Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay the window cleaner?

Mrs_OBBM

Put a round, red notice in your window similar to the 'No Smoking' signs saying 'No Window Cleaning' and underneath another notice saying 'Window Cleaners WILL be prosecuted - CCTV in operation'. Don't pay the man a single, solitary bean.

kevanf1

Having once been a window cleaner I will say absolutely no way should you pay him/her. Every window cleaner I have ever known has a book with all the addresses on his or her round. I kept a meticulous record as some people wanted a weekly clean while others only wanted a once a month clean. I can also, hand on heart state that I always did a thorough job that I was proud of every time. I never pushed a note through the door saying I had cleaned the windows when I hadn't; I know some do this I did have one woman (a family friend) who complained that I hadn't cleaned her windows properly. That only happened twice and after that I refused to do them again, I later found out she did this with every cleaner in the area trying to get out of paying. Then one guy was adamant that he had paid me a few weeks ago. Meantime I had cleaned his windows about three times since and not been paid. Again, I simply didn't go back and had to bear that loss.

DerekMid_2

If you feel intimidated and feel you have to pay up, ask for a receipt showing his business name and details, saying that you will need to claim the money back from your landlord. Say that your landlord needs the business receipt for his tax return purposes. Chances are that the window cleaner works 'cash-in-hand' and won't want anything to do with the tax man, and will not bother you again!

Galadriel49

I don't understand why you are even asking this question, of course you shouldn't pay him. There is no need for any attempts to contact him or any discussion. Just tell him you didn't ask him to clean your windows so you won't be paying him; tell him to clear off or you'll call the police. End of!

O.W.E.I

Send them round to ours, it's impossible to get a good window cleaner for a decent price round here.
The last one was expensive, lasted 9 months and then just vanished.

However, I would only pay them If I've asked for the windows to be cleaned.

freddie300

I think the others have answered already, but No don't pay. You haven't entered into an agreement for him to clean 'em, so no go.
My window cleaner did the correct way, he asked first and I agreed to which ones he does. i.e. upstairs only as I'll do the ground floor myself. So he never ever does any more simples!

skipness

When he calls to collect you could casually mention that you or somebody else at the address works for the DSS or the Inland Revenue.
See if he stays around long enough to give you his address etc!

350186

You do of course have the option of capitalizing on his stupidity.

Don't pay, you haven't asked him to do it, but if he continues to do it, clean windows for free, bonus!!

Ultimately his fault for being ignorant / thick / arrogant etc etc...

MadMom

Hmm, I would ask you first: Does he do a good job?
Secondly: It sounds like you don't have anyone else cleaning your windows.... So why don't you just pay him and then either tell him that you don't want them cleaned again (and if he does it again he aint getting paid!) OR explain that he got the wrong address but that actually he did a good job (and you like clean windows) so he can add you to his round.

I mean unless he really is a chancer and a cowboy (and shouldn't we rather give him the benefit of the doubt?) what's the harm?

Paulgonnabedebtfree

philgee wrote: »

Don't pay! The guy is obviously an idiot, who can't organise himself. Or a chancer.

Just enjoy the free window cleaning!

Obviously it's impossible to say without knowing the guy but if my own experiences of 20 years window cleaning are anything to go by, it could be that he's got so much work he loses track of it and confusion caused by fatigue could be an issue too. I did resolve most of this after a number of years by going for larger jobs and reducing the quantity. When I eventually learned to use a spreadsheet and database properly, it got a lot easier and is far more helpful in staying organised.
If the guy is not computer savvy, it is quite possible that the repeated error is genuinely unintentional.