Sacking the Window ...
 

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[Closed] Sacking the Window cleaner - ettiquette.

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So after 5 years of living in the house (it's about7 years old) we finally had a window cleaner turn up and offer their services

(I once clocked another traditional cleaning "crew" doing a few of the houses on the development but they didn't have the entrepreneurial skills to knock and ask if I wanted to join their elite customer base).

Having not enjoyed the annual "hanging out of the windows trying to clean them" experience. I decided to take the new window cleaners up on their offer. I think they use telescpoic poles etc but to be honest I've not seen them in action.

However -

1. They come monthly - I think that's too often
2. Upon close inspection (y'know when the light strikes at just the right angle) the windows are still manky after 2 cleans - in fact I'd say they look worse. It looks almost as if they've been using salt water.
3. They don't take paypal - I'm seldom in at collection time and even less regularly have any change.

In addition I'm moving out soon - and I don't want to saddle the buyers (if indeed one ever emerges) with these jokers.

Will I end up with no windows to worry about?

How do I get a traditional ladder and cloth merchant to come and add some transparancy?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:22 pm
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It'll never cease to amaze me what people'll post about on here!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:26 pm
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Tell them that you're thinking of getting rid of your windows so therefore their services will no longer be required.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:26 pm
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Prepare to get kneecapped to death.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:28 pm
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go to a higher window and poor a bucket of excrement over them.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:31 pm
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Tell them that, due to the bedroom tax, you are bricking up all the windows.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:34 pm
 ski
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They don't take paypal

Stone them!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:37 pm
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1. They come monthly - I think that's too often

Ours insisted that fortnightly was the only option !


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:37 pm
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Turn them inside out after four weeks - that way they will last twice as long between washes!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:38 pm
 ski
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Go on then, how much do they charge you?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:38 pm
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Ask them to sort out your wife signal instead.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:38 pm
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Stone Them!

I'm a non paypal user and have sold a few little bits online in the last year or so and when you tell people you don't have a paypal account they usually react like you're a leper or something 😕

Would have loved to see the windowcleaners face when offered paypal 😆


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:46 pm
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It'll never cease to amaze me what people'll post about on here!

It's what keeps me coming back.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:53 pm
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How do I get a traditional ladder and cloth merchant to come and add some transparancy?

If you're near Liphook, give my brother a call. He has the contract for Ozzy's place in the Chalfonts and if he's good enough for Sharon...


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:54 pm
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If i get a window cleaner - once im finished diy .... Im not having inside being shown up by the outside.

Itll be the lad that runs a restored series 2a landies locally cleaning windows

Easy way toget rid of him . Moneys tight cant afford you any more mate going to do it my self


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 5:58 pm
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Im not having inside being shown up by the outside.

My bro does both if the customer requires it.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 6:02 pm
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Would have loved to see the window cleaners face when offered paypal

If they took paypal then they wouldn't have to send a collection person - I reckon they'll have been 6 times before they I'm likely to be in the house...

It's £6, but it seriously dreadful, having had grey skies with white flecks for the past week and a half, today was the first day I noticed that the windows oughtn't be the same.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 6:16 pm
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I know it's complicated but, here's what I would do:

Tell them to stop.

fwiw, I pay £12 for a clean every 6 weeks.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 7:41 pm
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Ask them to sort out your wife signal instead.

Accuse them of having been interfering with the wife signal with their telescopic rods.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:05 pm
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fwiw, I pay £12 for a clean every 6 weeks.

Blimey, I pay £5.50


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:10 pm
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holy shit I'm being ripped off! 😯

#newstwthread


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:12 pm
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windows not cleaned for 5 years then you expect them to look like new after 2 cleans?

what's the etiquette for telling a customer he's a tool

p.s. cleaners only take papal gift


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:13 pm
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Fiver a month..... must check if he's doing the corners hmm


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:14 pm
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[smug] self-cleaning glass in the conservatory. It's excellent [/smug]


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:15 pm
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does it self clean bird poo?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:21 pm
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We had a window cleaner, we used to pay him £7 a clean. Then we set up a direct debit but it started getting complicated (ie we were paying monthly for less frequent cleans). Then I found out one of the guys on our street does it for £3.50, so the first company was sacked.

Just tell him you plan to do it yourself instead.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:25 pm
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[img] [/img]

That should give them the idea.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:25 pm
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Just tell him you plan to do it yourself instead.

I don't think he'll fall for that one.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:26 pm
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does it self clean bird poo?

Yes. And cat foot-prints off the roof. Clear the solid debris (twigs, leaves etc) off the roof every now again but otherwise nothing.
Only problem we've had with them was when the mower (which usally fires the cuttings sideways out of the blade bit into a collecter) didn't have the collecter on a sent a golf ball 40 yards accross the garden and through the glass of one pane (only the outer pane broke but still a PITA to remover and replace, but that goes for all windows I suppose)
My father did the same with his mower, doing the village green and fired a stone through the windscreen of a parked delivery truck!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:28 pm
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Puff chest out and tell him straight. . In a nice but firm way. .


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:33 pm
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@ Ernie lynch...

Why don't you think he'll ' fall for that one '?....don't you have any arms?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:52 pm
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Yes two of them, thanks for asking. How about you ?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 8:55 pm
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I don't think he'll fall for that one.

And why does it matter!? It's [i]your[/i] house!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:03 pm
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oliverd1981 - I'm a window cleaner and I would say just tell them - If they haven't done a good job they cant have any complaints if you stop using them. I use a water-fed pole system with filtered water, if your cleaners are leaving watermarks then they may not be using purified water, or not doing the frames which means water running off will leave marks. From my experience there are some window cleaners that are professional ( i.e check all windows afterwards for marks, pay all taxes, don't trample on flowerbeds, etc.) and then there are some that are just cleaning at the weekend for beer money and possibly not declaring everything they earn. I accept bank transfer - saves the hassle of having forged notes (given by customers) taken off me when I pay in cash at the post office 🙂


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:06 pm
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It's your house!

Well it wasn't at the start of the thread. How did I end up owning it ? 😕

And TBH I don't really want it, the problems with windows seem horrendous.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:09 pm
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Well it wasn't at the start of the thread. How did I end up owning it ?

Haha, sorry - thought you were the OP 😆


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:11 pm
 hora
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Gardeners do every neighbours garden twice a month @ 40quid a month. We said once a month is better. Nope wont do it. **** off then mrshora said 😆


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:19 pm
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mrshora told the neighbours gardeners to "**** off" ?

Were your neighbours alright about that, or did they resent the interfering ?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:24 pm
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Its not about lack of etiquette is it, rather lack of bollocks?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:26 pm
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3.50 a throw? Blimey.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:29 pm
 hora
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No I mean they were supposed to do ours too. Their angle was twice a month or not at all.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:32 pm
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..oh and on the topic of how often they should be cleaned ,that's up to the house owner. In my experience some people want their windows done every month, some once every 3 months - depends on location, budget, personal preference. heck, I don't do my own windows every month! but if my house was on a main road or near a beach I might do them more often.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:36 pm
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Tbh you were breaking their cycle.

If they dont do yours twice a month they have to find something else to do for the other time each month

And its much easier to do a garden twice a month and keep it neat, once a month and your fire fighting

Unless your garden is paved and gravel souless trash.

They probably didnt need your work, gardening is an in demand service, we couldnt keep up with demand and were not any cheaper than others around. Kept getting enquirys and never advertised - not even on side of van!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:36 pm
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@ bazwadah...if your using a pole system how do you check the top Windows..ladder?


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 9:43 pm
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Good point Tymbian, I cant give a close inspection but by using brushes with mixed bristles (soft outer, rigid inner) you can scrub most dirt away from the frames, seals and glass. The important part is doing the rinse afterwards from the top corners downwards. The disadvantage of the pole system is you cant look up close at high windows, but can reach windows over hipped roofs. If there is any doubt that the window is clean I do have ladders for access, the longest pole I have is 35 foot.. I wouldn't feel comfortable at that hight on a ladder!


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 10:23 pm
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Jesus Christ! Tell them you don't want your windows done anymore. Look in yellow pages for someone else. Phone them with a phone. HOW HARD IS IT??!! HAS to be a troll thread.


 
Posted : 30/03/2013 10:40 pm
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Only problem we've had with them was when the mower...sent a golf ball...through the glass of one pane

In fairness to your self cleaning glass, I think a golf ball hitting it could be considered a step above 'getting dirty'.


 
Posted : 31/03/2013 12:27 am
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£12 😯 how big is your house and does that include the orangery?

£3.50 once a month but as I am generous I give him £4.

Oh, I also do have more than one window!


 
Posted : 31/03/2013 12:38 am
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Self-cleaning winders my arse. We've got self-cleaning winders and in 5 years I've not seen em clean self once. Lazy bastards.


 
Posted : 31/03/2013 12:40 am
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Crikey - costs me 25 quid every 6 weeks although he appears to do a proper job with the pole system thing.

3 bed semi D with a sunroom, so it looks like it's expensive compared with everyone else.


 
Posted : 31/03/2013 8:18 am

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