[Missy dusty]

 Evening guys,just wanted your thoughts on how I should be feeling about this situation,in a way I feel bad but on the other hand glad the problem has hopefully gone.

   Ive been doing a domestic clean since just before christmas,Ive discussed this in a previous reply to a thread...the client has never provided me with a key..well only on a couple of occasions..the spare key when theyve not been there  and thats been very occasionally,normaly the guy delivers the key to my front door and I return it after doing the clean  

 Anyhow,originally I said I would do the clean on a Tuesday for 3 hours,within a couple of weeks the guy asked me to do it on a Wednesday as it was a day that he was working from home.I said it was ok ,but I could only do 2 hours,due to having to do a school run.

 Now last week I spoke to him to tell him Wednesdays were going to be an issue for me now due to personal circumstances and I would have to come on a Tuesday in which case he would have to provide me a key.He didnt seem to mind the idea of the key, but said ....can you still come Wednesday next week and we will talk about it then...I can only assume he wanted to speak to his wife .   

  Anyway , today Ive been feeling really rough,flu Id say ,I finished my first clean and should of gone on to this other guy , but to be honest I felt so crap and just wanted to come home to bed..and so I did.

 Now I havent heard anything from the client and feel bad for not turning up but at the same time I was getting a bit peeved off about the situation with the key  ....what you reckon should I be feeling guilty
or would you of done the same but may be in a different way ?

[derek west]

if you didn't call him to say you were ill then for me personally, thats very un professional, but i don't know the ins and outs so maybe i'm speaking out of turn.

[Missy dusty]

 Hi there, I have since writting this thread recieved a call from the guys wife to see if everythings ok,I told her I sent a text to her hubbies phone this morning but he obviously didnt recieve...even though I didnt,but to be honest once Id finished my first clean I thought it was too late to tell the next guy I wouldnt be coming today .

   Anyhow Ive spoke to his wife and told her Im cutting my hours as from now and only keeping my big cleans and apologised Ive decided not to do hers any more.To be honest I was a bit peeved a couple of weeks ago when I was told a key would be dropped off and it wasnt and he told me he would pay me for the missed clean ..but didnt,so I think all in all after feeling poope today I really couldnt give a damn,but feel really bad on his wife as shes a really nice lady,but all of the dealings seemed to be through him and I just dot feel like putting up with it no more,none of my other clients are awkward like this.     

[cleaning-team]

One of the many unadvertised joys of being your own boss - sick days have to become a thing of the past...

[suffolkclean]

You will always get awkward customers, but this is all part of running your own business. If you want people to see you run a professional service you have to deal with matters like this professionally. Remember people talk to eachother! you don't want a bad reputation - it would of been better if you had called him before you went home to say I'm so sorry I'm not going to beable to make it today as I'm ill.
B

[dianegreenwood]

Hi Dusty

I agree with others that out of courtesy you should have called him to let him know you weren't coming. 

Interestingly, one of the selling points of my business is that because I have a team of cleaners rather than someone working self employed on their own, its my problem if people are off sick or on holiday not the clients.  They will never come home to find the house not cleaned and they didn't even know the cleaner wasn't coming.  The only time we've cancelled a client was because of the snow and even then only one day was missed and of course I rang every client that morning to let them know and to rearrange.

Best Wishes

Diane

www.freshlymaid.co.uk

[Missy dusty]

 Thanks for your replies ,I realise I should of called him , and that was pretty indecent of me not too,if I really felt I wasnt fit enough to go out to work that day I would of text his wife first thing in the morning to let her know so she had enough notice but I done my first clean ,but really didnt feel up to anymore..its ok saying oh but when your self employed sick days are a thing of the past but Im talking bad dizzy spells to the point where I didnt feel safe behind the wheel let alone being in someones house bending about .   anyhow I know his house has a terrible reception for mobile phones and 95% of the time hes on the house phone working so probly another reason I didnt bother,and because it was a last minute thing.

   Must say couldnt believe it took till 9 oclock for his wife to phone me to see if I was ok though not unless hubby was far to busy to of noticed I hadnt been.

 Anyhow Ive told them Im not going to be cleaning there no more,due to cutting my hours and at least Ive done it over the phone and not just sent it in a text,Im sure its not going to get me a bad name ,I work as a sole trader I have enough clients to keep me going ,all of which Ive been going to for about 2-3 years (apart from this one ),I dont go out advertising myself and Ive another buisness too, but to be honest if later in life I do expand and do have a company name then obviously something like this would be dealt with in a different matter as obviously Id hopefully staff that can help me out.

   In the mean time feel bad for what I done ,but glad its over with as the damn situation with the key was getting on my nearves and with the client turning up on my doorstep at night with the key every now again I thought was just not on .   

[Fox]

Hi, I think the same as everyone else really you should have said something not just not gone, did you expect a different response?

Regardless of whether you're a sole trader working alone or director of a company when a person employs someone to carry out work and you take on that work you should act in a professional way and on this occasion you certainly didn't, not only did you not tell these people you weren't going when due you then told them you weren't going back! (for whatever reason).  Personally I would have given notice.

I think you should certainly feel bad as this is just another thing that could contribute to giving 'cleaners' a bad name, having said that I am sure the way you feel will lend itself to learning a lesson on how to deal with the situation in the future.

Telling off over!  (Well you did ask!)

Fox   

[cml]

Hi Dusty,  I am of the belief that for what ever reasons there appear to  be a lot more going on here.

First you were feeling  ill  (and i don't doubt this) no curtsey call placed; you then go from wanting to change your working days and hours to cutting the client off all together.  Futhermore you go on to say I have other jobs to keep me going and have done so for 2-3 years as a sole trader.  It's this kind of attitude towards the industry that keeps its from being recognised for the 'science' for which it is.  Don't get me wrong and I will apologise if I offend  but as mentioned above it would have been far better to give notice to end your services.  Feeling better about doing this by phone doesn't cut it and even more frightening  you imply that you may have done this via text.  'Mouth to Mouth' advertising is very strong; so to think that your reputation would or could not be affected shows  a moment of arrogance on your part.  No doubt this maybe a result of the way you were feeling on that day and that's why it is best sometimes to think things over before making a quick and rushed decision.
This could have the possible effects of not just affecting your cleaning business but what other businesses you may run.

Lets turn this around for a moment.  You say that you have had a lot of problems with the keys but imagine for a moment that maybe these clients were trying to get used to you and did not entirely feel comfortable  with you.  Based on what has just happened maybe their judgement could be right.  The art here is to build a customers confidence in not just your business but you as a person and this rings true to all businesses and the people you may deal with.
I don't really think feeling bad comes into the picture because you have just demonstrated that your clients are easy to dispense with as and when you feel.  You showed no signs of trying to let  down gently , with a notice and further lied about sending a text to inform them that you would not be showing up.

The client did not have to check on you to see how you were doing they could have easily terminated their agreement with you for failing to show up.  I think by their reactions they were reasonable in deciding to call you and had you dealt with the incident differently they would have acted reasonable in regards to you being ill.

Nonetheless it's done now.  Try not to make decisions when you are feeling low, sick and generally groggy.

Speedy recovery!

[Missy dusty]

Hi Dusty,  I am of the belief that for what ever reasons there appear to  be a lot more going on here.

First you were feeling  ill  (and i don't doubt this) no curtsey call placed; you then go from wanting to change your working days and hours to cutting the client off all together.  Futhermore you go on to say I have other jobs to keep me going and have done so for 2-3 years as a sole trader.  It's this kind of attitude towards the industry that keeps its from being recognised for the 'science' for which it is.  Don't get me wrong and I will apologise if I offend  but as mentioned above it would have been far better to give notice to end your services.  Feeling better about doing this by phone doesn't cut it and even more frightening  you imply that you may have done this via text.  'Mouth to Mouth' advertising is very strong; so to think that your reputation would or could not be affected shows  a moment of arrogance on your part.  No doubt this maybe a result of the way you were feeling on that day and that's why it is best sometimes to think things over before making a quick and rushed decision.
This could have the possible effects of not just affecting your cleaning business but what other businesses you may run.

Lets turn this around for a moment.  You say that you have had a lot of problems with the keys but imagine for a moment that maybe these clients were trying to get used to you and did not entirely feel comfortable  with you.  Based on what has just happened maybe their judgement could be right.  The art here is to build a customers confidence in not just your business but you as a person and this rings true to all businesses and the people you may deal with.
I don't really think feeling bad comes into the picture because you have just demonstrated that your clients are easy to dispense with as and when you feel.  You showed no signs of trying to let  down gently , with a notice and further lied about sending a text to inform them that you would not be showing up.

The client did not have to check on you to see how you were doing they could have easily terminated their agreement with you for failing to show up.  I think by their reactions they were reasonable in deciding to call you and had you dealt with the incident differently they would have acted reasonable in regards to you being ill.

Nonetheless it's done now.  Try not to make decisions when you are feeling low, sick and generally groggy.

Speedy recovery!

Thanks for your words,
 Yes you are  right there is more to this than mentioned ,I for one could unfortunatly not give notice to this client ,due to being made a offer in my other buisness that I couldnt refuse  ,it was a case of start next week or will have to offer it to someone else...couldnt refuse,other wise I would of give notice.
  If on the other hand the client had stuck to the original day we arranged Tuesday for me to come ,I could of possibly still been going there.I went along with it long enough ,not happy about it ,and when he called to say he was dropping a key round for the next day, and I mentioned  about I wanted to go back to Tuesdays as originally agreed ,he said well if if you can come next Wednesday still and we will talk about it.I have two hours to clean the house and cant go over the two hours due to otherwise I will be late for the school run .This guy is one of these people I just havent got time to listen to , he goes all the long way about saying things , and its just like to hell just get on with it I havent all day .And as to wether do they trust me , why did he ask me if I had any hours free as his  neighbour is looking for a cleaner?
 Yes you are right its easy to make a wrong move when you are feeling down  and regret it after, I only feel bad for not phoning, and as to the notice bit, unfortunatly  couldnt work round that one, but then I do think to myself if things were as they were originally arranged and  had a key and didnt have to listen to him most weeks wittering on I probly would of not jacked the clean in.

[cml]

Hello Dusty,

In short the other business offer played a key role in your decision to walk away from this contract and by the sounds of it an offer you could not refuse.  The small accumulative factors such as the keys, client taking to long to make up his mind were trivial matters I feel could have been dealt with because you indicated if he had agreed you would have continued to work for them.

This is your business and maybe you contributed to the issue by not making it clear to him that you needed to return to Tuesdays with immediate effect.  Only you know what agendas or possible time conflicts may interupt with this contract.  He was willing to discuss the possibility of this happening but on Wednesday when you showed up for that clean.  More often than not it is easy to be guided by the client when a firm decision needs to be made.  Taking firm control of your schedules and communicating a clear message to your client will take time to develop.  So I guess having time to consider what you have done yeh!!! you may well be feeling bad.

Good luck with your new business offer

[Anna 140]

Hi
I completely agree with everyones post here. But I also feel for you to, I have spent many years working with individuals and completely understand the frustration with some clients being awkward simply because they can. May I suggest: you NEVER lie to a client.

Also the next time a key issue pops up you could suggest the client purchase a KeySafe, its a little robust safe that is attached / screwed to the outside of a house which holds up to 2 keys, it cannot be unscrewed from the wall whilst the door is locked in place and is as safe as long as no-one else has the key code. For Those clients that are wary of the use of a Key safe, you could suggest the key be placed in it on the morning of the clean, and taken in on the same evening. also you should really devise a cancelation policy, and if for what ever reason you can not gain access to do the clean you will invoice the client for your bill. I find the 24hour cancellation policy works best. this should be stipulated on any advertisement, or on the back of your invoices to safeguard your self.

you also need to put in writing, your business hours then there can be no comebacks as you just refer your client to your business hours.
good luck with your venture, I hope my advice is useful!