[Carl2009]

A couple of weeks ago I pulled up outside a custies house to see that he's doing some DIY on the front door, adding a wooden porch. Before I could profure my usually cheery hello he almost shouts , "You should phone first. I'm busy, you'll have to leave it!" or similar.

His manner was pretty rude - raised voice and dismissive. I said that although that wasn't the arrangement I'd be happy to phone the night before. "Yes, ring first in future. Come back next week, but call beforehand". I'm pretty mild-mannered but I don't like being shouted at, but equally I don't like avoidable confrontation. As I drove off I relaxed back into The Big Show and smiled to myself wondering how long it would be before his wife phoned me wondering where I was.

Anyway the answer was today. A nice pleasant cheery "Where are you? Can you come and do the windows" enquiry on the home answerphone. I phoned back and explained to her that I wouldn't be coming back on account of her rude and borderline aggressive husband. "That's not like him, let me fetch him". Anyway hubby comes to the phone and I explain all. "I have loads of customers who I have an excellent relationship with and I don't needs his attitude when I turn up to do a job for him. Life's too short for the stress, that's why I moved to rural Wales". We ran through what was said. I agree that what he said was accurate, but it was not what was said, but how it was said. He apologised and I accepted adding, that I still wouldn't be coming to clean his windows. 

Might make him be a bit more polite with the next windie. If he can find one that is...

[robbo333]

Love it.
Had one exactly the same except he would talk 'down' to me. Made me feel like I was a nuisance when I went round. Big house too. The last time I went round he did not answer the door but I knew he was in so I phoned him. Apparently he was having a shower and couldn't be bothered to unlock the side gate and I should come back next week. That was before xmas. Got a call from his wife the other day so I explained I wouldn't be cleaning for them anymore and I have already replaced their slot with another customer! Shame! 

[PoleKing]

Carl, I'd've gone back if he apologised, mate.
Could've been having a bad day for whatever reason.
He obviously thought enough of you to converse and leave it civil.
Just my 2 bobs...

[Carl2009]

Carl, I'd've gone back if he apologised, mate.
Could've been having a bad day for whatever reason.
He obviously thought enough of you to converse and leave it civil.
Just my 2 bobs...

Believe me, you wouldn't have if you'd have witnessed it.

[PoleKing]

Fair enough

[gary999]

People have bad days and im not that sensitive...I only take  real offence if someone
takes a swing at me

Personally I would of cracked on the following month, although if he turned me away again
they would be dropped...wasting my very valuable time, I find that really offensive

[TomCrowther]

I had one a while ago. Lady customer rings me up saying the rear Windows are filthy the morning after I had cleaned. Went straight round and they were spotless. Asked her to show me the dirt and she asks me how I got round the rear if the property the day before. I told her that her son opened the gate for me. Anyway, back to the dirty Windows? Basically, she just assumed that I had only cleaned the front but charged the full amount.  Just a complete waste of half an hour.
Not been back. You don't need customers like that.

[dazmond]

i would of accepted his apology as well and cracked on as normal next time.although i wouldnt agree to phone him the night before.i dont ring any of my customers.i text them instead.

[Carl2009]

It's interesting how different people react to the same situation isn't it. I've dropped custies because they are late payers or because of dog mess or they repeatedly don't open the side gate despite a call. I can only think of 2 where I've declined work (when I've gone to quote, one of which was a woman who I learnt subsequently was an alcoholic) because I got a bad vibe. I'm a pretty good judge of character I like to think.

This guy was well out of order and i'm glad he's dumped, itself an indication it was the right decision because if I had had regrets I might have felt slightly regretful, but I don't .

A week or so later I was at another customer's house 10 miles away and bumped into their gardener. We got talking and I asked where he lived, he told me and lo and behold he's Mr Nasty's immediate neighbour. Apparently they don't talk because Mr Nasty's "has an attitude problem". I had dumped him before this meeting so it didn't influence me, but does demonstrate I think it's not me being hasty.

I don't ever want to go to a custies house and have a feeling like there is the ghost of bad blood there. Life's too short and I've too many nice custies who are happy to see me to take his or anyone's else's poo. 

[8weekly]

I wouldn't go back.  Life is too short to deal with arseholes when there is an option not to.

[8weekly]

Not my fault the swear filter isn't working.  I just assumed it would auto "correct". 

[dazmond]

i have a few customers i only keep on because their wifes are good as gold.their husbands are angry old men.if anything happened to their wifes id drop them like a stone!

[Joey Eastwood]

i have a few customers i only keep on because their wifes are good as gold.their husbands are angry old men.if anything happened to their wifes id drop them like a stone!

got a few like that, lovely lady and grumpy bloke lol