[herbiefatboy]

started a new call today the lady was out when i got there done the windows using WFP got home and she phoned me up saying that all the water had gone through and she was clearing up buckets of water.she now sayes she is going to sue me because i never said i was going to clean her windows this way has any one had a problem like this thanks for any feedback

[rs_cleancare]

Hi,
I have a few commercial windows that leak but there not bothered.
Also have a domestic that leaks but the customer is OK with this as she says when it rains they get water coming in.
I would go round to her house be polite and asses the damage for yourself sounds to me like she's trying to pull a fast one. If the mess has already been cleaned up and she won't let you see the damage then forget it she won't get very far.
Rob.

[rosskesava]

Before the lady can supposedly 'sue' she would need to show she had taken reasonable steps to get the problem sorted out first.

For situations like this, you cannot just 'sue'. Anyway, what is she going to sue for, damages? Personnal trauma? etc? You cannot sue someone for not saying how a job would be carried out.

If she does get really funny about it, ask to put it to you in writing.

Often people when they do that go over the top such as comments like 'bucket loads' which are not the truth which usually means their claims go no where.

Personally, I wouldn't worry to much. The worst we've had so far is having to get the persons carpet cleaned which cost £35.

(The lesson we've learned is do not use wfp on older sash windows.)

Cheers

[windows_chepstow]

she now sayes she is going to sue me because i never said i was going to clean her windows this way

It sounds like a 'SEP' (Somebody Elses Problem) to me (hers).  It's certainly not yours; although I doubt you'll ever receive payment for the job.

As a rule, windows and doors are designed to keep out the rain.  Fact.

It's not your fault that this lady has let her property fall into such a state of disrepair that they leak when you cleaned her windows; with a WFP; in accordance with the current Working at Height regulations.

Tell her you'll see her in court.  It won't come to anything; you probably already know that.

Not only that, a bit of water won't really damage her carpets (the carpet cleaning lads may know better).  Did it touch anything electrical or photos or anything?

I do a couple with cracked windows that leak or dodgy doors.  I try to be carefull with how much water I'm pumping round the crack, but if they leak; tough. 

They should get them fixed.

Why should I take the time to get my ladders; therefore lose money; when they should get their windows fixed in the first instance.

I've had no complaints so far mind; but that's my stance.

[Ben Walker]

(The lesson we've learned is do not use wfp on older sash windows.)

Ross
when you say the older sash windows do you mean old sash windows in general, or just the really rickerty old ones with gaps.
Where abouts do they leak most do you know. Is it if you clean the frames?

Cheers
Ben,
whos about to get going cleaning lots of sash windows!

[Easyclean Windows]

When i was in the fire sevice we attended many callouts for housefires especially in this area for thatched cottages.
Most of the time all we could do is put strike jets onto and salvage as much as we can.
Can you imagine it if after the fire was extinguished the person complained of water left about because of the water we used?no.

What about floods? most of the water disperses and there homes are perfectly normal.

Tell her you want to assess the damage and if she wont co-operate tell her youll "sue" her for wasting your time.

Give her another bill for extra mileage as well just to travel to her.

[rosskesava]

Hi Ben

when you say the older sash windows do you mean old sash windows in general, or just the really rickerty old ones with gaps.

Yup. The ones that look like they're about to fall out the frame or are so loose that there is a half in gap at the top one side and nothing the other.

Sometimes we've also had a few problems with older leaded glass but nothing serious.

The lady whose carpets we paid to get cleaned we're sodden under neath the windows and we only paid to get them cleaned because it was the same cost as to get the water sucked up. Also she was a very good customer.

Going back to the 'sue you' thing, it actually means nothing. Sueing someone is a long drawn out process. She may go via the small claims court for damages but then she would need to proove damage beyond what would be reasonably expected for the job being carried out and that her windows did not leak when it rained (as Tosh says above).

Most people who say 'sue you' as an initial response are normally just hot air.

Hi Tosh

It's not your fault that this lady has let her property fall into such a state of disrepair that they leak when you cleaned her windows; with a WFP; in accordance with the current Working at Height regulations.

I wouldn't like to use that in a court of law. The WAHL's only cover working at height. Not how good or bad or what ever with regards the job of work.

I think it's more a case of WFP's are an accepted working practise and if the windows leak then that is one of those things with no real atrributal blame.

Cheers

[thewindowcleaner1]

Had a problem like that several months ago,
cleaned the windows (very small paines) with WFP notice as I was doing them some water run down the inside, so I informed the woman of the problem and she said OK well I wanted the insides cleaning any way, so before I could suggest that I would clean the mess up inside she asked me for a price.

Now the problem with this house ( I,ve not been back since) is that it is a listed building and they are not allowed to alter the windows (unless they replace them with similar) so they installed secondary glazzing. but the exterior windows leak like a sive. not sutable for a WFP and too much like hard work the trad way.

[JM123]

Just call her, be polite and say you didn't know there was water getting in, ask to assess the damage for yourself, if she lets you take a look and go from there, if she won't let you see it then just ignore her.  I had one who claimed I had damaged his car with the pole, I came and looked at it and it looked more like another car had hit it, I asked him how I could ever have done as much damage with a pole (without breaking it), he apologised but not doing his again, I could end up knocking the house down with the pole!! which by the way let me tell you another story.............................

[rs_cleancare]

With regards to the carpets beeing wet. If they stay wet for a long period of time then you could be in for problems with them browning. Which would then need a browning perscription treatment. But i wouldn't have thought the windows would have leaked that badily to cause this problem.
Rob.