[Paul Simpson]

On my survey/invoice form I have a statement mentioning that they are happy for me to clean, no gaurantee of stain removal, blah, blah, blah
Therefore I have always got the customer to sign prior to cleaning and assumed (I know it makes an ass out of u and me  ) that payment at the end mean't they were happy with the clean.

But had 2 customers recently who have questioned the way I do it, the latest today quering why is she signing at the beginning and I had to assure her that it wasn't saying that I had done the work.
So when do you get them to sign  

[AshWhite]

Mine sign next to 'quotation accepted', signed, printed, and dated

[markpowell]

Never get them to sign, never had a problem.
Mark

[Phillip Mold]

Same here, no deposit taken, the quote is "just" a written record of what we have agreed, and I spell it out if there are marks
 I cannot guarantee to remove

[Neil Williams]

Sign to say they accept the quote! Am I missing something but how many other businesses give you a quote and ask you sign it?
Why not just write out the quote and printed on the bottom is the disclaimer about doing what you can with stains but no guarentees offered....that's what we do.

[Andy Hogarth]

Me neither but I do make sure they know some stains just won't come out

Strangely though I have had a fair few customers asking if they needed to sign something!!

[AshWhite]

Because if anything did ever come of it a tw@t of a customer could say they didn't receive it. My quote pads are triplicate, so I always have a copy (one for customer, one for quote file, one for work completed file). Also on there it says I won't move furniture over 25kg alone, and that carpets can be a slip hazard when wet.

[Simon Gerrard]

Why get people to sign in the first place? By asking people to sign something you're bringing in an element of legality that is totally unecassary in my view and just gets the customer on edge as though you don't trust them, which isn't a good thing to do if you're wanting to start a long term relationship with them. Plus, most disclaimers etc aren't worth the paper they are written on.
Simon

[AshWhite]

Its a form of commitment, not a legal one - but if you sign something you have mentally commited to it, a bit like paying a deposit I suppose. I only ask them to sign if they accept the quote (if they agree to me doing the work). The form looks professional, and it reminds me to caprure all the details I need.

[AshWhite]

As for the legalities of a disclaimer - I'd rather have one than not, even if it won't stand up in court.

[Simon Gerrard]

Ash,
If it won't stand up in court then it isn't worth the paper it is written on, is it?
You would be wrong in thinking that a sign disclaimer gives you any sort of cover from the myriad things that can and do go wrong.

Simon

[AshWhite]

Simon,
It might stop someone actually slipping if it reminds them to take care, and if someone does ever slip, it might put them off taking action if they see that they were warned, so in my opinion its very worthwhile - even if not for the legal side of it.

[Simon Gerrard]

Ash,

You're quite right to point that out to the customers, but in writing? Who says they are going to read it? It's a lot nicer to tell the customer that there is a slip risk while the carpet is damp, especially if they are wearing slippers. People really appreciate you caring and you then know that they are aware of the risk, rather than just hoping they read your document. You can't hide behind a signature when something goes wrong and say, 'well we did warn you in our paperwork.'

Simon

[Paul Simpson]

Thought these were the norm, obviously wrong!
Been doing it that way for 3-4 years and its only because 2 customers have questioned it recently that made me question it.
My take on it was they are signing to say they are happy for me to do the work and that they agree with the price, then I add my little bits in about no gaurantees for stain removal, etc, etc.
So those that don't get anything signed, do you just give an invoice 
Or hope they are all cash jobs 

[Helen]

So those that don't get anything signed, do you just give an invoice 
Or hope they are all cash jobs 

Not quite sure what you are getting at here?
Just because we don't get the customer to sign the quote shee,t doesn't mean they don't get an invoice at the end of the job......which they don't sign either.

[clinton]

Dont get them to sign anything me..just dom the job and i will say i caint be sure of getting all the stains out n will do my best job..

[Joe H]

Certainly I explain before I start that I may not be able to remove all stains.
Dont get them to sign anything, before or after.
Dont issue an invoice unless they ask for one - usually businesses or ones working from ome and need an invoice for accounting purpose.
Accept cash or cheques, all through the books - two people I dont want to upset are the tax man and my accountant.

[Paul Simpson]

So those that don't get anything signed, do you just give an invoice  
Or hope they are all cash jobs  

Not quite sure what you are getting at here?
Just because we don't get the customer to sign the quote shee,t doesn't mean they don't get an invoice at the end of the job......which they don't sign either.

It was a joke  
Was just trying to find out if others get an invoice signed or if they give one at all.

[AshWhite]

I don't give an invoice unless its requested. And ALL mine go through the books. Honest. No, really honestly..

[Tony Stewart]

I was advised on the Cleansmart course to have a proper survey form which I complete with all the information on as to carpet type, price dimensions etc etc. I leave one with the customer and keep the other. I think the idea is to have a record in the event you ever had an insurance claim against you so you could prove you pointed out stains and seam integrity etc.
I do this as part of my quote but I agree I am reluctant to get a customer to sign (perhaps it's a newby confidence thing). I use it primarily as a check list for me so that I have not missed anything out.
They get a copy and an invoice for the work carried out.