Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay the window cleaner?

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Sooler wrote: »

Call the police. Report him for trespass, criminal damage. Report him to trading standards ... Under the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971, (as amended) it is an offence to demand payment for goods known to be unsolicited.
Install CCTV to catch him if he does it again.

And while she's at it, push his ladder over and trample on his head until blood comes out of his mouth.

roaminn

Absolutely no way, nada, zilch, NO!!

camaj

If you pay him, chances are he'll try it on because you're an easy touch. Never pay someone for something you haven't asked for

Paulgonnabedebtfree

kevanf1 wrote: »

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.

I did simplify it eventually and offered 6 weekly across the board. On much larger accounts I would offer 12 weekly if they seemed unwilling. It cuts out a lot of travel, helps me to run my business more economically, and this helps me to provide the service at a reasonable price. Obviously some of the larger commercial jobs are at varying intervals but many of them are worth travelling to specially due to the size of the jobs.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

DerekMid wrote: »

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!

Ooh Derek. That is a very wide ranging stereotype you've just brought up there. Yes of course there are black economy workers. It would be daft to deny it. However, the overwhelming majority of window cleaners I know (self included) run an honest, tax paying, liability insured business. I wouldn't have it any other way. I probably want the industry to be free from the cheats more than you do because the black economy workers drive the prices down.

Mary_Hartnell

No thanks I do my own.

olliedog

You haven't asked him to clean your windows. He did them by mistake (or more likely a con) it's his problem. DO NOT PAY HIM. He is probably trying this trick on all around the area. If you give in to his game, he's going to keep doing it to others.

pjsmiffy

NO! Do not pay him! Treat it as a free sample.

DO not get drawn in to an argument about it. Check the other doors and windows are secure as this could be the distraction part of a distraction burglary.

Or in my case say "Oh it was you who let my dog out of the yard. You owe me £100 in recovery fees."

pjsmiffy

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

Ooh Derek. That is a very wide ranging stereotype you've just brought up there. Yes of course there are black economy workers. It would be daft to deny it. However, the overwhelming majority of window cleaners I know (self included) run an honest, tax paying, liability insured business. I wouldn't have it any other way. I probably want the industry to be free from the cheats more than you do because the black economy workers drive the prices down.

:rotfl:
Too right I was about to post about out fictional window cleaner being an illegal immigrant.
If the original poster wanted to take that line he should say that the window cleaner should invoice the landlord. 3:-)

pjsmiffy

olliedog wrote: »

You haven't asked him to clean your windows. He did them by mistake (or more likely a con) it's his problem. DO NOT PAY HIM. He is probably trying this trick on all around the area. If you give in to his game, he's going to keep doing it to others.

Next time it could be a frail old lady who really can't afford to pay him.