[windows_chepstow]

I've had my first customer 'bounce' a cheque to me!  Actually, it was a month ago and she's due to be cleaned tomorrow.

I'm wavering between being friendly and understanding (as long as she coughs up), or cold and professional, dropping her from my round (still getting paid).

She's had a month she could've phoned me to apologise, but hasn't.

I can't be the first window cleaner to receive a cheque that hasn't been honoured.  How would you deal with it?

[callum macleod]

i've only had one do this ! i never cleaned them again !  :

[windows_chepstow]

i've only had one do this ! i never cleaned them again !  :

Did you get paid in the end though?  'Oi, Missis, here's your cheque... etc'.

[rosskesava]

Hi Windows

I'd make sure first that your bank haven't charged you as well. Some banks charge you for someone elses cheque bouncing.

Cheers

Ross

[callum macleod]

i've only had one do this ! i never cleaned them again !  :

Did you get paid in the end though?  'Oi, Missis, here's your cheque... etc'.

Yes i did just put cheque in again as soon as  it was returned when't through no problem

[dustycorner]

Hi Tosh,

Iwould do the following go and see the lady and explain her cheque has been returned chances are its a genuine mistake, if you think about it would you bounce a cheque on a tradesman who knows where you live . The customer at least deserves benefit of the doubt unless she has previous. If she doesnt pay up then spray cooking oil over her windows.

Cheers Mark.

[matt]

i had a "rubber cheque" when i first started, from some1 about 10 doors from me

first time i was "understanding" so the next clean the cheque was for twice the amount (latest clean and the 1 Before) the same thing happened, i went to speak to her, "oh a mix up with my bank" she said

3 rd clean, she paid cash for them all

4th clean, cheque bounces again

5th clean, the cheque for 2 amounts bounced

No 6th clean , she hides when she see's me now

only 19 quid, but the cheek of it, she lives in a 4 bed house worth 280 K

some people

[windows_chepstow]

Hi Tosh,

Iwould do the following go and see the lady and explain her cheque has been returned chances are its a genuine mistake, if you think about it would you bounce a cheque on a tradesman who knows where you live . The customer at least deserves benefit of the doubt unless she has previous. If she doesnt pay up then spray cooking oil over her windows.

Cheers Mark.

Mark, sounds like solid advice.  Especially the cooking oil bit.

To Rosskewatsit, you know my name is 'Tosh'; also I didn't get billed by my bank!  But from previous personal experience, I bet she received a charge of about £25.00 which is a bit much for a £14.00 cheque!

She seems a nice enough lass; so I'm surprised she didn't phone me and apologise.  It also took a while to work out who the customer was though.

My advice is; when you receive a cheque; make sure YOU write the address of the customer on the back (don't ask them too, it might sound like you don't trust them), so if the cheque is 'bounced' you know straight away who it is.

I'll let you know what her excuse is when I catch up with her. 

 

[dai]

I thought one of my customers had bounced me recently. It turned out she had lost her handbag, cards, cheque book etc and had had to cancel everything. She had completly forgotten that she had paid me by cheque. This is maybe the case with your customer so tread lightly untill you have spoken to her. She may be quite genuine. Dai

[rosskesava]

Hi Tosh 

As you didn't inncur any charges I would wear an understanding hat.

Years ago I bounced a cheque on our milkman and I'd forgotten I'd paid some bills a few days before.

The milkman went berserk at me and as a result, I told him to go stick it where the sun don't shine and he lost a customer who for years had paid up every month without fault.

Cheers

Ross

[Paul Coleman]

I've had my first customer 'bounce' a cheque to me!  Actually, it was a month ago and she's due to be cleaned tomorrow.

I'm wavering between being friendly and understanding (as long as she coughs up), or cold and professional, dropping her from my round (still getting paid).

She's had a month she could've phoned me to apologise, but hasn't.

I can't be the first window cleaner to receive a cheque that hasn't been honoured.  How would you deal with it?

I've had it happen just twice since 1991.
The first customer it happened with I knocked on the door before starting the next clean. She paid me for two cleans by cash before I started cleaning.  I eventually dropped that customer as there were too many "not today thank yous".
The second customer it happened with I printed a letter requesting payment.  They weren't in so I put it through their letter box.  They never contacted me.  I never cleaned there again.  Never seen them since.  For 6 quid it wasn't worth the head space it occupied but it was irritating.  I play with a straight bat and I expect the same of others.  Maybe sometimes I expect too much.

[s.hughes]

Hi Chepstow
I had this happen years ago and I just let it go. I didnt go round to let them know and I didnt want the work anymore.
Thing is its embarassing for the customer, but I would still get your money

Steveyboy

[www.mrgutters.co.uk]

i have not had rubber cheques but have had customers that just never pay even though i have lefts notes no reply or call or cheque house is worth800k at least i charge 25

did it about 6 weeks ago still nothing

[thewindowcleaner1]

I had one years ago apart from the income lost about £15 I also got hammerd with a bank charge. it got me on a bad day and I could never catch the fella in anyway so I went round the back of the property and took a set of large step ladders left a note saying that I would return steps when cheque and charges were cleard (in cash) that was about 5 years ago I've still got the steps never heard from him..

Alan

[thewindowcleaner1]

Just had an idea 
why not do like a lot of take- aways do and post the cheque inside your windscreen with a note explaining that this is what will happen if cheques are made of rubber.

[easycleanwindows]

happened twice the first i went to the customer and he paid the 4 pound charge and the amount owed the second time 60 pound they moved but i nagged the letting agent they had the property from and they paid into my bank account

[s.hughes]

Like I said before the customer is probably very embarrased when they found out from their bank that the cheque has bounced. That may be why they keep a low profile.

Steveyboy

[Michael D]

Hi all,
         I had a rubber chq once, I sent a letter round to the customer with a s.a.e. Recieved no reply, tried phoning. no answer, So i decidied to go round i went all calm. Car in driveway but no one answering the door. By now i was V.P.OFF with the runaround i went back to my van, got my pole off and went and gave there sat dish a bump, no watching football for customer. I left with a smile on my face. I never got paid, but i still smile when i think about it.

[Becki]

bounce on them!

[ian m]

I have had this happen to me a couple of times, 1st time I left a note for the bloke to give me a call.
He did that evening so I put my understanding head on,
After accepting apologies I enquired if the bank stiffed them for a fee? yes he responded, £30.What a shower of ...... the  banks are we  agreed. He then asked me  had I been billed, yes I said £6. He paid up the next day  .

Second case I did the same,  no response. I was in that road collecting tonight, its nice to see that her windows are absolutely bogging now. Seeing its been 2 years since they were last cleaned.

Its good to try and not things like that upset you


Keep smiling

Ian