[Dougaldum]

 How can you get your money off customers
 And what line can I go down  taking them to court 

[Cookie]

I think some on here have used Thomas Higgins to send a letter threatening court action. In many cases this will get customers to pay up.

[Don Kee]

This thread should help -

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=205292.0

[Dougaldum]

This thread should help -

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=205292.0

thanks

[dazmond]

the truth is you cant do much if they owe you money apart from the usual threats and intimidation.thomas higgins letter might work.

if its less than £50 id write it off and put it down to "collateral damage".

ive wrote off £36 this year but it could hit £100 by the end of the year.its not much considering what i earn a year.

[Johnny B]

I wrote on here some time ago about a customer who owed me €90 for several cleans. She had in recent months asked me (via her partner) if I could start cleaning for her again.

Being the obliging chappie that I am I said 'Certainly, once I have been paid in full and upfront'.

She saw me in her estate last month. She approached me and said very sweetly that she knows how much she owes, but could I start cleaning for her if she pays in stages.

Again, being a good chap, I agree. I have done one clean so far on this basis, and the debt reduced by €15.

My point? Don't give up, work with people who are prepared to meet you half way, and you may still get your money without any unpleasantness. You'll feel good about yourself as well.

John

[chris turner]

Death threats usually work.

[dazmond]

I wrote on here some time ago about a customer who owed me €90 for several cleans. She had in recent months asked me (via her partner) if I could start cleaning for her again.

Being the obliging chappie that I am I said 'Certainly, once I have been paid in full and upfront'.

She saw me in her estate last month. She approached me and said very sweetly that she knows how much she owes, but could I start cleaning for her if she pays in stages.

Again, being a good chap, I agree. I have done one clean so far on this basis, and the debt reduced by €15.

My point? Don't give up, work with people who are prepared to meet you half way, and you may still get your money without any unpleasantness. You'll feel good about yourself as well.

John

sorry john but no way would i do what your doing!so you ve been owed 90euro for months and months and shes still not paid you and your cleaning for her again.

do you think she will pay you all the money owed?i doubt it very much.even if she does its going to take a year or so!you dont need customers like that for sure.

[Tosh]

I wrote on here some time ago about a customer who owed me €90 for several cleans. She had in recent months asked me (via her partner) if I could start cleaning for her again.

Being the obliging chappie that I am I said 'Certainly, once I have been paid in full and upfront'.

She saw me in her estate last month. She approached me and said very sweetly that she knows how much she owes, but could I start cleaning for her if she pays in stages.

Again, being a good chap, I agree. I have done one clean so far on this basis, and the debt reduced by €15.

My point? Don't give up, work with people who are prepared to meet you half way, and you may still get your money without any unpleasantness. You'll feel good about yourself as well.

John

Don’t give up?

What are you a feckin bank?

[SeanK]

I wrote on here some time ago about a customer who owed me €90 for several cleans. She had in recent months asked me (via her partner) if I could start cleaning for her again.

Being the obliging chappie that I am I said 'Certainly, once I have been paid in full and upfront'.

She saw me in her estate last month. She approached me and said very sweetly that she knows how much she owes, but could I start cleaning for her if she pays in stages.

Again, being a good chap, I agree. I have done one clean so far on this basis, and the debt reduced by €15.

My point? Don't give up, work with people who are prepared to meet you half way, and you may still get your money without any unpleasantness. You'll feel good about yourself as well.

John

sorry john but no way would i do what your doing!so you ve been owed 90euro for months and months and shes still not paid you and your cleaning for her again.

do you think she will pay you all the money owed?i doubt it very much.even if she does its going to take a year or so!you dont need customers like that for sure.

Your missing the point, he's getting paid for each new clean plus a percentage of the money owed, as long as he's careful
then he might get back all that's owed.
Its worth a try and once he's been fully reimbursed then he can either dump or continue on a clean payment or no second
clean agreement and even get the payment for each clean upfront.
Or he could take it personally and  never get anything back.

[Tosh]

Or threaten to take her to court.

[Johnny B]

I thought I might get a few 'rolly eyes' responses! There are probably a lot of things that I do in the running of my business that few on here would do, but hey, it works for me!

Yes it may sound strange what I am doing, but I have clear reasons for doing what I do in the way that I do.

I can't be done in taking people to court over relatively small sums of money. How much would I lose in earnings by having to take time off to go, and how much would I have to spend in legal fees? What if I lost the case?

No, the way I see it is that I never realistically ever thought I would see (any of) it. I have not laid out money or time chasing it, or stressed myself out over it. I am confident that little by little I will get it back, plus the customer is being educated in a firm but gentle way in the need to pay for services and being given the privilege of a second chance to prove to me that she will keep her word.

The worst thing that can happen now is that I turn up, and she hasn't got the money for the clean. I will only start the clean when the cost of the clean plus the agreed part payment towards the debt is in my hand. No payment, no clean. I have other work on her estate, so it wouldn't be a wasted trip. Can't see anything wrong with that.😊

John

[Tom White]

I can't be done in taking people to court over relatively small sums of money. How much would I lose in earnings by having to take time off to go, and how much would I have to spend in legal fees? What if I lost the case?

I've never done it; I'm soft; I'll badger them for a bit and then let it go. 

But I believe that if you 'take them to court', you don't have to go to court.  Neither do they. 

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overview

[Johnny B]

Not sure if it's different here in Ireland.

Even so, I am pleased that by biding my time, my patience has been rewarded by at least beginning to see some of my money, with the prospect of the remainder in the not too distant future. Also, as I didn't close the window of opportunity (no pun intended) for my customer to change her ways, I hope that our business relationship could be fully restored.

I have other customers who owe me enough for me to suspend my services pending payment of monies owed. I have found this to be the least stressful way to deal with situations like this.

John

[Stoots]

I have one at the minute that's not paying or responding. I've decided she will be my first court case. Will  definately go through with this one I've threatened before and sent letters but never done it. Enoughs enough on this one she has really posses me off.  If I lose so be it it'll at least be a learning experience how the process works. If I win I'll take great satisfaction in adding costs

[Shrek]

I have one at the minute that's not paying or responding. I've decided she will be my first court case. Will  definately go through with this one I've threatened before and sent letters but never done it. Enoughs enough on this one she has really posses me off.  If I lose so be it it'll at least be a learning experience how the process works. If I win I'll take great satisfaction in adding costs

Good luck to you 👍
Unbelievable how some people have the nerve to get work done and not pay , I say to all new custys- any problems let me know, if your not happy with anything at all , just send me a txt or ring me and il get it sorted.
Some think that It costs us nothing to clean windows so it's not a big issue but times have changed , and so should the publics perception of us that we just do it for beer money.

[tlwcs]

I have one at the minute that's not paying or responding. I've decided she will be my first court case. Will  definately go through with this one I've threatened before and sent letters but never done it. Enoughs enough on this one she has really posses me off.  If I lose so be it it'll at least be a learning experience how the process works. If I win I'll take great satisfaction in adding costs

Be careful, I had one the same last month. Nice private flat, 4 windows, bimonthly £12 and paid via transfer. Young late 50's and retired. Always paid on the day of the clean, but not last time. Would not open the door when i buzzed or respond to my texts.
The flats up for sale and the estate agent reluctantly told me he had passed away.  (Data protection)
Tony

[dazmond]

I thought I might get a few 'rolly eyes' responses! There are probably a lot of things that I do in the running of my business that few on here would do, but hey, it works for me!

Yes it may sound strange what I am doing, but I have clear reasons for doing what I do in the way that I do.

I can't be done in taking people to court over relatively small sums of money. How much would I lose in earnings by having to take time off to go, and how much would I have to spend in legal fees? What if I lost the case?

No, the way I see it is that I never realistically ever thought I would see (any of) it. I have not laid out money or time chasing it, or stressed myself out over it. I am confident that little by little I will get it back, plus the customer is being educated in a firm but gentle way in the need to pay for services and being given the privilege of a second chance to prove to me that she will keep her word.

The worst thing that can happen now is that I turn up, and she hasn't got the money for the clean. I will only start the clean when the cost of the clean plus the agreed part payment towards the debt is in my hand. No payment, no clean. I have other work on her estate, so it wouldn't be a wasted trip. Can't see anything wrong with that.😊

John

fair play but this customer has PITA written all over her.

[combat1]

Lady came over yesterday and asked me to do her windows. ' my last one didnt do the sills'
Got home and started entering it on George. Turns out we did her about 18 mths ago. Never paid! Eventually written off.
Printed off a statement and stuck it through her door with a polite, well fairly polite decline.  Lucky escape.