[Shane O Neill]

hi guys I know this has been mention but I'd like your feedback on how you went about stop collecting. Most of my customers about 75% pay by "bacs/PayPal & standing order" (my 3 options) but the remainder have left it as my problem to catch them in to pay   ....partly my fault as I've just let them do so.
I plan from Nov to forewarn the remainer that from Jan 2015 not collecting anymore....(Or do we have to except in this game there will always be a % of collecting)
have many here Lost some due to this ?
Also how have you kindly explained it to stubborn customers?

Cheers in advance  

[Diamond standard ltd]

We done the same three things as you and s.a.e worked for us. No collecting at all and lost none of them. Makes life so much better and loads less fuel.

[Smudger]

Quite honestly you don't have to except it, or put up with it in this day and age, a lot of shops no longer accept chq payments ! (For example)

There are several options you can take.

Simply do a letter to those customers who fail to pay on time letting them know it no longer viable to collect in an evening, we provide free alternative ways to pay such as bacs and go cardless or they at there expense can post payment within 5 working days.

Or you would be willing to collect however you would have to increase the window clean by £2.00 to cover the costs of the extra visit.

We do a customers newsletter and mentioned it in there first, then tackled any stubborn customers on an individual basis as above, be apologetic, play the poor old window cleaner card, cost of petrol blah blah....

I haven't collected in over 2 years now (bliss) and I don't recall losing anyone, and now it's never questioned by new customers

Darran

[koopmaster]

I sent a text out today to 60 customers who owe me and for the first time ever wrote at the end of the text " please note I dont collect anymore you need to pay by following the ticket instructions."

[Clever Forum Name]

I am the opposite. I prefer collecting. Different boats and all.

For the cash and cheque customers i would really recommend Go cardless.

https://gocardless.com/?r=M8E5G6KY&utm_source=website&utm_medium=copy_paste&utm_campaign=referral_scheme_50

if you sign up we both get £50 off fees and will assist where i can.

Been a life saver !

[Shane O Neill]

We done the same three things as you and s.a.e worked for us.

Cheers Diamond....Did you bothered to put 2nd class stamp on ?

[Shane O Neill]

Quite honestly you don't have to except it, they at there expense can post payment within 5 working days.
Like this smudger

then tackled any stubborn customers on an individual basis as above, be apologetic, play the poor old window cleaner card, cost of petrol blah blah....
They got to think they are helping me rather than been forced

I haven't collected in over 2 years now (bliss) and I don't recall losing anyone, and now it's never questioned by new customers

Darran

[Diamond standard ltd]

We done the same three things as you and s.a.e worked for us.

Cheers Diamond....Did you bothered to put 2nd class stamp on ?

Yes we did but only put it in ever second clean (saves on stamps) or your knocking money off every clean. It does work well been doing around three years.

[paulben]

I prefer collecting meets customers face to face that you wouldn't normally see and prefer cash saves messing with banks too often

[Jonny 87]

I've not collected in 3 years. Best thing I've ever done.

I do my work, and then the money filters through in the next few days.

[dave f]

think of the xmass tips helps pay other bills plus gain extra jobs ie conny roofs gutter e t c.

[Shane O Neill]

think of the xmass tips helps pay other bills plus gain extra jobs ie conny roofs gutter e t c.

The fuel & time all year is a lot more than Xmas tips ! It's the hassle of collecting that gets me such a Waste of time ...done the job & then we are out doing a 2nd job of collecting 
When lads say here it's nice to b in contact with customers when collecting ..this I feel is rubbish as most customers don't really want to see us cause it means payment out of his r her wallet/purse while on-line is painless 

[8weekly]

think of the xmass tips helps pay other bills plus gain extra jobs ie conny roofs gutter e t c.

The fuel & time all year is a lot more than Xmas tips ! It's the hassle of collecting that gets me such a Waste of time ...done the job & then we are out doing a 2nd job of collecting 
When lads say here it's nice to b in contact with customers when collecting ..this I feel is rubbish as most customers don't really want to see us cause it means payment out of his r her wallet/purse while on-line is painless 

Agreed. I have picked up customers because they didn't like having to leave cash for the previous windy or else he would collect. Do people seriously think that customers want you knocking on their door asking for cash on a Friday night? It's a bit 1950s don't you think?

[dazmond]

each to their own.

i do still collect on a monday evening for an hour or so but its a lot less than years ago as loads more customers either pay on the day,BACS or send a cheque.

i beg to differ on the customer relations front.a lot of my customers are pleased to see me when collecting and vice versa.ive been cleaning for some of them for over 20 years and sometimes have a little chat and a laugh with them.

up here in manchester people are generally friendlier and actually will stop and chat to you for 5 mins unlike down south.i find it good for customer relations,picking up add on work,cash flow and customer loyalty.

[C o z y]

each to their own.

i do still collect on a monday evening for an hour or so but its a lot less than years ago as loads more customers either pay on the day,BACS or send a cheque.

i beg to differ on the customer relations front.a lot of my customers are pleased to see me when collecting and vice versa.ive been cleaning for some of them for over 20 years and sometimes have a little chat and a laugh with them.

up here in manchester people are generally friendlier and actually will stop and chat to you for 5 mins unlike down south.i find it good for customer relations,picking up add on work,cash flow and customer loyalty.

What he said ^^

[Mr B shine]

my present work is heavily collection only, but any new work is pushed to be BACS.

if people are difficult to get in or don't carry cash I give them BACS as an option and all are very keen to take me up on it.