[Tom-01]

8 weekly customer, started this year so done three cleans already, on GoCardless, £50 per clean.

Me: Good afternoon, I hope you’re well. Your windows are due to be cleaned, we will be there tomorrow.

Customer: No thank you - that is too soon!    I think we agreed every 8 weeks - it is 6 weeks since you last came.  Please do not come.  Regards,

Me: Hi Mike. We last cleaned them on Tuesday 29th October, along with our other customers in your road, so tomorrow is exactly 8 weeks, which is what we agreed on so they are due to be cleaned.

Many thanks
Tom

Customer: Please miss us out this time.

————
I think this will be a long miss. Then he’ll moan that ‘there’s no reliable window cleaners out there’.

[AuRavelling79]

Definitely dump and don't let him know until he comes to you asking where you've been.

[Ralphie]

Defo dump but tell him he is being dumped and why.

This is why some people have a certain attitude towards windies.

Be professional, courteous, but dump the crap out of them. 👍😂

[Spruce]

8 weekly customer, started this year so done three cleans already, on GoCardless, £50 per clean.

Me: Good afternoon, I hope you’re well. Your windows are due to be cleaned, we will be there tomorrow.

Customer: No thank you - that is too soon!    I think we agreed every 8 weeks - it is 6 weeks since you last came.  Please do not come.  Regards,

Me: Hi Mike. We last cleaned them on Tuesday 29th October, along with our other customers in your road, so tomorrow is exactly 8 weeks, which is what we agreed on so they are due to be cleaned.

Many thanks
Tom

Customer: Please miss us out this time.

————
I think this will be a long miss. Then he’ll moan that ‘there’s no reliable window cleaners out there’.

It's a financial issue.
It could be Christmas related or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

If you need the work and the job is worthwhile doing then I would try again in 8 weeks and see what happens.

Just because a customer says something doesn't mean it's true. Sometimes they say things to deflect their own issues and pass the buck elsewhere. Politicians are experts at that.

It's only when you have a full schedule that you can afford to be stricter and dump the messers proto.

[Tom-01]

8 weekly customer, started this year so done three cleans already, on GoCardless, £50 per clean.

Me: Good afternoon, I hope you’re well. Your windows are due to be cleaned, we will be there tomorrow.

Customer: No thank you - that is too soon!    I think we agreed every 8 weeks - it is 6 weeks since you last came.  Please do not come.  Regards,

Me: Hi Mike. We last cleaned them on Tuesday 29th October, along with our other customers in your road, so tomorrow is exactly 8 weeks, which is what we agreed on so they are due to be cleaned.

Many thanks
Tom

Customer: Please miss us out this time.

————
I think this will be a long miss. Then he’ll moan that ‘there’s no reliable window cleaners out there’.

It's a financial issue.
It could be Christmas related or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

If you need the work and the job is worthwhile doing then I would try again in 8 weeks and see what happens.

Just because a customer says something doesn't mean it's true. Sometimes they say things to deflect their own issues and pass the buck elsewhere. Politicians are experts at that.

It's only when you have a full schedule that you can afford to be stricter and dump the messers proto.

I do agree to a certain extent, but it’s definitely not a financial issue. It just irked me that the reason he said no was because he thought we were two weeks early and wanted every 8 weeks we had agreed at the outset, then still cancelled when shown his error. He’s being cantankerous .

[mufcglen]

As above I’d dump straight away but don’t let them know until they start texting you, that’s when it gets fun as you know they need you then
Forget letting them miss this time, that’s 16 weeks then, I make it very clear to 2 monthly cleans that I do not go over 2 months as that’s long enough as it is.
Hopefully if it was a first clean you did last time at least you charged double

[AuRavelling79]

As above I’d dump straight away but don’t let them know until they start texting you, that’s when it gets fun as you know they need you then
Forget letting them miss this time, that’s 16 weeks then, I make it very clear to 2 monthly cleans that I do not go over 2 months as that’s long enough as it is.
Hopefully if it was a first clean you did last time at least you charged double

Yes, a simple - "I don't go beyond 8 weeks, that's only 6 times a year" - said politely and firmly usually does the trick. If it doesn't then bye bye.

[Spruce]

8 weekly customer, started this year so done three cleans already, on GoCardless, £50 per clean.

Me: Good afternoon, I hope you’re well. Your windows are due to be cleaned, we will be there tomorrow.

Customer: No thank you - that is too soon!    I think we agreed every 8 weeks - it is 6 weeks since you last came.  Please do not come.  Regards,

Me: Hi Mike. We last cleaned them on Tuesday 29th October, along with our other customers in your road, so tomorrow is exactly 8 weeks, which is what we agreed on so they are due to be cleaned.

Many thanks
Tom

Customer: Please miss us out this time.

————
I think this will be a long miss. Then he’ll moan that ‘there’s no reliable window cleaners out there’.

It's a financial issue.
It could be Christmas related or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

If you need the work and the job is worthwhile doing then I would try again in 8 weeks and see what happens.

Just because a customer says something doesn't mean it's true. Sometimes they say things to deflect their own issues and pass the buck elsewhere. Politicians are experts at that.

It's only when you have a full schedule that you can afford to be stricter and dump the messers proto.

I do agree to a certain extent, but it’s definitely not a financial issue. It just irked me that the reason he said no was because he thought we were two weeks early and wanted every 8 weeks we had agreed at the outset, then still cancelled when shown his error. He’s being cantankerous .

I appreciate what everyone else is saying in response. But when someone is financially 'desperate' he is calling on the first thing that comes to mind to get out of another bill.
Maybe he put a huge bet down that Boris Johnson wouldn't win the election, who knows?

But its down to you. If you feel that he was being cantankerous and it irks you, then do what others have said. When you have a full round then you are in a better position to  pick and choose and cull the messers asap.

His actions aren't going to stop him telling the next windie that you were unreliable. Its the nature of the beast.
 

[NWH]

Why dump it I wouldn’t I’d say if you want to go to 12 weeks that’s fine but it will be 60,I’ll always give people a chance.
It’s when things keep cropping up that mess you about not just 1 thing,240 every 12 months I’d let the first strike go.

[markymark]

To me it sounds like a passive/aggressive way of the customer getting an as-and-when window clean. I'd not be surprised that if you left the clean this time he'd make a 'jokey' comment about you disappearing next time you cleaned them. Which would be 16 weeks between cleans. So 4 months muck to shift for the expected price of a normal clean.
Yeah, give him the old dumperoo!

[Tom-01]

I asked if there was a particular reason as to why - he just emailed saying they have visitors on it’s not convenient on Christmas Eve.

Now, if he had said that straight away I wouldn’t mind as I have a few like that, and others who are desperate for an extra clean before Xmas, so swings and roundabouts.

The fact he said he agreed to 8 weekly and not 6 weekly, and we were on time and he still said no is the annoyance. Just driven past his house and there’s no-one in anyway! I don’t need the work at all. I may reply and say to due to a last minute skipped clean it will be £65 next clean.

[dazmond]

i never work xmas eve these days.......my last day was yesterday......off to the gym this afternoon.....even thats closing early today...all out by 430pm....its normally 10pm on a week day....

if i was you id keep the job on the books esp at £50 a pop and if you ve got a few down the same street....if it happens again for no good reason then id defo dump but its xmas....give em some slack!

[Bungle]

I asked if there was a particular reason as to why - he just emailed saying they have visitors on it’s not convenient on Christmas Eve.

Now, if he had said that straight away I wouldn’t mind as I have a few like that, and others who are desperate for an extra clean before Xmas, so swings and roundabouts.

The fact he said he agreed to 8 weekly and not 6 weekly, and we were on time and he still said no is the annoyance. Just driven past his house and there’s no-one in anyway! I don’t need the work at all. I may reply and say to due to a last minute skipped clean it will be £65 next clean.

So there's no one home? Has it crossed your mind that they may have gone away for Xmas and don't want people knowing the house will be empty? I went out this morning (texted them all to forewarn), only had 9 jobs to do, 4 cancelled. I still earned a nice crust. It didn't bother me, but it would any other time of year. I've told the Mrs to remind me not to work Xmas eve in the future.

[TomCrowther]

I have developed a zero level of patience with customer over recent years. Unless they explain why they don't want a clean, and I find the reason reasonable, dumped immediately.
Builders in-ok
Decorating outside-ok
Away-ok
Friends round-dumped
Windows still clean-dumped twice
The type of customer who wants you to skip them for no reason doesn't deserve you as a window cleaner. They affect your income, mental elf and income. Dump em all.

[Splash & dash]

Totally agree with Tom crowther instant dump and I would tell him why , when he’s on the phone in a few months wanting them done again I would remind him that his slot has been taken by a regular customer who does want windows cleaned every time  👋👋

[NWH]

It has to be a decent reason for me to dump a 50 +,once I’ll put up with it but if it’s the same thing in the same year I will then have a word.
To just say dump everything you have a problem with to me is silly you are running a business,everyone from time to time in business this or any other will have problem customers if they continue to mess you about after you’ve explained then they are a waste of time then I would say dump.
Some of the best customers now are the ones I’ve talked to and explained i don’t do not today’s when I turn up and they don’t need cleaning at the moment,wheat and chaff shifting sand whatever you want to call it we all have-had then there’s not a window cleaner on the planet that hasn’t.

[Jonny Swirljet]

It's all about accommodation and adjustment, not thinking that you are a victim

[NWH]

It doesn’t matter what window cleaning job I’ve lost in the past it had always played on my mind for a while,what I’ve learnt is that no individual job is 100% for as long as you want to do it no matter how cheap or more than you think you were cleaning it for and this has got me thinking when it comes to putting prices up.

[Johnny B]

I don't have terms and conditions per se, but I have a general frequency of 6 weeks between cleans for customers who want them done on a regular basis. I also have a chunk of ad hocs who ring me as and when needed and I fit them in around my regulars. Regulars who skip 2 or 3 times usually get reassigned to the ad hoc list. There's no drama, no hissy fits or flouncing (sorry Malc!) and I have found this actually happens much less frequently than it used to. When I get a first clean I always assume they will be one offs or ad hocs unless it it specified that I am to call to them every time I am around.

Works for me and keeps everyone happy.

John

[Spruce]

I don't have terms and conditions per se, but I have a general frequency of 6 weeks between cleans for customers who want them done on a regular basis. I also have a chunk of ad hocs who ring me as and when needed and I fit them in around my regulars. Regulars who skip 2 or 3 times usually get reassigned to the ad hoc list. There's no drama, no hissy fits or flouncing (sorry Malc!) and I have found this actually happens much less frequently than it used to. When I get a first clean I always assume they will be one offs or ad hocs unless it it specified that I am to call to them every time I am around.

Works for me and keeps everyone happy.

John

You are a good example of how to build a round. When you went to Ireland you had difficulty finding regular window cleaning customers. So you had to start off doing one offs and slowly educating your one off customers into regular cleans over time.

Over the years you have developed a round that will support you and your daughter. You often post how one of your irregular customers will phone and the deal is that you will fit their clean in when you are next in the area.

One day you will have a full schedule of regular cleans. Its then you have to decide how you will proceed. Do you stop all these as and whens and concentrate on your regulars or do you bring another cleaner into the business? Malc has a full schedule so he can afford to work his round the way he does.

The original poster probably doesn't have a full round. I would be treating customers as NWH has posted.  Play along for a while and if the messing continues then its time to let them go. I have run this way in our business and I have a clean conscious when it comes to those that I have dumped. I don't do 'drama, hissy fits or flouncing.'  I will always endeavour to part company on  good terms.

However, if Malc treated his customers on his round as you do, we wouldn't have the customer/malc drama stories I do enjoy reading.