Soooo upset!

carkeyz

I cant believe this, I have just cried my eyes out and dont know why I am so upset.
I runa cleaning company and have 3 clients in an old people retirement complex. I did them today and in one forgot to empty one bin.
She just phoned but i missed it but phoned her back straight away. She went barmy at me, i offered to go round first thing to rectify the problem but she said she doesnt want me in her house ever again.

I can understand this reaction if i was continuously making mistakes but i havent even after she had a hip operation I bought her a new mop and offered to do any shopping she may have needed.

I am so upset right now and am wondering why I bother some time, probably doesnt help I am having tests for cerviacal cancer for the second time in 12 months but this just takes the bullet.

Has anyone else ever felt like this!
I mean i try harder than all the other companies out there but I get nothing in return! All I wanted was appriciation, I mean I know I am just a cleaner but surly people have more respect!

sandiep

OK, if you're going to be dealing with this age group you need to get a bit used to this. Friend of mine has a home care business, and arrived at a clients one day to find the police waiting for her, her client had lost a necklace and acused her carer of stealing it. (Easily resolved, carer remembered where the old lady had hidden it for safety).

Thing is, many older folk suffer from alzeheimers, or other dementia based illnesses, others have maybe not had a lot of social interaction for a number or years, others just simply maybe a bit muddled and confused.

Its not uncommon, so, if you're going to be working with elderly people then you need to be aware that things like this will probably happen.

GiveItBack

I'll agree with sandiep a bit on this. try not to take it to heart too much. If the person has a neurological condition then something like this which seems really small can seem to be a massive deal to them.

All I can suggest is writing a wee card. I'd write something like:

We're sorry that we haven't met your expectations. From time to time everyone makes a mistake, and we'd hoped that by calling round immediately the next day it would have been a satisfactory resolution for you. I can appreciate that this might not have suited you. I do hope that in other ways we have always exceeded our expectations, and that you would consider working with us in the future.

Sometimes when there's a wee problem, then an apology can create a more loyal customer than before. Sometimes it doesn't and I'm afriad you'll hjust have to cut your losses.

Take a deep breath, and then try to move on to the next - happy - customer.

All the best
GiB

magical28

Hiya

Don't take it to heart at all. I also run a home care business and I get shouted at on a daily basis. You have to remember that with older people, having someone coming into their home to do things for them means they are losing that little bit if independence so they are bound to get a little stroppy at times.

You'll probably find your client will be ringing you asking why you're not there to clean her house as she will have forgotton all about it tomorrow.

If you're gonna run a business offering a service to people you need to toughen up, it's certainly not all plain sailing. These things will make you stronger and make your business more sucessful in the long run.

Chin up and go out and get yourself a new client!!

Good luck

ciano125

First of all, you're not "just a cleaner", you run a business, which is significantly more than a lot of people do nowadays. Secondly, you quite clearly care about a) your business, and b) your customers, which again, is significantly more than a lot of people do nowadays.

As others have said, there may well be some mental issues, we don't know, but from a reasonable person's point of view (that would be me!), you've done the right thing and that (along with sending a card as above) is all you can do.

Don't worry about it, it's nothing. Ask your other clients to recommend you to their friends, I'm sure you'll get some more business.