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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who's unreasonable - me or window cleaner?

738 replies

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 10:51

My dog is petrified of the window cleaner.

The reason I started using my current window cleaner is because he always texts so I know in advance when he's coming.

On Friday evening, WC text to say he was coming on Saturday morning. But I was going to be out Saturday morning so I texted him back and said to leave it for this month because the dog would be home alone and wouldn't cope. I said I'd still be happy to pay but please don't clean the windows.

No reply.

I texted again first thing on Saturday morning. No reply.

I called him on Saturday morning. He didn't answer. I left a message. No reply.

I texted him again before we went out saying please don't clean my windows today.

I went out because I couldn't avoid it. I'd asked a couple of friends if they could sit with the dog but they couldn't, far too short notice. When I came back, the windows had been cleaned. The dog was in a right state and had pissed and shit all over the floor.

So I spent an hour or so calming the dog down. Then another couple of hours cleaning everything up. And the living room carpet will need a professional because the piddle has stained quite badly.

I texted the WC to tell him I wouldn't be paying because I'd specifically asked him not to clean the windows.
This time, he texted back. Quelle fucking surprise.

I'm holding firm and not paying. Needless to say I've told him to take me off his books for the future.

It's a weird situation because I was actually willing to pay him for NOT doing the work. But I'm not willing to pay for work that he's done that I specifically asked him not to do.

Am I being unreasonable here? I'm still so pissed off.

OP posts:
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5
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 13/03/2023 10:54

Yeah, that would piss me off too.

Can you see if he was reading your texts?

Mmmmdanone · 13/03/2023 11:06

This would really upset me too as I have a nervous dog. I would probably pay though (grudgingly), but he's lost a customer due to his own terrible customer service.

Icecreamandapplepie · 13/03/2023 11:09

Yadnbu

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 13/03/2023 11:10

I wouldn't pay either

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:10

No, I can't tell whether he read the texts or not.

I was tempted to pay just to get rid of him. But then I thought "No fuck that". I specifically said I didn't want the windows done and he did them anyway.

I specifically said it was because the dog would destroy the house. He knew this anyway because we've chatted about dogs before.

I was really reasonable, I think, when I asked him to skip me this month because I said I'd still pay in full.

OP posts:
ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 13/03/2023 11:14

Tell him to go back and read his texts. If he could read the last one he could read the rest.

SpookyBlackCat · 13/03/2023 11:14

Maybe he had lost his phone and not seen your messages. I’m not excusing his behavior but it’s odd that he didn’t reply and if so he should have owned up, apologized and waived the charge. I’d stand form if I were you. If he took you to court he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

crazylegscrain · 13/03/2023 11:16

Whatever his reasons, don't use him again

Maybe you shouldn't have a window cleaner with a dog that nervy?

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:17

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 13/03/2023 11:14

Tell him to go back and read his texts. If he could read the last one he could read the rest.

This was very much the theme of my message to him 😆

OP posts:
SnarkyBag · 13/03/2023 11:18

I wouldn’t pay him either.

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:18

wouldnt a phone call have been better?

GoodChat · 13/03/2023 11:19

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:18

wouldnt a phone call have been better?

What like on Saturday morning when he didn't answer?

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:21

crazylegscrain · 13/03/2023 11:16

Whatever his reasons, don't use him again

Maybe you shouldn't have a window cleaner with a dog that nervy?

I need a window cleaner, there's absolutely no way I could do the outsides of my own windows. And I don't want to. LOL. 😅

I specifically used this guy because he texts in advance. I was super clear when I took him on that I needed him to text in advance because of the dog. He has a dog too an totally understood.

She's not nervous about anything else these days. Just the WC. So when I know the WC is coming, I can take her out or I can herd her around rooms (so we're in the back rooms while WC is out the front and vice versa). No problem. It's only an issue if she's home alone and the WC comes.

OP posts:
Bettyboop3 · 13/03/2023 11:22

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:18

wouldnt a phone call have been better?

Another one who commented without reading it properly. I may be over reacting but it really gives me the rage.

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:22

@GoodChat I tried that. Called him Saturday morning.

OP posts:
WoofWoofBeachLife · 13/03/2023 11:23

I agree, I'm the same with our dogs. He's ignored you and now lost a customer. The fact you sent messages from Friday and also called and he didn't reply is ignorant.

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:23

My friend suggested I should've put a big sign on my door saying "Please don't clean my windows today" 😆

I didn't think of that. I guess it might've worked. But also, shouldn't really be necessary after several texts and a call.

OP posts:
BaroldFromEastenders · 13/03/2023 11:25

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:18

wouldnt a phone call have been better?

The very least you could do would be to read the OP before posting

Viviennemary · 13/03/2023 11:26

No I agree with the window cleaner. He can't run a business round a dog. Too much like hard work.

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:27

i did read @Bettyboop3
calm down

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:27

these things nroamlly are about cmmunication
plenty of texts being sent
no response
a phone call - doenst take a genius.

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:28

i did read the trehad @BaroldFromEastenders

IhearyouClemFandango · 13/03/2023 11:29

Viviennemary · 13/03/2023 11:26

No I agree with the window cleaner. He can't run a business round a dog. Too much like hard work.

No, but you can run a business around clients...and his client had asked/told him repeatedly not to attend. He did work he wasn't asked to do so doesn't get paid.

JonahAndTheSnail · 13/03/2023 11:32

YANBU. I don't understand why he cleaned the windows when you were going to pay him for not coming anyway, that's nuts!

cstaff · 13/03/2023 11:35

He sounds like a right idiot.

So after him doing exactly what he was told NOT to do, now he will not get paid and will never be called back again. Rather than getting paid to do nowt...