[harleyman]

Against  my better judgement  I decided  to try bank transfer after being asked by several customers  big mistake I'm sick of chasing after them  I don't mind collecting I've done it for donkeys  years  so now no more bank transfers  or any other online shure  . Too long in the tooth  I suppose  even calling round as little efect.

[Crystal-clear]

It's what works for you I suppose..
Have you thought about adding up the hours you spend collecting and the costs. For example if you spent 6 hours cleaning and 4 hours collecting that's 10 hours work. Don't forget extra diesel costs parking and wear and tear on vehicle.
It pretty much half's your day rate.
I would go down the bank transfer route  but during the transition period still collect.
Keep reminding them on the door next time to do a bank transfer and eventually you'll have an easier life

[Jonny 87]

Madness.

Unless you have a very small round?

I got to the point where I was having to collect two evenings a week. Now I just clean the windows, post a card through, and money appears in my account within the month.

If I had to go back to collecting I think I would make a career change.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Then use go gardless if they ask to pay by BACS.  Or educate them that post payment are only available to customers who pay within x days without reminder.

Going back to collect is a big no no.  We run a business not a charity.  If they become a pain paying they get an ultimatum to sign to go cardless or get dropped.  Don't let them mess you about. 

[harleyman]

Ive tried  but  I have a smallish round  sure a few won't commit  and  I am not in a position at the moment to pick and choose  customers  at the  moment  I guess  I will have to persiver

[nathankaye]

Or get them to set it up as a standing order instead for the end of a month, which gives you plenty of time to clean their windows before they pay you.

[Missing Link]

Ive tried  but  I have a smallish round  sure a few won't commit  and  I am not in a position at the moment to pick and choose  customers  at the  moment  I guess  I will have to persiver

You say you've been window cleaning for years, yet you're not in a position to pick and choose customers.

I am going to assume that you need more and better customers?

If so, shouldn't you put more focus on this area of your business?

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Ive tried  but  I have a smallish round  sure a few won't commit  and  I am not in a position at the moment to pick and choose  customers  at the  moment  I guess  I will have to persiver

Problem is if you give your custoners an inch they will take a mile.   They will get worse if you let them treat you like a muppet.  Don't let them take the mick.  Be strick and brave and get rid of the dross no matter how desperate you are.  Educate your customers from the start.  It's your business so don't let customers dictate how you should run it.

[Plankton]

Ive tried  but  I have a smallish round  sure a few won't commit  and  I am not in a position at the moment to pick and choose  customers  at the  moment  I guess  I will have to persiver

You say you've been window cleaning for years, yet you're not in a position to pick and choose customers.

I am going to assume that you need more and better customers?

If so, shouldn't you put more focus on this area of your business?

If I remember correctly he relocated from down south to Glasgow so he's now trying to build up a business. It's not as easy as it is said to drop them and replace with ciu customers.

[dazmond]

Against  my better judgement  I decided  to try bank transfer after being asked by several customers  big mistake I'm sick of chasing after them  I don't mind collecting I've done it for donkeys  years  so now no more bank transfers  or any other online shure  . Too long in the tooth  I suppose  even calling round as little efect.

i love BACS transfers....its the number 1 way i like to get paid......saves so much collecting!

no bank charges
the money is in my bank to use straight away after payment


like you ive been window cleaning for many years and collecting is ingrained into my work routine.i only go on a monday evening for an hour or so these days though (even then its not every monday).....

stipulations for a BACS transfer customer......

1.i need a mobile contact number
2.payment within 14 days

if the customer forgets i send them a text reminder after 14 days and most will pay up instantly,some within a day or two.

if you insist on collecting then get yourself a card machine (like SumUp)so you can take card payments like contactless,etc at the door if they have no cash (or cheque book)...it works a treat....

i also have a virtual terminal on my SumUp app so i can ring customers and take their long card number so they can pay that way(i only use this occasionally as the transaction fee is higher)but at least im getting paid.....

i also have a few on standing order.....its all good!

[Plankton]

Anyone know if you can text an aworka invoice to a customer?

[JandS]

Dazmond....how do you word your text message...trying to think of a polite way to remind them...starting to get one or two  who are "forgetting" to pay.

[dazmond]

Dazmond....how do you word your text message...trying to think of a polite way to remind them...starting to get one or two  who are "forgetting" to pay.

i simply put......

"text reminder re window cleaning.date.--/--/--£20-00(or whatever).outstanding on your account.many thanks.Darren.

[zesty]

Dazmond....how do you word your text message...trying to think of a polite way to remind them...starting to get one or two  who are "forgetting" to pay.

I always say hello bla bla,
‘Are you ok to pay online for windows? Hope you got the ticket!’

Then end with more bla bla

[Dry Clean]

Madness.

Unless you have a very small round?

I got to the point where I was having to collect two evenings a week. Now I just clean the windows, post a card through, and money appears in my account within the month.

If I had to go back to collecting I think I would make a career change.

Same as this, there's only one thing I hate more than canvassing and that's collecting, even though you're asking for money that's owed to you it still feels like begging.

[Simon Trapani]

Collecting lol

[Stoots]

Im going Go cardless only for all new work im sick to death of reminding people as well, i have about 10 at the minute who dont look like they are going to cough up.

Sod collecting though, as a last resort perhaps before you dump a non payer but not all the time.

I would rather quit window cleaning than have to collect from everyone.

[dazmond]

Collecting lol

When you ve done it for 26 years it's just a normal thing to do....I'm not like Sean though....I dont see it as begging!its strange how we all have different attitudes to the same things.....

[mufcglen]

I tell my customers from the outset its bank transfer using the card details posted and if that’s a problem they leave cash out for me when I text the night before, after 7 days they get a reminder text saying “hi its glen the window cleaner, hate to mither but i havent recieved payment yet. regards Glen “
They always reply back so sorry will do it now or just paid etc, no issues for me.
I stopped collecting years ago when I got sick of curtain twitchers no money etc plus my rounds too big now, not many actually keep money at home these days with everything online, phone and touch payments😁

[Plankton]

When you're saying phone and touch payments that's what I was thinking about, if you could send an invoice link to their mobile it would be handy.