Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay the window cleaner?

janaltus

As the Rock-man has stated already, and as I pointed out in the Moral Dilemma last week, this is covered by the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971.

But what to do about it? There are a number of permissive pieces of legislation, which some local authorities choose to enforce, even though some claim they are not obliged to do so. Trading Standards services generally have a statutory duty to enforce the Act

If you write to your local council's Trading Standards office (and copy it to one of your local councillors) - sending a very brief, polite letter explaining your dilemma, you probably won't have to worry about it again; you've passed it off to someone else to worry about. You might also be doing a big favour to your neighbours who could be suffering from a similar rip-off.

And yes, I'd tell the cheeky chappy to chuck his chamois!

phil1reynolds

Is this a real question as it implies the window cleaner has cleaned the windows at least once before - got annoyed when refused payment and now does it again.

If it is true just let the windows be cleaned for free and keep refusing to pay - you cannot lose on this.

lucybenjamin

if you haven't requested a window clean then def don't pay but next time this happens make sure you make it clear to him that you don't want your windows cleaned. :mad:

coxeey

If you are getting a bill then he knows you are a separate dwelling and he knows he shouldn't have cleaned them.

If he didn't know you were separate then your neighbour would be paying as he would have picked up the bill for the lot.

A lot of people can make money by doing jobs that are not asked for and then hassling people for the money.
Don't pay.

andypanny

I'm a window cleaner. I would never clean a job without prior agreement. I always give a price for a job either directly to the owner or if they are not in I will leave a quote for them. If I hear nothing then I do nothing, if I get the go ahead then I will clean the windows.
A good window cleaner doesn't need to resort to this kind of scam to earn money. If somebody did this to me not only would I not pay them, I would be furious they did the job without my say so.
Pay him nothing. If he carries on tell him you will report him to the police.

pineapple

Where's the dilemma? His mistake - or maybe he is trying it on. As he keeps on making the same 'mistake', I'm tempted to think the latter.
If he uses ladders, I would be tempted to stay at home on window cleaning day, hide under the bedroom window, then pop up wearing a horror mask and shout 'boo' as his head appears. He'll definitely remember you - if he survives.....

lyndorset

Definately NO!!!! He is trespassing by doing it unasked, look for damage to your garden, windows, frames etc! Maybe you could put a bill in to him if he has damaged anything!

Mainly do not pay, put a note with the bill and send it to him pointing out that he is trespassing, harassing and you will not pay for a service not requested. Make sure you put your CORRECT address on it and then if he does do it again threaten to call the police and the local press!

RuthnJasper

Well, I wouldn't pay him - especially if I'd already told him before to leave my windows alone. This sounds a little bit similar to the 'milk' MMD from last week - I wonder if there IS some sort of scam of this nature going on in these troubled times...?

The only situation where I'd feel bad for not paying the chap is if the number of my house (or of my neighbour's who did want the service) wasn't clearly displayed and there could reasonably be some confusion over which house was which.

If this was a recurring issue, however, I would put my request to stop washing my windows in writing and, if it happens again after that, report him to the local trading standards people. If he IS up to mischief then it's almost certain that you aren't the only one to fall under his ladder...

Good luck!
x

colmax

"If he uses ladders, I would be tempted to stay at home on window cleaning day, hide under the bedroom window, then pop up wearing a horror mask and shout 'boo' as his head appears. He'll definitely remember you - if he survives..... "



Just a thought, if anyone did do this and the cleaner fell off his ladder and died they would be guilty of manslaughter, possibly murder.

Pellyman

Definitely keep refusing to pay him, especially as you suggest you have told him more than once that you don't want them cleaned or, probably more correctly, don't want to pay to have them cleaned. Tell him you can't afford it but when you win the lottery jackpot he will be one of the first people you will call.

If you can see clearer now - Why can't he?