[davids3511]

A long standing customer moved a car from the front of their house last month leaving a slick of algae and moss where it had stood unmoved for nearly two years.

I cleaned pushed my bill through the door (they are never home so I got the billing out of the way first) and proceeded to clean the house. On the very last window I slipped on the mess and smashed one pain of single glazing. I immediatley rang a local glass company who came within the hour and boarded the window up and arranged to come back and replace it. I contacted the customer and explained the problem and arranged a date when they would be home so the glass company could come and fix it. Got back onto the glass company and fixed the date nad paid over the phone.

They came two days later fixed the window, tidied up and left. The customer was very pleased. However, they didn't pay the bill for 30 minutes window cleaning £15.00. If I hadn't already billed them I might not have at the time. However, I did and they have chosen not to pay and I have to admit it has annoyed me a bit. Am I being unreasonable?

[Smudger]

hi there,

oh dear 

Although I can understand your feelings, personally if I damaged a customers property I would have waived my fee for the inconvenience, and if I had billed first I would have told the customer that the fee would be waived, when I informed them of the damage, therefore you would have had the control of the situation, now they haven't paid you probably feel that they have controlled it and that is probably what has miffed you the most!

Try not to feel too miffed !!

[Mike_G]

I think you have been more than reasonable and they should pay up. You fixed the damage you caused straight away with no cost what so ever to your customer so I would expect them to pay up for cleaning the windows. Accidents happen but you did everything you could to rectify the situation and they should count themselves lucky you sorted it all out for them, I wouldnt mind betting that a few window cleaners out there would of denied all knowledge of breaking the window in the first place.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

They should definitely pay. You could have slipped and hurt yourself on the algae for one thing and you obviously did everything possible to put things right which is more than a lot of people would!

[the bfg]

just call them and say they havent paid for their window cleaning,

I popped a window a couple of months back and had it replaced,  the owner still paid me for the window clean.

[Steve CM]

I think the question is would you mind losing their business permanent? if not then bill them! if you do then just let this one go. after all its only £15

[bobby p]

would you have still pushed the bill through if you had left it till last ?

[richywilts]

we  popped a bathroom window the other week and i got my friend round to repair it within couple of day it hadnt smashed both panes just the first pane of glass but i didnt charge them for the clean just out of respect that they didnt get too upset etc

[davids3511]

It's bugging me because I think they are taking the p. It cost them nothing, I slipped on the crap they didn't clean off their drive (which has been washed to a shine now after I told them I slipped on it). It cost me £60.00 to replace the glass and their windows were cleaned after all. I don't see why my bill should go from £60.00 to £75.00 for nothing really. She didn't even have to take time off, she was working from home that Friday which is when it was done.

Personally I would have paid the bill and been thankfull the window cleaner had admitted the problem and sorted it out so promptly and professionally.

[Jack Wallace]

Put the price up next month, tell them it was going up anyway. eventually you will get your money back and from then on will be the winner.

[davids3511]

Put the price up next month, tell them it was going up anyway. eventually you will get your money back and from then on will be the winner.

I was thinking that actually. Up to £17.00 and in 7 months I am back square.

[supernova77]

(they are never home so I got the billing out of the way first)

I never bill first just in case something goes wrong... Or they come home whilst your cleaning.

Andy

[prestige cleaners]

i would demand my money! youve basically paid them £75 to clean their windows!

i wouldnt have coughed up for the window either, its their fault you slipped. i would have rather be down £15 or lost time, than £75.

[Tom White]

Dave,

Had you been a more unscrupulous sort of person, had you slipped and hurt yourself, you could've sued the customer.

I read not so long ago that a Sommerfield shopping delivery man sued a customer because he slipped on their property and he hurt himself.  I believe there is some law, or act, which says that people have to take all reasonable precautions to ensure their property is safe for tradesmen.

If someone could expand; or tell me (us) if I'm right or wrong here; I'd be interested.

I personally think your customers are being unfair; but I would just put their prices up as has been suggested; and keep putting them up each year.

[dazmond]

fair enough you paid for the window but to be honest i think they SHOULD pay you for the windows you cleaned.its a matter of principal.you did the work and want(quite rightly)to get paid.you paid for damaged caused due to slipping.end of.

i would politely but firmly ask for my money.if they get sniffy about it dump em and never go back.

dont let the custy take the p

regards


dazmond

[Perfect Windows]

You've probably spent much more than 30 minutes worrying about it.  You're heading for a potential further time loss when you deal with it.

You need tp put it in perspective.  Is £15 worth the hassle?  Whatever happens, the money for the broken window is gone, so take that out of the equation.  Is it worth your time to chase the £15?  Or is it worth investing it for a customer who is probably now telling her mates how well you dealt with the problem?

If it were me, I'd write it off to experience.

Vin

[chopsie]

just write £30 on next bill when you clean. See if they pay. They perhaps forgot with all the fuss/excitement

[jonboywalton75]

U cud av sued them , instead ur 75 quid down!!!!!!

[AuRavelling79]

Dave,

Had you been a more unscrupulous sort of person, had you slipped and hurt yourself, you could've sued the customer.

I read not so long ago that a Sommerfield shopping delivery man sued a customer because he slipped on their property and he hurt himself.  I believe there is some law, or act, which says that people have to take all reasonable precautions to ensure their property is safe for tradesmen.
If someone could expand; or tell me (us) if I'm right or wrong here; I'd be interested.

I personally think your customers are being unfair; but I would just put their prices up as has been suggested; and keep putting them up each year.

Actually what Tosh says above happened to one of my custies. Open plan 70's housing with a path sloping towards the door with a drain cover in the middle of it. A canvasser slipped on it and claimed and his house insurance paid up.

So really there would have been a case for you doing nothing and perhaps calling it quits - your fall versus their damage?

So you are right to ask for the w/c money. But as Paul says is it worth the hassle?

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

The way I see it, you could have taken it either 2 ways. 1 sue them as you slipped on their property and let them pay for the window. 2 be a man and pay for the mistake. You've chosen to be a man and not try to shift the blame on them. It would have been a nice guesture for them to pay your invoice for the window cleaning, however in all honesty you may have caused them £15.00 worth of inconvenience in having to arrange to be in for the window repair man. You need to consider what your reputation is worth as well. If you ask for the £15 she might moan about you to potential customers, you want as few people knowing about this slip up as possible.

All in all I think it is unfair she hasn't paid but I think your better off not pursuing it.

What is it with all these other window cleaners breaking windows though. You all make it sound like an every day happening.

Simon.