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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have sacked my window cleaner?

64 replies

Ellybellyboo · 08/04/2017 08:05

Just before Christmas we started with a window cleaner.

He's pretty good, does a good job but he just won't shut our back gate when he's been - I don't expect him to lock it or anything (it's a high gate, he can't reach the bolt it from the outside) but I've asked him several times to make sure he closes it properly as we have a dog - it has a latch which he just has to make sure clicks into place.

On the days I know he's been, I just make sure I go out in the garden and shut the gate before I let the dog out. The gate is round to the side so you can't see it from the house.

He comes regularly, once a month and we book the dates in advance and he is supposed to let me know if he's had to change the days.

He's not due until the end of next week.

Anyway, on Thursday I get in from work and let the dog out for a wee. He ponces about in the garden for a bit while I go for a wee when I notice a pile of our garden chairs in the middle of the garden (they live under the kitchen window and the window cleaner drags them out and doesn't put them back) and realise the window cleaner has been. Rush out and find the gate wide open and the dog has gone.

Huge panic for few hours, before our dog warden very kindly brings dog home - was found a couple of streets over but the person who found him rang the dog warden rather than the details on the dog's collar so it took a while to get him back. Get a huge bollocking from the dog warden

I'm really cross with the window cleaner. I asked him several times to close the bloody gate because we have a dog, so yesterday I called him and told him that I didn't want him to come back, if he gave me his address or bank details I'd send over a cheque or do a bank transfer for any money I owed him (I wasn't expecting him on Thursday so hadn't left his money out) but that was it.

He seemed OK at first, gave me his bank details and I transferred his money straight away, but last night I got a load of emails - telling me I had to give him 1 month notice so I had to transfer another months money, I was a bitch, an idiot who treated people like shit, he gave me a good deal so I was taking the piss out of him and that I was a stupid reason for getting rid of someone and I was lucky he didn't take me to court.

WIBU? I asked him time and time again to shut the gate and I feel sick to think what could have happened but alls well that ends well I suppose

OP posts:

SuperFlyHigh · 08/04/2017 09:40

To be quite honest here (being pedantic) the not putting your garden chairs back would irk me slightly but this man sounds totally unhinged and rude. This man disobeyed your instructions re the gate and its lucky your dog is ok.

I've never had a window cleaner but parents have and theirs was the most charming and accommodating man you could wish to meet, Los being self employed he knew customer service was key. They were sad when he moved too far away to clean their windows.

Original poster

Ellybellyboo · 08/04/2017 09:45

Yes, every time I see those fecking chairs in the middle of the garden I want to beat him with one.

OP posts:

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 08/04/2017 09:46

If of a window cleaner can't close a gate he really doesn't deserve to be allowed onto people property, unsupervised.

Original poster

Ellybellyboo · 08/04/2017 09:47

Thanks all!

I'm going to email back as suggested above.

OP posts:

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 08/04/2017 09:50

Actually we had a gardener who used to enrage us by not replacing our table and chairs nicely when he mowed the lawn. Mind you that was the least of his issues. He was also racist and sexist and I used to hate having to talk to him. He went too far one day and so I sacked him. Well I got Dh to do it These people are on your property, if they can't act professionally they shouldn't be there.

Megatherium · 08/04/2017 14:15

You can't say you had no contract, obviously you did. A contract is still a contract even if it was verbal. However, you can say that (a) a month's notice was not part of the contract and (b) you are fully entitled to terminate the contract without notice for breach of contract and gross misconduct, and that repeatedly ignoring your instructions and putting your dog in danger was clearly gross misconduct.

SapphireStrange · 08/04/2017 14:20

I wouldn't contact him at all; but I would keep/print the emails you've received so far.

YANBU. He's a tit.

TupperwareTat · 08/04/2017 14:24

Ignore the twat.

Paperdolly · 08/04/2017 14:28

A case for Judge Rinder I feel

Nanny0gg · 08/04/2017 14:47

In my experience, Window Cleaners are casual workers who can choose whether or not to turn up and clean your windows and you can choose whether or not you want them that month.

He sounds appalling. You're well rid.

MaynJune · 08/04/2017 17:23

Quite a few parts of Scotland have dog wardens. It's helped to cut down the number of stray dogs in my area.
Someone I know got fined for not cleaning up after his dog, spotted by the dog warden. Good! There aren't nearly enough of them to make much difference as far as that's concerned, unfortunately.

TheWernethWife · 08/04/2017 17:58

We recently moved house - the window cleaner who was doing my neighbours bungalows introduced himself to me and said this was his round. He duly did ours and then turned up 2 weeks later, I said I didn't think they needed cleaning after 2 weeks and thought every month was enough, so he huffed and said it was every 2 weeks or not at all. I said ok then don't bother and I'll get my partner to clean them. I then spoke to my neighbours and discovered that I had paid more for his services than they did, ranging from £2.00 to £2.60 more. He turned up again after a month and when I asked him why he had charged me more than my neighbours, he said I had more windows (I had one extra round the side) - cheeky bastard was told to bugger off.

SideOrderofSprouts · 08/04/2017 18:06

I sacked our window cleaner for breaking our sky dish and legging it

TheRealPooTroll · 08/04/2017 18:08

I think it is your responsibility to make sure your gate is secured before you let your dog out tbh. So I wouldn't have let him go just because he didn't shut your gate - I would just make sure I checked. Maybe it's because I'm used to checking as we have different people who come to do our garden on different days and some shut and lock the gate and some don't. Also some of the local kids have been known to climb the fence for a stray football and leave the gate open.
You say you were angry with him about your dog so I'm wondering what you said when you cancelled? It seems like he was waiting until he got what he was owed before letting rip at you and is now chancing his arm. You don't owe him any more money and I wouldn't respond to his emails.

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