool.'

I nearly blew a gasket but reined it in and said 'Sorry? what do you mean?' through gritted teeth.

She got flustered and blustered 'Well errr I don't like you turning up unannounced!'

I said 'Fair enough madam but statistically adults that show an improper interest in children are likely to be much closer to home.'

Her jaw hit the floor!

Then I explained in full the issue to my customers and only did the backs when I could go through one of their houses.

I have since passed the work on and learned to be more careful about who I take on.

If you had a bit of go about you and weren't such a miserable faced flouncer; you would have got the end terrace person on your books.

I don't have your engaging, flexible and personable people skills or your ability to cheerfully deal with adversity Soupy.

Ach, you're alright Jack.