Rogue window cleaners

westne5

I had a window cleaner for 6 months as I am physically disabled and can't manage them myself. After cleaning twice, the problems started. I work shifts, so was home most of the times they turned up, and noticed that they were not cleaning all of my windows. The large kitchen window has a very large web across the outside of it, that was still there month after month, which I left there to see if they were cleaned. The young lads that 'cleaned', would not knock to collect, they'd simply post an 'owed' note through the door, the main boss does collecting. I informed him i no longer wanted my windows 'cleaned' as I was not willing to keep paying for a service I was not receiving. Now the boss is at my door every other day, texting me and leaving notes that he wants to collect whats owed, do I have to pay as the job was never done???

marliepanda

This is difficult as from your post i cannot tell if you ever actually told the 'lads' or the boss about your dissatisfaction.

No you should not pay if the kitchen window wasn't done, but what about the other windows you don't mention? That has to be paid for.

You also should have reported the lack of cleaning earlier to cancel rather than waiting for the collection boss. To him it looks like you e had the lads round cleaning, not paid, and now are saying you weren't happy.

westne5

At least 4 windows were regularly missed. When I said not to continue coming, I contacted the boss, and I did explain why, and that it had gone on for the last 4 visits (They came once a month).

mije1983

Why did you not mention the fact they hadn't cleaned that window, rather than leave it 'months and months'? It could be that the boss wasn't aware of the fact his staff weren't cleaning the windows properly.

You could try and come to some sort of arrangement regarding patrial payment with the boss (you do owe some money as they have cleaned some of your windows), however as you waited so long before bringing it to his attention, you may find it difficult to prove they never cleaned the kitchen window.

POPPYOSCAR

I do not see how you can get away from paying.

If you were not happy and noticed they had not cleaned all the windows you should have contacted the boss straightaway.

What has he said to you now that you have told him?

if I were you I would come to some compromise and offer to pay
a proportion of the amount owed.

westne5

I left it assuming it would be cleaned 'next time'. Ive never had a window cleaner before, and my neighbor never had any issues, so assumed it was an oversight. That's the reason it was 'months and months' as you put it, they only came once a month, so over 4 cleans thought they'd do their job. In the end it was quite obvious they had no intention, so I contacted the boss. He hasn't questioned me nor even said if he'd spoken to his employees. I have no problem with paying for the jobs that were done, but I'm not paying the full amount.

mije1983

westne5 wrote: »

I left it assuming it would be cleaned 'next time'. Ive never had a window cleaner before, and my neighbor never had any issues, so assumed it was an oversight. That's the reason it was 'months and months' as you put it, they only came once a month, so over 4 cleans thought they'd do their job. In the end it was quite obvious they had no intention, so I contacted the boss. He hasn't questioned me nor even said if he'd spoken to his employees. I have no problem with paying for the jobs that were done, but I'm not paying the full amount.

The problem is you didn't bring it up the next time, or even the time after that when it wasn't done. I would have thought that after them missing the window twice in a row, that was when it was clear they hadn't just forgotten it. As you didn't raise the issue earlier the boss is just going to assume, as marliepanda has said, that you are just trying to get out of paying.

It might not be fair, or even accurate, but it is exactly what it is going to look like to the boss. If they haven't done the full job, you shouldn't have to pay full price. However, if he won't accept the window wasn't cleaned, he may take you to court to get his money. Then it would be down to a judge to decide.

Oh, and the only reason I put month after month was because you had mentioned it, so I assumed this was an accurate timeline.

westne5 wrote: »

was still there month after month,

westne5

I have just contacted him to offer payment for the windows that were cleaned, at 50%, waiting on him replying. Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated xx

marliepanda

1 clean a month, 4 cleans, 4 months

Thats months and months, its a third of a year!

westne5

yes, but my point was months and months sounds like lots and lots of cleans, it was 4. i wasn't being rude, i was asking for advice, not judgment!

mije1983

westne5 wrote: »

I have just contacted him to offer payment for the windows that were cleaned, at 50%, waiting on him replying. Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated xx

Good luck.

westne5 wrote: »

yes, but my point was months and months sounds like lots and lots of cleans, it was 4. i wasn't being rude, i was asking for advice, not judgment!

Nobody here is judging you. And as I said, you were the one that first brought up the timescale. I think it is more relevant that it was 4 cleans before you mentioned anything, whether that was after 4 days, 4 weeks or 4 months.