How to cancel window cleaner?

[WhoreDing]

I've been using a window cleaner for five years.

I didn't sign a contract or anything like that.

He comes once a month and texts me the day before to let me know.

We're friendly. I'll stand and have a chat with him for a few minutes if I catch him but not every time.

I want to cancel him. How can I word a text to this effect, please?

Window cleaners wife here, just message saying you no longer need him. If he asks why, say you are looking to go back to a traditional window cleaner and leave it at that simple

Hmm, let’s see…. How might an adult human say no thank you to another adult human 🤔

“Hi there. Just letting you know we’ll not need windows doing after next month onwards. Many thanks, Jane Bloggs (32 Acacia Ave)”.

I’m known for being “nice” and v friendly and not overly-assertive, but even I can deal with this sort of basic interaction with a service provider / contractor. It’s such a shame that a women’s forum is always riddled with women wondering how to word things or asking if they’ve been unreasonable about something. A forum of men would never in a million years be full of such unconfident hand-wringing and pleas for validation. Because women are socialised to never upset the apple cart, whereas men are free to be as assertive or dickish as they please.

I had the same Op with our window cleaner used the same set up I got rid because he left a massive scratch on our new patio glass doors and tried blaming my children for the outside damage which was far too high for them to have even reached, just told him not to come back again. We clean our own windows now in the spring and summer.

Reverse psychology on him, text to say you're going into the window business yourself and does he need his windows cleaned, he'll see you as competition and avoid you

Of course they do. Our window cleaner is probably in his 60s and goes up his ladder.

My other half is a window cleaner so he tells me when he gets cancelled. Most people just say they can't afford it anymore or are going to do their own and he just crosses them off the list and moves on.
He started off wanting to do it traditionally but using the ladders vrs pole takes so much longer and much more effort that it would take him 3 or 4 times as long to earn the same amount. Plus why would he want to risk falling off ladders when it's not needed.

Because the stick that sprays water doesn’t clean windows?

Surely he could charge more for traditional window cleaning though? And might not get as many cancellations because people's windows are actually clean.

My mum just went from useless spray stick window cleaner at £12 to a traditional one at £25 and she seriously wants to marry this guy 🤣

I would just say that you need to cancel the next few visits due to personal circumstances and that youll be in touch if and when it changes.

I understand what you're saying and I recognise it's socialisation and that annoys me. But I think one of the reasons a men's forum wouldn't ask questions like this is because men don't expect and don't get backlash when they upset the apple cart. Women do. So women are very often aren't just asking how to deal with a situation to not upset people but how to deal with a situation to not upset people so they don't get abused/shouted at/sworn at etc.

That's not what's happening with my window cleaner, I'm just awkward and British 🤣 But it's the root of a lot of posts on MN

This thread is ridiculous.

Youre a few quid a month to him, he isnt gonna think twice. Just send him a text and be done with it.

Our window cleaner uses the pole and does a thorough job. Like all trades, you need to find a good one. They pay a fortune for the system in their van that does something to the water which should leave a flawless finish.
Trad guy didnt used to do frames but we haven't had him for years.

“It’s a business transaction” not really, they stand stand and chat and nothing was signed, he probably does view OP as a bit of a friend he works cash in hand for, common courtesy dictates a clear, gentle message. but I think you know that

I cannot understand why people wring their hands so much over cancelling a service. How do you get through life?
I just text and say "We dont require window cleaning any more. Many thanks Getting By". End of. You dont need to find an excuse or explain yourself.

To avoid all future awkwardness, just have all your windows bricked in.

My window cleaner now uses a pole. He told me if he uses a ladder the insurance is extortionate.

Two options:

Hi... Sorry to say that we've decided that we can't really justify having a window cleaner anymore due to our finances. Thank you for cleaning our windows over the last few years.

Hi... Sorry to say that we've decided to change to a window cleaner who uses ladders as we're not really finding that using a pole gets our windows properly clean. As you're aware, we've had to request you return on a couple of occasions when they haven't been clean. Thank you for cleaning our windows over the past few years.

@WhoreDing window cleaning is very hit and miss. He's been doing it for 4 years now and does other exterior cleaning around it to make an income. People will cancel if it's raining, if it's going to rain the next day..often on the day. Not many other jobs do you have this just because of something outside of your control. Even if charging extra money it doesn't take away the risk of a fall. As I said he started out wanting to do traditional but quickly realized people don't want to pay for that.
On occasion if he has someone complain he goes back and redoes it. Generally everyone is happy so maybe you just had a bad one?

@Babsandherwabs well that's not what hundreds of his regular clients think 😁
He may get the odd complaint and he will go back and redo it. It's not just plain water ...it's treated to remove anything that would leave marks and dries completely clear.
Maybe the one you've had this with wasn't good at his job? They are not all the same.
My other half takes pride in his work