We've been doing the windows for this particular customer probably about 4 years now. Theyre both in their late 60s I'd guess. Never really spoken to him, just on a polite 'hows things?' basis. Ive always got on with her. She's always been kind and nice, approachable and appreciative of the work we do.
We turned up today. The old boy was out on the driveway clearing weeds from between the block-paviours. As we got out he turned round, looked at us and said 'You'll have to speak to the wife before you do anything today'. It seemed an odd thing to say particulaly as they've never been a problem before. We usually turn up, clean, leave and the money is the bank within 24 hours. So, I turned to him and said 'Oh, whys that then?'. Just wanting clarification, perhaps they'd had a problem with the windows. So, I then went on to say if there had been a problem why didnt they call?
He stopped doing what he was doing, his face turned purple and he responded with 'Because its me who pays you and if I say you should speak to her then you should speak to her'.
He got a bit up himself then and came across the drive to square up to me.
I wasn't really impressed with that so told him to fock off as I dont appreciate being spoken to that way or squared up to, even if it is by a doddery old fart. To which he replied with 'What, say that again?', So I told him to fock off again and that I was going to speak to his wife.
She was in the conservatory. I explained to her what had happened and that I wasnt really happy working in that kind of environment. So she came out to the front and effectively wheeled him in out of harms way, with him protesting that Id started things. It was left with us not cleaning the windows and could we go back the next time the road is due.
Really wierd situation.
She did mention he's diabetic, maybe diabetics have mood swings but he was close to getting himself arrested.
I think I'm just going to call her to say sorry, but, we can't have a working relationship with that kind of malarkey going on. He needs chaining up in the back garden for his own safety.