Who's unreasonable - me or window cleaner?

[HugATwat]

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.

I think we should start a Go Fund Me for your carpet @HugATwat 🤔😄.

@Hurrahhurrah can set up one for the window cleaner. Oh and one for compensation and therapy for Suzi!!! Have you ever thought of dog nappies?

In all seriousness - would it work for your furbaby if you could close the curtains and leave the TV/radio on to drown out the noise (not that you should have to!)?

Just in case you inadvertently engage a mate of exWC hell-bent on revenge...!!

Collection agency auto add in region of £250+ vat fee if they buy the debt so will always be worth their while to chase any amount.

You're approaching this from a reasoned position but my experience is reason goes out the window when someone decides they want to make a point. If for a quiet life I'd pay the 26 quid.

I think you're in the right here because he knows that he has to text you in advance due to the dog so he should be waiting for a reply to say whether it's ok to come at that time. You messaged back several times and tried to ring.

YANBU but do sound like an inconvenient client (sorry).

@JackadooJackadee in order to pass on the debt to an agency he'd have to first prove the debt was owed as no agency would simply take his word for it

So he'd have to take the OP to small claims. Having just done this, you do need to provide a reasonable level of proof...none of which he has and the OPs chance to respond would show clear cancellation

I think I'd take my chances and stand firm!

Why?

Once in 3 years the client tries several times to say please don't come tomorrow but I'll still pay you. How on earth does that make the OP inconvenient?! Surely those are the best clients, less work, same pay?

HugATwat, you might just need some WD40 on the hinges. I'd been in my place about 20 years before I worked it out. Push them open to horizontal (terrifying on the 3rd floor) then shove down the bit that was at the top IYSWIM.

Fucking excellent thread by the way. Definitely one for classics 😆

I reckon you're confusing Bailliffs and orders from the high court with debt collections. One has a legally enforceable right to payment or they can take your belongongs. The other has less legal recourse and relies on more creative methods.

I'd just pay.

Only if you have no idea at all how being a client, or running a business, works.

He could have been paid to do nothing. She is not the inconvenience here.

Another confidently wrong poster.

There is no debt to pass on to a debt collector here. There can be no fees. It's likely to be less than 30 pounds but no matter ho much OP DOES NOT OWE HIM ANY MONEY.

Oh I don't know, I'd miss my employer if they occasionally said tiny do the work but I'll pay you anyway.

I wouldn't knock that.

Wrong is not paying for services rendered as the WC correctly put it. Failure to pay can be construed as a debt. You disagree and that's alright. If you were in OPs position you'd have the opportunity to test your theory and play games.

Let's say 99 times out of 100 the WC laughs it off. I'd be concerned what happens the other 1% of the time they take it personally and blow it completely out of proportion.

I'd just pay.

Don’t forget the bit where someone suggested she should’ve let him know not to come during his last Like she could just go back in fucking time 🤣

My first LTB.
Read why does he do that by Lundy Bancroft.
Abusive window cleaner, I'm sure someone can spin a yarn to make it fit.🤣🤣

It's like a scene from Last of the summer wine.
Definitely batty.😂😂

Completely and utterly wrong. Theres no theory, and there's no games.

There was no agreement to do the work, in fact there is proof of multiple communications from the OP to NOT DO THE WORK. He did it anyway. He is not entitled to be paid for work not asked for and specifically told not to do.

Are you under the impression that you have to pay the guys who jump out at you at the traffic lights and clean your windscreen even as you tell them not to?

Of course not the guys who jump out at traffic lights dont know my home address, phone number and what sort of dog I have. In this case one which will just shit itself.

Literally cannot cope with this thread 😂

In what universe are you supposed to pay for services that you have repeatedly, and via various media, said you don’t want?!

What difference does that make? Are you entitled to be paid for cleaning windows you have been expressly told not to clean, or not?
It's not a difficult question.

Like I said to another poster you're coming at this from a reasoned perspective but that's assuming everyone is as reasonable as you. I'd suggest they're not. I'd even go as far as saying there are people out there that do wildly ridiculous things when they feel they've been slighted. Especially financially slighted.

WC clearly feels he should have been paid and it's not beyond the realms of understanding to see why he thinks that. WC also knows when OP is home, their phone number and knows their dog is only dangerous to OPs easily staining carpet.

All things considered I'd just pay.

I wouldn't expect my or any window cleaner to fit around my dog. Nor expect them to be glued to their phone, etc responding to ridiculous requests from clients. Because they're too busy cleaning windows. And because it rains hard sometimes it's not always possible to stick tightly to a schedule - a window cleaner comes when they can.

So your message didn't filter through, your windows got cleaned and your dog freaked out.

Such is life. It's already cost the cleaner money to clean your windows, its very UR not to pay them.

@JackadooJackadee

You've ended at least 5 posts with the exact words 'I'd just pay'. I'm thinking you're either the window cleaner, someone who knows him or some kind of bot.

It's good advice which cannot be overstated enough. If I was WC I'd be at OPs house banging on the windows trying to get rover to bend a few more fresh biscuits on the rug.

@JackadooJackadee

Of course you think it's good advice. Odd that you gave a specific figure of £26.

Another poster mentioned they pay 26 quid for their windows and just used that in my reply to them. I have no idea what OP paid. Presumably not enough to risk having to hire out a carpet cleaner for the afternoon.

@JackadooJackadee you sound like a total bully! Someone who is nasty until they get their own way.