Hi guys. I posted on here a while ago with a previous non payer who eventually paid.
Yesterday I was cleaning a town house that I’ve done for over 5 years. I even clean all her door/marble surrounds as a freebie each time. I charge £23.50 on a 8 weekly cycle.
She has commented before I was quick when I cleaned them but never any issues with windows.
After I finished yesterday she came storming up to my van having a go at me saying some pure water had splashed back and landed on her cushion of one of her patio chairs. Said I had “no common sense” etc. Genuinely I had no idea and to my eye the furniture was set back enough. So I explained (after apologising) that I felt she was “character assassinating me” and in all fairness I shouldn’t have to be expected to move furniture to have access to clean the windows”
Anyway she went off. I of course expected the cancellation which indeed happened a few hours later via email. I then sent an email saying I found her quite rude etc etc and please don’t cancel the GoCardless mandate until payment has gone through.
Today the mandate and payment has been cancelled. I perhaps (knee jerked) in frustration and said “I can see you have cancelled the payment can I please ask you pay the outstanding amount to account ****** or I will be taking legal action.
Now upon reflection I have knee jerked BUT anyone on here understand why I sent this? Shall I just let the payment go?
Ps her hubby is a top doctor too and I get the feeling she has that sense of entitlement by just denying me payment.
Any comments guys?
My comments, so please don't take offence.
In my opinion, she's entitled to think what she likes with regard to her status in life. Whether she is right or not is for others to decide.
In my books, we always try to defuse a situation that may arise before it gets out of hand.
A humble apology for wetting her cushions would help, without adding any justification about why you think she is being unreasonable. I might have suggested I take them away and get them dried for her if that would help. (If she says no, then you have offered to do your best to rectify the issue.) Your main objective in any situation is to suck it up until you get paid. Then decide whether you will continue to clean her windows or not.
We have a customer who has come from a poor counsel house upbringing and married a successful businessman. She also acts above her status. She believes she is superior to everyone else, but she shows by her dealings that she hasn't a clue how to manage much.
For example, she knows when we are cleaning that day as it's always prearranged, but she will organize the gardener to pressure wash the drive and paths. He will have started before we arrive to clean the windows. Or he is instructed to sand and paint the decking on the one side of the house the day we have arranged to clean windows. This gives her the feeling that she's in control.
As long as they pay us, I don't care. Yes, it pays well, but they also know I don't need the job. It was her husband who employed us, and he insists the windows are cleaned every 4 weeks along with his business premises. If she creates any drama, I can just message him cancelling the clean for another month "because the gardener is sanding and painting the deck and I don't want to cause any damage to the new paint." I never blame the wife, but it's usually her fault and she will be more subdued a few cleans after.
On the next clean, she knows that I know she has been chewed out, so the dynamics between us can be interesting. I get a bit of a kick out of it.
She doesn't like me, but I'm always respectful when talking to her. Often a battle is won by not confronting the enemy directly.
