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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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Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:37

@JonahAndTheSnail and @cstaff Exactly, absolutely insane. He'd have gotten paid to do nothing. But instead he did the thing and now won't get paid. Like, what?!

OP posts:
NewHopeNow · 13/03/2023 11:39

What was his excuse about the texts, phonecall and voicemail?

bigbluebus · 13/03/2023 11:39

My window cleaner also texts the night before he cleans which I also like as sometimes I leave the windows cracked open and as he uses a water and pole system I'd get wet window cills if I didn't know he was coming.
I usually go ahead with the clean but on one occasion asked him not to come as we were having a new path laid and the builder had said not to walk on it for 24 hours. I'd have been annoyed if he'd still turned up (and walked on the path when I'd asked him not to).

Your window cleaner is totally at fault here and has cost you additional expense due to him ignoring your instructions. I wouldn't be paying him or re employing him either.

KarmaStar · 13/03/2023 11:40

Yanbu.he ignored you on purpose.
don't pay.

Bettyboop3 · 13/03/2023 11:41

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:27

i did read @Bettyboop3
calm down

Clearly not very well!

Dodgeitornot · 13/03/2023 11:42

This is weird and rude. Even if he thought it was weird, he's extremely unprofessional to not even reply.

CatJumperTwat · 13/03/2023 11:43

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:37

@JonahAndTheSnail and @cstaff Exactly, absolutely insane. He'd have gotten paid to do nothing. But instead he did the thing and now won't get paid. Like, what?!

I had a similar situation where I had to cancel a massage last minute. I called and said don't come (mobile massage) but I'm sending payment in full. She was so rude and huffy with me I never booked her again. Such strange behaviour!

Blossomandbee · 13/03/2023 11:44

YANBU you asked him not to do the job with plenty of notice. The reason is irrelevant. Some people might have to cancel because you don't have enough money to pay, what then? Weird way to run a business.

countrygirl99 · 13/03/2023 11:44

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:28

i did read the trehad @BaroldFromEastenders

But still missed the bit where she phoned and he didn't answer.

JustRingJoeDuffy · 13/03/2023 11:45

Not at all the point - but do UK windows not open inwards for cleaning them?!

I was reading thinking, YANBU, this is like those car window cleaning guys that lurk at traffic lights and dash out to 'clean' your windscreen and expect you to pay even though you didnt want them to.
But surely the obvious thing with a nervy dog is clean your own - I do my own windows, its a pretty quick job.

But then read there was no way you could do your own outside ones. I'm in a third floor appt, its fine - they open in. Do yours open outwards - or is there another issue (apart from just not wanting to - which is totally fine!!!).

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:45

He hasn't mentioned my attempts to get in touch, just said I need to pay for the "services rendered"

OP posts:
MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 13/03/2023 11:47

I'm in a third floor appt, its fine - they open in.

What wizardry is this? Do they also open out?

Op yanbu

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 13/03/2023 11:48

YABU. He supplied a regular service and you need to pay for that; he can’t be changing stuff around to suit your out of control animal.

Fair enough don’t use him in future but your dog is not his problem. It’s yours.

Clymene · 13/03/2023 11:48

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.

You do make me laugh

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:48

JustRingJoeDuffy · 13/03/2023 11:45

Not at all the point - but do UK windows not open inwards for cleaning them?!

I was reading thinking, YANBU, this is like those car window cleaning guys that lurk at traffic lights and dash out to 'clean' your windscreen and expect you to pay even though you didnt want them to.
But surely the obvious thing with a nervy dog is clean your own - I do my own windows, its a pretty quick job.

But then read there was no way you could do your own outside ones. I'm in a third floor appt, its fine - they open in. Do yours open outwards - or is there another issue (apart from just not wanting to - which is totally fine!!!).

Well the main issue is that I CBA to clean my own windows 😂😂

And the dog isn't an issue at all if I'm here. We just move around the WC or go out. I've had this WC for three years now and its always been fine. So, I mean its not a big enough issue to stop getting the WC.

And, yes, windows open outwards. They're all new windows (well, from about six years ago) and that's the regulations apparently. It's all to do with fire safety. They have to open out and the opening needs to be low enough that you can crawl through - like not unreachable.

OP posts:
Snoken · 13/03/2023 11:48

JustRingJoeDuffy · 13/03/2023 11:45

Not at all the point - but do UK windows not open inwards for cleaning them?!

I was reading thinking, YANBU, this is like those car window cleaning guys that lurk at traffic lights and dash out to 'clean' your windscreen and expect you to pay even though you didnt want them to.
But surely the obvious thing with a nervy dog is clean your own - I do my own windows, its a pretty quick job.

But then read there was no way you could do your own outside ones. I'm in a third floor appt, its fine - they open in. Do yours open outwards - or is there another issue (apart from just not wanting to - which is totally fine!!!).

No, they all open out or they are sash windows so you just slide them up/down. I'm in Sweden now and our windows open inwards too which makes it a lot easier.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 13/03/2023 11:49

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 13/03/2023 11:48

YABU. He supplied a regular service and you need to pay for that; he can’t be changing stuff around to suit your out of control animal.

Fair enough don’t use him in future but your dog is not his problem. It’s yours.

Do they no longer teach comprehension in schools?

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:50

This is what my windows look like - not very well explained in my post above!!

But basically no way I could clean them myself.

Who's unreasonable - me or window cleaner?
OP posts:
PacificallyRequested · 13/03/2023 11:50

Leaving who has or has not read what messages to one side, he's cleaned your windows so you need to pay. It's not his fault you've got a neurotic dog.

Jessiecakemaker · 13/03/2023 11:51

From his perspective, if you've booked him to clean the windows and cancelled giving only a days notice I would expect you to still pay him as it's very short notice and means it's unlikely he can book anyone else into that slot and would therefore lose out. My friend is a window cleaner and has a 48 hour cancellation policy whereby people still need to pay.
However you offered to pay him, so he should have allowed the cancellation and taken your payment. Can't get my head around why he did it anyway... Unless he didn't see the texts somehow. Or unless he thought you would cancel and then not follow through in paying....

CatOnTheChair · 13/03/2023 11:51

Our old house had windows that opened outwards, but also had a spring mechanism, and you could spin the glass round to clean the outside from within the house.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 13/03/2023 11:52

PacificallyRequested · 13/03/2023 11:50

Leaving who has or has not read what messages to one side, he's cleaned your windows so you need to pay. It's not his fault you've got a neurotic dog.

Or he has trespassed after explicitly being told not to clean them.

Op said she'd pay for him not to do them.

  • that is a very good deal for the WC
FizzyTango · 13/03/2023 11:52

Omg I would actually be furious. My dog is my baby and if someone had done something so preventable that had distressed it that much I would be RAGING. I would be billing him for carpet cleaning tbh (not that I would expect him to pay) but it’s the principle. Likewise you realise he would have been completely aware your dog was looking it’s shit and alone while he was cleaning the windows? Knowing your conversations and all of your texts why didn’t he stop mid-clean?
Honestly I’d be ripping him a new one, not worrying about if I should pay him or not.

FizzyTango · 13/03/2023 11:53

*losing his shit
i meant to say!

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:53

PacificallyRequested · 13/03/2023 11:50

Leaving who has or has not read what messages to one side, he's cleaned your windows so you need to pay. It's not his fault you've got a neurotic dog.

But the unread texts and unanswered phone call are vital. He's providing a service. I'm a customer.

OP posts:
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