To have a bad feeling about this client? AIBU

[dodgyclient211]

I have a client I’m seeing on Sunday for a 2 hour clean , he contacted me after seeing my ad and I’ve written everything there including what I charge. Anyway he asks me what I charge and I tell him, £12 an hour. He asks if I can give him a ‘better offer?’ And I say no, the price is non negotiable for all my clients. Already there I had a bad feeling about this client, never had someone quibble over the price, anyway we set a date and time, he gives me his address. I google his address and he tells me to call him when I get there (again never had someone say this to me either) normally we set a date and time, I get there, do my job and it’s out. He just kept telling me to call him when I get there.

I text him saying the address he’s given me is for a laundrette, he tells me the business was registered as address only.

I don’t know what to think, he lives 20 mins away from me, same council different area. I regret taking him on, I should have declined when I got the bad feeling about him quibbling over the price. Feel like it’s to late to say no now, and don’t want him to give me a bad review. But I’m also scared for my safety since I’m on my own.

Hell no! Cancel him and don’t feel bad for a second!

I think people's imaginations are running away with them but you are well within your rights to turn down a job you're not comfortable with, anyhow. £12 is fucking cheap and he had the nerve to quibble for a 2 hour job. My imagination would lead me to believe that the flat is an absolute cesspit that he would expect you to get spotless in that time and he'd probably give you a shit review, anyhow.

There could be some perfectly innocent reasons for the whole launderette address + call me when you get there, etc.
But... The client is making annoying unusual requests, seems crap at communicating (no clear explanation for the weird requests) and potentially unwilling to pay full price. He sounds weird and somewhat manipulative/controlling.

Reminds me of some really crappy interactions I had with rubbish Ebay and Amazon sellers (with lots of tiny red flags, and who turned out to be either crooks, or deeply unpleasant crazy weirdoes). Not worth your time, OP.
At best the job will be stressful and unpleasant (due to the client making everything weird and overly complicated), and you may never get paid.
And at worst your safety may be at risk.

Agree with everyone else. Cancel, with one of the messages suggested upthread. Do not risk your safely.

To be fair if I hired you to clean I’d also ask you to call when you got there - my intercom is broken - and if you googled my address you’d find business info because my home is the registered address (not the trading address). It might be totally fine but trust your gut, it’s not worth it, especially if he gave you creep vibes.

A reasonable person would say their flat is above the launderette or that the intercom is broken. Weird that this guy didn't mention it. Definitely cancel, OP.

And like PPs, I think you'll find The Gift of Fear useful.

Quibbling about the price is disrespectful and insulting and implying you are not worth what you charge. I would feel pretty insulted if this is more or less the "going rate". If someone is going to ask for a better rate they should be offering something in exchange, such as a regular contract or something that makes it worth your while and not an odd couple of hours work.

So I've just texted him, saying I'm sorry I'd have to cancel and hope you find someone else. Didn't want to explain myself, and he just texted back saying thanks for letting me know 🤷‍♀️. That's that.

I've realised with this business clients come and go, I always have new clients texting me every week. This is just the first time I had to cancel on someone, and just feel bad. Who knows, he could be innocent but can't take the risk when it comes to my safety and life.

Listen to your instincts on things like these. Your safety is paramount. He sounds off, something isn't right, my spidey senses are tingling even just reading your first post. Why is he not giving his full name, adress and explaining how to get there etc. Maybe he would have been ok but is it worth the risk and the anxiety? No, of course not.

Then cancel.

I think cancelling was the right thing. He might be fine, but you already know he's tight, which is enough by itself.

If you were wrong and he's not dangerous then you will have lost a potentially troublesome client. If you hadn't listened to your instinct and been wrong about that, then the potential loss could have been your life.

I absolutely agree. Follow your gut instinct. Certainly sounds dodgy. Don’t go.

Trust you’re gut instinct. It’s rarely if ever wrong.

If you feel you must go, leave address with friend text when you arrive and call her when you leave. If your very nervous then use covid, say your feeling unwell and need to isolate.

"Just send a text: unfortunately I'm no longer able to take this job on due to personal circumstances. I apologise for the short notice.

Then block.

Sounds dodgy and far too risky."

This comment. Trust your gut. Your safety is far more important than a bad review.

You did the right thing. Definitely always follow your instinct. And if you feel unsafe with another client make your excuses too. You don't even need to be right - you just need to feel safe.

Trust your gut. Tell him that due to personal circumstances, you are no longer able to commit at this time. Tell him you will notify him should this change, and thank you so much for understanding.

@2bazookas

Just text and say " I have to cancel , my husband has covid so I am off work" Then block his number.

Always, always trust your gut.

This is the perfect response

I’ve had a few small businesses. Trying to negotiate the price and asking for things to be done out of the ordinary in an awkward way are two big red flags that the client will be annoying and push limits elsewhere in my experience. Don’t waste your time of clients that don’t treat you respectively.

*respectfully

Please don't do it, follow your instinct
I personally would report the incident to the police too
Just my view, but too often things could have been prevented........

Well done for cancelling.

If he leaves a bad review, can you respond? All you’d need to write in the review response is - I apologise for cancelling. It was unavoidable. Or something gracious like that. Any potential new clients will see you have done nothing wrong.

And a bad review means you don’t even have to deal with him asking you to come on another day.

DO NOT GO!

I run my own business and have learnt over the years to trust my gut. I don't just mean in case they are a murderous weirdo, but on arguing about money, being difficult etc. I have almost perfected it now and have turned down many potentially lucrative projects because I know I will regret it if I take it. We need to listen to our instincts much more in life.