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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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
laylababe5 · 14/03/2023 18:38

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.

Oh yeah it would be very hard work to NOT DO THE WORK AND GET PAID ANYWAY

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 18:39

Matildalamp · 14/03/2023 18:35

No more fish and chips for you OP, while you sit in your windowless house 😂😂 This thread is crazy, your poor dog sounds lovely, and so do you!

Just for the avoidance of doubt. I wasn't being entirely serious with the suggestion of getting rid of the windows.

I'm surprised that I should need to clarify this but here we are.

GoodChat · 14/03/2023 18:40

Colourfingers2 · 14/03/2023 18:36

You should get rid of the dog because frankly that is ridiculous whoever heard of a dog dictating whether or not you get your windows cleaned. Did you get him as a guard dog?

The dog didn't dictate it. The OP's plans did.

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:41

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:36

But she didn't know until the evening before that he was planning to come, so why on earth would she have told him? It's not like he can demand to have notice of his customers' full engagement diary in advance.

Show quote history

so why on earth would she have told him

Because she knows he only messages the day before he is due to come. Therefore, if he requires more than 24hrs notice for cancellations, she needs to contact him when she knows there are days that don't suit her to tell him "if you plan to come on the 10th, 11th or 27th of this month I will need to cancel."

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 18:43

@BadNomad

But...you're just making this policy up. You have absolutely no idea if he has one or what it is.

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:43

Colourfingers2 · 14/03/2023 18:36

You should get rid of the dog because frankly that is ridiculous whoever heard of a dog dictating whether or not you get your windows cleaned. Did you get him as a guard dog?

She should get rid of her well-settled rescue dog that she has had for at least three years because, on one occasion, she needed to cancel the window cleaner? It's not the dog's fault it's nervous, God knows what it went through before it was rescued. Or should all nervous dogs just be put down?

Whoever heard of a window cleaner's convenience dictating whether his customers are allowed to have dogs?

lcl · 14/03/2023 18:43

He sounds a real idiot. My guard dog would be going ballistic if I wasn’t there. This was so unacceptable for you and your dog. He has rightly lost your custom.

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:44

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 18:36

She has known a lot longer than 24-hours that she was leaving the dog alone that day and so a clean that day wouldn't be required.

She knew she was leaving the dog that day but not that the window cleaner was intending to come that day.

Yes. She knew that day would not suit her. She knows the window cleaner only messages the day before. She needed to tell the window cleaner to cancel if he planned to come that day.

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:45

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 18:43

@BadNomad

But...you're just making this policy up. You have absolutely no idea if he has one or what it is.

I'm not making anything up. I asked if he has a cancellation policy. You're the one asking how a policy like that would work. I'm giving an example.

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:46

NattyNatashia · 14/03/2023 18:37

Unless you know for sure you he read the texts / got the voicemail then your original request still stood, he was doing what you asked as far as I can see.

It would seem more likely he didn't see the messages if you said you'd pay for 'not' having it done IMO.

I'm set employed and get many texts/messages/calls from people, I don't always read them all the minute they arrive, Friday night I'd have been out and wouldn't have taken my work phone with me.

The consequences are a pain but not really his fault as far as can see.

Surely when you run a business like that where you don't have a fixed time for turning up but agree to let customers know by text that you're planning to come, you must be well aware that you might choose a time that is inconvenient? Suppose, for instance, OP had been holding some sort of function that day, or had been ill and herself unable to cope with a window cleaner faffing round the house?

If you're in business and that is the way you operate, then you really have no choice but to remember to check your texts. If you don't, you need to suck up the consequences, in this case that you won't be paid.

IhearyouClemFandango · 14/03/2023 18:48

Pmsl, my window cleaner would think I was going mad if I tried doing that.

User12321 · 14/03/2023 18:48

I’d be fuming! You are not being unreasonable. Why did he do them anyway?? Idiot. Honestly don’t get why people are like this

Oldnproud · 14/03/2023 18:49

NattyNatashia · 14/03/2023 18:37

Unless you know for sure you he read the texts / got the voicemail then your original request still stood, he was doing what you asked as far as I can see.

It would seem more likely he didn't see the messages if you said you'd pay for 'not' having it done IMO.

I'm set employed and get many texts/messages/calls from people, I don't always read them all the minute they arrive, Friday night I'd have been out and wouldn't have taken my work phone with me.

The consequences are a pain but not really his fault as far as can see.

The wc is running a business. If he can't be bothered to read his texts or listen to phone messages, that's not the OPs fault. It's 100% the WC's fault.
His job is not just washing windows - there is inevitably admin too, and dealing with queries, messages etc. in a timely manner is a key part of that. If he can't /doesnt want to do that, he needs to get a job working for someone else rather than being his own boss.

LysHastighed · 14/03/2023 18:49

Rehome the dog and adopt a window cleaner.

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:49

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:41

so why on earth would she have told him

Because she knows he only messages the day before he is due to come. Therefore, if he requires more than 24hrs notice for cancellations, she needs to contact him when she knows there are days that don't suit her to tell him "if you plan to come on the 10th, 11th or 27th of this month I will need to cancel."

Show quote history

Come off it, that would be utterly ridiculous. There is no window-cleaner who operates like that. If all the man's customers work that way, he'd have to set up a massive spreadsheet and take a day off window cleaning every week just to update it. It's much simpler to text when he's going to come, and then keep an eye on his texts to make sure all his customers are still OK with that.

GoodChat · 14/03/2023 18:50

She knew that day would not suit her. She knows the window cleaner only messages the day before. She needed to tell the window cleaner to cancel if he planned to come that day.

She did. Or are you suggesting she needs to text him every time she plans to leave the house?

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:51

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:45

I'm not making anything up. I asked if he has a cancellation policy. You're the one asking how a policy like that would work. I'm giving an example.

Show quote history

OK, so your example conveniently proves that a 24 hour cancellation policy for someone who operates like this would be so cumbersome as to be unworkable.

ChilliBandit · 14/03/2023 18:54

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:49

Come off it, that would be utterly ridiculous. There is no window-cleaner who operates like that. If all the man's customers work that way, he'd have to set up a massive spreadsheet and take a day off window cleaning every week just to update it. It's much simpler to text when he's going to come, and then keep an eye on his texts to make sure all his customers are still OK with that.

Show quote history

It would be like some mad logic puzzle. Number 12 says to come on Wednesdays or Fridays only, number 3 says not to come every 2nd Saturday, number 17 only wants cleaning on a full moon…

JohnnyYenSetHimselfOnFireAgain · 14/03/2023 18:55

Colourfingers2 · 14/03/2023 18:36

You should get rid of the dog because frankly that is ridiculous whoever heard of a dog dictating whether or not you get your windows cleaned. Did you get him as a guard dog?

Are you deliberately seeking attention or just plain thick?

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:56

Rosula · 14/03/2023 18:49

Come off it, that would be utterly ridiculous. There is no window-cleaner who operates like that. If all the man's customers work that way, he'd have to set up a massive spreadsheet and take a day off window cleaning every week just to update it. It's much simpler to text when he's going to come, and then keep an eye on his texts to make sure all his customers are still OK with that.

Show quote history

Plenty operate like that. People cancelling the day before is inconvenient. The WC will have planned his route by then. It's not like it was an emergency cancellation. It was something pre-planned.

Twiglets1 · 14/03/2023 19:01

Seeing as you hadn’t heard back from the WC you should have shut your dog in the kitchen or another room with a non carpeted floor.

DizzyDozzy · 14/03/2023 19:02

@BadNomad but OP didn't cancel as such, she was still going to pay, so he could've just had a break outside OPs and done the same route.

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 19:03

I can't believe the extent of the contrarianism on here sometimes.

Op, clearly you should share your outlook calendar with your WC so you give him plenty of notice of your availability even though he only gives you 12 hours.

After all, let's not forget whose working for who here.

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 19:07

DizzyDozzy · 14/03/2023 19:02

@BadNomad but OP didn't cancel as such, she was still going to pay, so he could've just had a break outside OPs and done the same route.

I know. I would have happily accepted money for nothing! But for whatever reason this guy didn't. Maybe he doesn't check his messages because he doesn't accept cancellations lol.

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 19:09

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 14/03/2023 19:03

I can't believe the extent of the contrarianism on here sometimes.

Op, clearly you should share your outlook calendar with your WC so you give him plenty of notice of your availability even though he only gives you 12 hours.

After all, let's not forget whose working for who here.

Ohh nasty. Window cleaners don't work for you. They provide a service. You pay for that service. You are not their boss.