[Stoots]

I clean my customers and then I text them for payment a few times before next clean is due. If they haven't paid before next one is due I would text them again and tell them they need to pay to continue the service.  If after 4-5 reminders and no payment then I would send a  small claims court notice giving 14 days to pay.

[NWH]

Exactly Dave I would say more like an hour actually lol 😂

[KS Cleaning]

I would want paid for the service you have provided. She promised she would pay you,  if she was that strapped for cash she had every opportunity to cancel your services when you text her prior to cleaning her windows.

[Clever Forum Name]

I would set up some form of a payment plan.

Then clean them once a week and get her in loads of debt.

Agree £5 for "The works" and you have your wicked way with her for years.

[johnny bravo]

she might be waiting for you to say I ALSO DO XTRAS

[Johnny B]

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.

Good post SeanK

[8weekly]

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'll learn her. 

[Tom White]

apply the golden rule; treat others as you would like to be treat.

I like to be treated roughly and without compassion.

I'm kinky like that.

[dazmond]

i wouldnt want to write off £54 TBH.keep paying her a visit when your cleaning the neighbours windows.ive had to write off £39 in total this year compared to £6 last year.

[lee_dewing]

Hi  Daz.

I won't write it off.
I'll send a letter a couple of weeks before I'm due.

 I.e. Noticed you haven't paid, please pay.

Then when in road cleaning neighbours I'll miss her out and put letter through not so polite.

Can't clean windows till debt cleared.
7 days to pay otherwise Thomas Higgins will be collecting on my behalf etc etc.

It's a shame fallen out with even neighbours in the past because I stopped cleaning their windows as they just don't pay.

It's funny how people get angry with you.

In effect they are stealing from you😁

[Arnold Palmer]

99% of the time people do not intentionally not pay. In this case you are even aware of the circumstances. My philosophy is, and always has been do not clean windows for free, ever, for any reason, but in this case that's not what you would be doing, you'd be granting a loyal customer leeway on a debt that she has found herself unable to pay.

Obviously I don't know the intricacies of your relationship with this customer but on the face of it I'd be inclined to let the debt slide, for a wee while at least.

[jk999]

I had one owed me three cleans every time I went there was an excuse not to pay me so I stopped doing them didn't ask for money one day she pulled me up said you haven't cleaned windows for 4 months I said it's because you owed me 3 lots  cheeky git said oh you should have told me

[Arnold Palmer]

I had one owed me three cleans every time I went there was an excuse not to pay me so I stopped doing them didn't ask for money one day she pulled me up said you haven't cleaned windows for 4 months I said it's because you owed me 3 lots  cheeky git said oh you should have told me

I'd agree with that.

To most people, clean windows is pretty low on their priorities in life and rightly so. We are bottom of the heap (best place to be if you ask me).

[Arnold Palmer]

Also, if her husband is/was a mortgage broker she'll see a Thomas Higgins letter for the empty threat that it is.

[tompoole]

I only allow two cleans then on third leave a bill only saying clean suspended until account bought up to date, most people then settle next day if not I cancel clean and replace with new customer.
I never bother with difficult customers

[lee_dewing]

Also, if her husband is/was a mortgage broker she'll see a Thomas Higgins letter for the empty threat that it is.

Don't think solicitors letter is an empty threat; there are a few Windies on here that have successfully got there money with this letter or by taking it to small claims court.

Reason I posted is just knowing when to go from nice to not nice😉

[Johnny B]

If I get given the runaround for payment, I just stop cleaning. I don't write the debt off,  but patiently bide my time by waiting to be asked to clean again. When gently reminded that they still owe me money, the ball is in their court. They may be going through hard times and the last thing they need is me adding to that. If they pay up I take them back happily enough. If they don't I just leave it with them to see the error of their ways! No stress, no unpleasantness and no ammunition to damage my reputation.

John

[Arnold Palmer]

Also, if her husband is/was a mortgage broker she'll see a Thomas Higgins letter for the empty threat that it is.

Don't think solicitors letter is an empty threat; there are a few Windies on here that have successfully got there money with this letter or by taking it to small claims court.

Reason I posted is just knowing when to go from nice to not nice

Going to court for £54 is a waste of time for everyone involved.

[SeanK]

Also, if her husband is/was a mortgage broker she'll see a Thomas Higgins letter for the empty threat that it is.

Don't think solicitors letter is an empty threat; there are a few Windies on here that have successfully got there money with this letter or by taking it to small claims court.

Reason I posted is just knowing when to go from nice to not nice

Going to court for £54 is a waste of time for everyone involved.

Exactly, even worse if you suspect the person is having money problems as the best you will get is a miserable weekly sum
that's not worth collecting.
Your never going to win when chasing small amounts but at the same time its hard to let somebody off the hook who has taken
you for a mug/ride, it then becomes more about teaching them a lesson not letting them win than a sensible business decision.
 I cant understand why Lee is so eager to chase this woman somethings not adding up with his story.

[p1w1]

Also, if her husband is/was a mortgage broker she'll see a Thomas Higgins letter for the empty threat that it is.

Don't think solicitors letter is an empty threat; there are a few Windies on here that have successfully got there money with this letter or by taking it to small claims court.

Reason I posted is just knowing when to go from nice to not nice

Going to court for £54 is a waste of time for everyone involved.

Exactly, even worse if you suspect the person is having money problems as the best you will get is a miserable weekly sum
that's not worth collecting.
Your never going to win when chasing small amounts but at the same time its hard to let somebody off the hook who has taken
you for a mug/ride, it then becomes more about teaching them a lesson not letting them win than a sensible business decision.
 I cant understand why Lee is so eager to chase this woman somethings not adding up with his story.

Yep agree, completely pointless going as far as court for such a measly sum.. The op has some blame himself for letting get like that in the first place. As you say Sean its hard letting somebody off or writing a debt off but at the end of the day its a bit of water and some time that's been lost here and a lesson learn't not to do as many cleans without payment no matter who the customer is. But going to court or the threatening of court action is just stupid.
How about a simple letter allowing the debt to be paid over a number of months if it cant be paid in full if that fails just put it down to experience and replace the customer with a new one and move on.