[lee_dewing]

Got a customer.
Husband and wife.

Cleaned their windows for about 7yrs.
You know the type makes teas and coffees.

Always makes some chat,  recommended me to others  (although that's never come to anything  ).

Basically owes 3xcleans £54.

Husband is a mortgage broker had a mental breakdown 18 months ago but been working from home.

Always paid.

This October wife texts me to say husband has unexpectedly gone away and its easier to pay cash.

So October clean done knock for cash told, money will be transferred.

Text wife November"lee window cleaner coming tomorrow"

"great will pay you cash"

Same knock no money, will transfer!

All the same December clean, wife says in all day will pay cash definitely.

Politely said to wife yesterday"oh I thought you were paying cash today"

   see her face twitching"I transfer money been so busy"

Guessed husband has pee'd off in October but before you know it see owes £54.

So what do you think polite text reminder end of 1st week in January.
Then a week later polite letter.

Then Thomas Higgins letter a week after that.

I only ask as this customer has been long-term and obviously wife's hit troubled times.

When do you not feel sorry anymore in this position.

Merry Christmas 🎅 everyone.
Have a nice break all.
Lee.

[Clever Forum Name]

Good looker ?

[Shrek]

Run it like a business, feeling sorry for customers gets you into a position where you are working for free.
In the past , if a custy hasn't paid by the end of the month , I txt ' hiya , can you transfer window cleaning money please? Any problems, please let me know '
After 3 late payments , I knew something was wrong, £25 custy . The first 2 months he said really sorry I forgot, 3rd month - really sorry we just can't afford it anymore, we've seen an extendable pole with a squeegee on it in Aldi for £19.99 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[jk999]

Leave it a couple of months wait until she gets in touch with you which she will eventually it's happened to me before when windows start looking dirty she will be chasing you for them cleaning and will probably pay you in full

[lee_dewing]

Good looker ?

Depends if you like pretty petite women.

[lee_dewing]

Jk999

Yep I suppose, not contact.

Then  when in road next NOT CLEAN pop payment reminder through door.

"silence is golden"

Then Thomas Higgins.

[dazmond]

first of all i wouldnt of gone to 3 cleans at £18 a pop(2 cleans without payment max).

id keep chasing it every time im around cleaning the other houses around hers or send her a text reminder every week until she pays.

2 of my customers have been evicted recently(2 cottages next to each other through no fault of their own!)as their landlord hadnt been paying the mortgage! they were paying a grand a month each too in rent.

sometimes you dont know whats going on in peoples/customers lives.

also i find sometimes when a partner leaves the other one is either crap at sorting their finances out as their partner used to do it all or their just absolutely skint/in debt etc.

[lee_dewing]

Agree with all that Daz.

Yep usually don't go over 2 cleans.

More fool me.

But seemed harsh slamming on the anchors after 2 cleans, with years of history (should not be to friendlily, but don't want to be curt with people).

In 13 years I can honestly say I'm surprised if I've lost more that £50.

That's usually down to the customer dying.
(not gonna chase that).

Even though xmas tips sliding of still quids in.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

2x only is my rule. 1x if the customer is already a bit dodgy.

On the positive side I've also had dodgy customers become good ones.

[NWH]

If she's a looker say I take cash transfer or kind 😂

[Arnold Palmer]

If she's a looker say I take cash transfer or kind 😂

Nah, get your money first.

[SeanK]

Pay no attention to the bitches on here, when they are not blowing about their impressive incomes they're crying about
loosing peanuts. lol.
I think you know when somebody is being genuine and it then becomes a case of trying to get blood out of a stone, going by your
info I would let it go, shake her hand, wish her a happier new year and ask her to pay when she can, and maybe she might pay you back someday when her situation improves.
Either way you wont be making somebodies horrendous year even worse for the sake of a few quid, like you said how often does
it happen.

[steve rix]

Pay no attention to the bitches on here, when they are not blowing about their impressive incomes they're crying about
loosing peanuts. lol.
I think you know when somebody is being genuine and it then becomes a case of trying to get blood out of a stone, going by your
info I would let it go, shake her hand, wish her a happier new year and ask her to pay when she can, and maybe she might pay you back someday when her situation improves.
Either way you wont be making somebodies horrendous year even worse for the sake of a few quid, like you said how often does
it happen.



+1.   It's only 50 quid, the goodwill it MIGHT create is well worth that.

[Arnold Palmer]

Pay no attention to the bitches on here, when they are not blowing about their impressive incomes they're crying about
loosing peanuts. lol.
I think you know when somebody is being genuine and it then becomes a case of trying to get blood out of a stone, going by your
info I would let it go, shake her hand, wish her a happier new year and ask her to pay when she can, and maybe she might pay you back someday when her situation improves.
Either way you wont be making somebodies horrendous year even worse for the sake of a few quid, like you said how often does
it happen.

OMFG SeanK, that's, like, your third sensible post this year.

[Tosh]

Good looker ?

 

[Tosh]

Are they perky or bouncy?

[NWH]

I had 1 the husband left her right in the lurch with no money etc she owed me £150 I said forget it I'll start again from now and pay me when you can I just thought it would ease her stress at least a little,I still do them and now all paid up. The point is if you go in demanding your money etc they might just say what are you gonna do take me to court,the softly softly approach sometimes works but not always.

[LT carpet cleaning]

Pay no attention to the bitches on here, when they are not blowing about their impressive incomes they're crying about
loosing peanuts. lol.
I think you know when somebody is being genuine and it then becomes a case of trying to get blood out of a stone, going by your
info I would let it go, shake her hand, wish her a happier new year and ask her to pay when she can, and maybe she might pay you back someday when her situation improves.
Either way you wont be making somebodies horrendous year even worse for the sake of a few quid, like you said how often does
it happen.

That was a good post. Note the usual boasters saying not to let it get to 2 owes or  else chase every minute of the day.

[nathankaye]

Very similar to some of the posts on here. You know her situation better than us.

Ive had very similar with some customers who after years of being a great customer their situation changes and all of a sudden things change. Depending on the circumstances, i offer my service every 8 wks instead of every four and this has worked out well for them and then it all picks back up again.

You have to judge the situation carefully and perhaps apply the golden rule; treat others as you would like to be treat. Might be suprised how this does you well

[Dave Willis]

It's only half an hours earnings after all. As long as the other 44 pay up that day you'll hardly notice it.