[robbo333]

A lot of my custys have access issues, locked side gates etc. So I text the night before to leave gate unlocked but when I get there, it is still locked. Assuming I can't climb over, is it best to:

A. Clean the fronts only, leave a slip saying 'side gate locked' and just charge less?
B. Try to contact in the evening a rearrange a time to clean?
C. Other

I know many of you will say dump but I'm only a few months in, so for a while, I need all the pennies I can get!
Appreciate your thoughts on this one.
Cheers
Pete

[lozsing]

Do front charge less

[William McCafferty]

Robbo

Customers need to be trained and although I do text and call the night before, I would at first do a voice call, until you get them into the habit of remembering to leave the money and gate unlocked.

Also look at what you charge them, a lot of cleaners will charge 50% less just for the front only cleaned, instead try charging them 75% of the whole house price if they have forgotten to leave the side gate open after you have called them, this will encourage them to leave the gate open.

[robbo333]

Lovely, thanks guys.

[richard jagger]

I have had this issue with my customers and I seem to be getting the upper hand. When you text them use these words .Service reminder.[b"]You business name[/b] Please leave access gates open and window closed. Please acknowledge by text . If I do not get a response I re text. If still no text back I will call them. If the gates are not open by the 3rd time I will charge full price or drop. The best time to text is at 7 o clock.  If they do not leave the gate open and have answered yes, I will charge 75% of the fee as a call out fee and only clean the front.

[supernova77]

A lot of my custys have access issues, locked side gates etc. So I text the night before to leave gate unlocked but when I get there, it is still locked. Assuming I can't climb over, is it best to:

A. Clean the fronts only, leave a slip saying 'side gate locked' and just charge less?
B. Try to contact in the evening a rearrange a time to clean?
C. Other

I know many of you will say dump but I'm only a few months in, so for a while, I need all the pennies I can get!
Appreciate your thoughts on this one.
Cheers
Pete

I would just do the fronts and charge 75% of the total clean price.

Andy

[Clean Safe]

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this but it needs to be okay with you however you decide to go about it!

We have even issued all customers with terms and conditions about this, gave them a one off warning and advised next time we will charge full price. Did it on a trial basis to see the affect and got a lot of customers kicking off, therefore we went back to text and if still locked charge a £1 for each window cleaned!

If you do decide 50% or 75% then just make sure you can hit your daily target and an amount your happy with! Also think about some customers will get wise and think I only want fronts doing so will accidentally on purpose forget! Especially when the most windows are at the front!

[P @ F]

Does nobody carry a ladder ?
Why fannie about with txt , if i cant get over with my pointer they dont get done , if they dont like that i went over with a pointer they dont get done again ever , time is money , i waste enough time climbin their gates , i aint sendin no warning txt the night before to get there to find a locked gate , as in my view these forgetfull people are more often than not the ones that also forget to pay !

Rich
 

[H2GoKent]

Do the fronts and charge 75% works well. Either it will up your earnings per hour or it'll teach them to remember. You don't lose too much either way.

[home6442]

I used to phone the night before but customers would still
forget to unlock gates.
I use a 4.6 m multi position ladder you can put it over a 7 foot gate or fence
and it folds down under 4 foot.
Just make sure you put enough hose over the fence to reach the back before climbing over.
Also great for getting onto garage roofs.

[robbo333]

Thanks again, lots of input which is great.
I'll definitely go with doing the fronts only for 70 percent and if they don't like it, i'll have to work harder at getting better quality custys.
I do carry telescopic ladders but I really can't be bothered climbing over gates at my age, especially if I don't have to. I'd rather spend my efforts getting better custys. Onwards and upwards!

[home6442]

A person wanting to secure the back of their house by locking their gate
does not make them a poor quality customer.
If you dont want to climb over a gate thats fair enough but dont blame the
customer.
Might be glad of them some day.

[robbo333]

John, there's no issue with customers locking gates (I lock mine). But when you text the night before to leave it "unlocked" and they don't, then it becomes a bit of a pain.

[home6442]

Totaly agree robbo333 but I know if I had a window cleaner id do
the same. Just so easy to forget when heading out in the morning.

[Ian101]

Does nobody carry a ladder ?
Why fannie about with txt , if i cant get over with my pointer they dont get done , if they dont like that i went over with a pointer they dont get done again ever , time is money , i waste enough time climbin their gates , i aint sendin no warning txt the night before to get there to find a locked gate , as in my view these forgetfull people are more often than not the ones that also forget to pay !

Rich
 

listen to this man .......... obviously been at it a while 

[robbo333]

Does nobody carry a ladder ?
Why fannie about with txt , if i cant get over with my pointer they dont get done , if they dont like that i went over with a pointer they dont get done again ever , time is money , i waste enough time climbin their gates , i aint sendin no warning txt the night before to get there to find a locked gate , as in my view these forgetfull people are more often than not the ones that also forget to pay !

Rich
 

listen to this man .......... obviously been at it a while 

Ian, you're bang on, I thought Rich's viewpoint was very valid, especially "time is money , i waste enough time climbin their gates". Hopefully that's the bit I can get sorted.

Thanks all.

[robertphil]

splitting a ladder to climb over doesnt take too long. id rather do that than fret about texting reminders .

i also have a mop handle with a tool in the tip to slide back drawbolts .

[Dave66]

just climb over.....geez

[robbo333]

Dave, I'd love to mate, but I split a cartilage in my knee a while back, so while I could still climb over, i'd rather not. Sort of the reason for the topic really. Be lovely to keep it simple though.