Possibly dodgy window cleaner - advice please!

stevetuk

Been in my new home for just under a year - got myself a DIY window cleaner pole thing as the windows were disgusting and was struggling to manage for many months. At the start of this month new window cleaners suddenly came on the scene canvassing for people to sign up.

I chatted for a bit, they seemed fine, and I signed up for them to be cleaned once every 6 weeks. They offered 3 weeks or 6 weeks and I said 6 weeks.

They cleaned them on 5th March. I paid them. They said 'see you in 3 weeks' and I reminded them I'd see them in 6 weeks...

Note through the door today saying they've been cleaned. It's not been 6 weeks. It's not even been 3 weeks. It's been 2 weeks.

Advice? Do I pay, and firmly tell them that if they come earlier than 6 weeks again I will cancel? Or, do I tell them it's not even been 3 weeks yet...

Don't want things to get nasty...!

penrhyn

Mmmnnn, you are not alone, here is another persons experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iui5ijHnvPc

Bollotom

Ask for a receipt and an additional note that the next "Sevice" will be in 6 weeks from the above date. Give them a chance and they'll see a weakness. Pay on this occasion but make it absolutely clear that you will not pay again for any early work. Don't make yourself an easy target. Next thing they'll have relaid your lawn or painted your fence. You're the customer. :cool:

stevetuk

penrhyn wrote: »

Mmmnnn, you are not alone, here is another persons experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iui5ijHnvPc

That's pretty hilarious!

stevetuk

Bollotom wrote: »

Ask for a receipt and an additional note that the next "Sevice" will be in 6 weeks from the above date. Give them a chance and they'll see a weakness. Pay on this occasion but make it absolutely clear that you will not pay again for any early work. Don't make yourself an easy target. Next thing they'll have relaid your lawn or painted your fence. You're the customer. :cool:

Ok, good tips - thank you. Definitely trying it on, aren't they...I mean, it's kind of primary school level maths to be able to count days and weeks...
Will ask them to give me a receipt and to write 6 weeks, yes.

nickj_2

give them the date you want them cleaned

SailorSam

Maybe you could call into your local trading standards office just to mention any concerns and see do they know these people.
Rather than get into fights i think i'd pay them off and say decided to go back to doing them yourself.
What do your neighbours think about them ?

trailingspouse

Why should you pay them anything? Remind them that you asked for 6 weeks, and tell them if they come back for the money when the 6 weeks is up, you'll pay them then. That way, you're not exactly refusing to pay them, but you're making it clear that you know what they're up to.

Biggles

trailingspouse wrote: »

Why should you pay them anything? Remind them that you asked for 6 weeks, and tell them if they come back for the money when the 6 weeks is up, you'll pay them then. That way, you're not exactly refusing to pay them, but you're making it clear that you know what they're up to.

Exactly. They're either trying it on or they're idiots. Either way, you don't want them, just tell them not to come back any more.

ukjoel

We had this a couple of years ago.
Wife paid them for one wash on a half price offer (that I thought was over the top anyway) and said we didnt want any more done.

Two weeks later I am in the house and see them pull up and start on the front. Went downstairs to tell them we didnt want it done and they said it was a fiver as they had started.

Told them we didnt want it done and they got fairly nasty, to the point my dogs came running out barking like the hounds from hell and the blokes legged it leaving most of their gear on the drive.

Never had much luck with window cleaners.

stevetuk

Now I have a sneaking suspicion they are not going to come for the money but instead will clean them again at some point and then eventually say I owe £X amount in total...

Any ideas on that one? Should have stuck to doing them myself. You live and learn. Con artists!