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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I pay window cleaner even though I asked him not to?

18 replies

Nonna71 · 17/02/2014 22:11

Hi, do I pay a window cleaner when 1) I asked him to not do them 2) He did such a bad job 3) He threatens me in front of my young daughter?

Do I lodge his threat with the police - just in case?

OP posts:
Vatta · 17/02/2014 22:14

No, don't pay him, and definitely report him to the police. Not on at all.

olympicsrock · 17/02/2014 22:29

Yes speak to the police. My mum had a window cleaner try to push her regular window cleaner of his pitch with threats and intimidation. He cleaned her Windows badly after she said no thank you , and wanted paying more. Old window cleaner was terrified as he was part of a notorious traveller family who operated like the mafia.
You need to tell someone about this before it happens to an elderly person.

Waltonswatcher1 · 17/02/2014 22:35

I was a window cleaner .
I would not pay him -no way.
Get advice from your local community officer .
That sounds scary for you .

Original poster
Nonna71 · 17/02/2014 22:58

Thanks everyone- I'm more concerned how it affected my daughter. I would have given him half the money if he hadn't been so horrid and made it clear I no longer wished him to clean my windows any more, but I will not be intimidated or bullied. I have tried to research his company and surprise, surprise considering he's been running for 20 years there is no record of it. Any ideas how to check? Ps I will be contacting police in the morning!

OP posts:
VegetariansTasteLikeChicken · 17/02/2014 22:58

No! why would you Confused

SarahAndFuck · 17/02/2014 23:07

Don't pay him. Call the police on the 101 number.

Have you ever seen him before? There was a scam going here where people were claiming to have taken over the round from the regular window cleaner.

They were putting cards through doors and calling a couple of days later for payment.

If you said you didn't have a window cleaner they would say that they hadn't realised you weren't part of the round but had cleaned your windows a few days before and ask for payment.

We refused to pay but they came back on three separate occasions trying to get one of us to pay them.

The cards were just bits of cut up paper with a Window Cleaning and a phone number printed on it with an offer to clean guttering as well.

Best thing to do is report him for threatening you. The police can log that and give you a reference number, so if you do need to call them again they will have the complaint on record.

Elderberri · 17/02/2014 23:09

No way, don't pay.

DarlingGrace · 18/02/2014 02:53

He wouldn't necessarily have a company if he's a one man band. He could just be a sole trader. I doubt my window cleaner could switch a PC on, he operates purely on word of mouth, so he'd be highly unlikely to have a website or FB business page.

frogslegs35 · 18/02/2014 04:05

No don't pay.

I don't have a window cleaner anymore because of a similar experience.
I told him, in the presence of someone else to stop cleaning my windows as I would be away for 3 months and that I would catch him when I was back to restart.
A week after arriving back he sent one of his guys to knock and demand almost £40 as they hadn't been able to catch me in Hmm
When I caught up with the boss he denied that I'd told him to stop - Liar!
On inspection of the windows, they were filthy and thick with grime, no way they'd been cleaned every fortnight if at all. (Idiot should have made sure he done them close to when I returned if he had in mind to con me, I'd have believed him)
Giving the BOD I offered to pay half - he refused, demanded full so I told him to fuck off and he got nothing.

purpleaura · 18/02/2014 04:20

I had a v similar experience and I know how horrible it is. I reported him to trading standards and I would recommend you do this as well as report it to the police. Get as many details from his as you can. When he came back again to demand money, I stated clearly and calmly why I wasn't going to pay him, explained that I had reported him to TS and with my.phone in my hand said I would call the police unless he left immediately. He left, shouting "I'm gonna call trading standards on you!" Er, I don't think it works like that mate!! Haven't seen him since. Good luck op and I'm sorry you've had such a nasty experience.

falulahthecat · 18/02/2014 08:46

What a scumbag, did he give you any kind of real name/address? as I would suggest reporting him to the council/benefit fraud team as well as calling the police on 101.
It's no better than when the pikey travellers (No disrespect to actual Gypsies, my great Nan was Roma, pikeys are faux gypsies in my opinion) used to tarmac people's driveways (poorly) when they were out and ask for the cash!! That and bullying old ladies into giving them their knives to be 'sharpened' and never coming back.

Tailtwister · 18/02/2014 08:49

We had an issue with a window cleaner continuing to come when we had asked him not to. They never came on the same day and missed weeks at a time without warning so when they did eventually turn up I never had the cash to pay them. We kept getting different people turning up too, so you never knew who on earth was doing the job.

I would definitely call the police and let them know.

Skivvywoman · 18/02/2014 08:52

My DH is a window cleaner! No don't pay him and report straight away as he could be doing this to vulnerable people and getting away with it!!

LucyLasticBand · 18/02/2014 08:54

did you use him once and he did a bad job but he came back anyway?

Original poster
Nonna71 · 18/02/2014 23:00

I had asked the first time he came for a name and number after he had cleaned them - I did ask him to do them and on that occasion he did then ok but was a little bothered that he wouldn't give his name or number. He turned up while I was off work and I told him I couldn't afford it and he said ok, but he turned up less than a month later and did them but there are white marks across windows. I left a note on the door explaining I had asked him not to come back that month and the windows were still dirty and no longer wanted my windows done by him. I am trying to find out his name as he says he's been doing window cleaning for 20 years so somebody must know him! Thanks for everyone's advice & support - neighbours husbands have all been put on alert so if he comes back he will be politely asked to get off my land!!:-D

OP posts:
Skivvywoman · 19/02/2014 07:19

He may be bothered as he might not have a license as they have to be registered! If he comes back again call the police!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 19/02/2014 07:49

Licence for cleaning windows? Only in Scotland I think.

Skivvywoman · 19/02/2014 08:08

Oh is it? Were in scotland so that's how I know as DH needs one!

They should be needed all over!

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