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AIBU?

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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
StoppinBy · 14/03/2023 22:13

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 19:18

Your clients aren't your employer. If you are happy with your clients talking about you as if they are the boss of you, then fine. But it's disrespectful.

Childminders don't work for you.

Hairdressers don't work for you.

Dog walkers don't work for you.

Window cleaners don't work for you.

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They'll be working for no one if they all treat their customers like the wind out cleaner treated OP.

No good working for yourself if you have no client base.

All employees work for either themselves or their boss but it's just playing semantics to suggest that it's offensive to say someone you hire doesn't work for you, while they are doing your job and getting paid for you, of course it's reasonable to s say they are working for you.

Emotionalsupportviper · 14/03/2023 22:17

Rewis · 14/03/2023 21:33

I was unaware that people have window cleaners every month! I was my windows once a year. Everytime I log on I learn what a disgusting pig I am! But anywya, have you thought about taking your dog to a doggy daycare every day just in case a wc shows up? Or maybe aking for the wc address so you could personally confirm his attendance? Maybe invite him and his wife for dinner as a thank you the weeks he comes over?

My windows haven't been cleaned (outside) since 1983, so I am impressed!

Emotionalsupportviper · 14/03/2023 22:20

laylababe5 · 14/03/2023 22:03

This thread is crazy 😂

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This thread is sane - the world is crazy

Rosula · 14/03/2023 22:26

BadNomad · 14/03/2023 18:56

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.

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The window cleaner would be entitled to complain of inconvenience if he had set up an appointment schedule well in advance. When he operates on the basis that he won't tell his customers he is turning up until the day before, obviously not.

And what is the inconvenience here anyway? All that OP was asking was that he not clean her windows but be paid anyway. At best, he could fit someone else in and get paid twice. At worst, he could knock off work for a bit and get a cup of tea or something.

Merangutan · 14/03/2023 22:30

Even if he didn’t read them, it’s unreasonable of him to run a business where messages snd calls from clients go missed and ignored. He didn’t even have the excuse of losing his phone because he got in touch as soon as you mentioned not paying. YANBU at all.

GoodChat · 14/03/2023 22:30

@changeme4this so what are his customers supposed to do if they have an emergency and need to tell him not to attend? Is it just tough shit?

Rosula · 14/03/2023 22:33

changeme4this · 14/03/2023 19:54

OH is a construction worker and it's impossible for him to take his mobile with him, so it gets left in the car. Generally he will check it around lunchtime if on site, so any calls or texts sent won't be seen until then.

He also has been known to leave it in the car overnight...😠

So my thinking is your WC didn't see your texts and missed call until after the event. Unfortunate of course, but a possibility.

I think the lesson from all of this is don't rely on texts getting through in a timely manner. You/me/whoever really need to speak to the person in the first instance, and in this case, as you are not sure if you made contact or not prior to leaving, the best solution would have been to shut the dog in the bathroom or laundry while you were out.

It's a case of a series of unfortunate events for you, the WC and the dog. I would pay him.

Not a comparable situation. On the basis of what you say, he is away from his car and his phone for at least half a day at a time, sometimes more. A window cleaner is travelling around to a number of customers and therefore is returning regularly to his vehicle. On the face of it, there actually is no real reason why they wouldn't keep the phone with them anyway.

If, as a tradesman, you communicate with your customers by text, the onus is on you to keep checking your phone for replies. If you don't, you have to take the hit on any losses that arise from that.

Rosula · 14/03/2023 22:38

changeme4this · 14/03/2023 20:34

No he doesn’t, the mobile access is supposed to be for him to call out or for me to get ahold of him. In our case we have an advertised landline for our business clients…

however that isn’t my point. My point being is that texts are not a reliable way of ensuring someone is going to get an urgent message in a timely manner. It certainly will be delivered but not always at the acceptable time such as this example…

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There you go then, you have a landline which I suspect you monitor carefully and you don't ignore messages left on it, because it would be very bad business practice not to.

This person has only given OP his mobile number to communicate by, so that's how he chooses to run his business. It follows that the onus is on him to make sure that number is monitored, just as you monitor your landline.

Moo49 · 14/03/2023 22:39

Bloody hell u did everything you could and more to let him know. I’d be fuming with him.
he should Not have cleaned yr windows
yr poor doggy and you - I’d send him the bill for cleaning but it’s such an awkward situation I’d def sack him off though ..

Crutcher · 14/03/2023 22:48

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 12:23

Right. So I have to have my windows cleaned every month regardless of anything happening in my life, do I?

If my dad's funeral is scheduled on the same day that the WC plans to show up (with 12 hours notice), is that just tough tits?
Just carry on the wake as usual, ignoring the WC and trying not to get deionised water on our heads as we walk from the hearse to the house.

I'm the customer. I get that its tough running a small business but I'm a customer.

And, in the long-run, it's a pretty bad business decision because I've cancelled him totally now so he's lost a loyal and reliable customer completely.

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It was at this point I realised you're fighting a losing battle. In every thread there'll inevitably be some thickos/trolls who'll insist you were BU, even though anyone with a single working brain cell can see you're right.

Hurrahhurrah · 14/03/2023 22:48

Now we've entered the twilight zone, calling window cleaners tradesmen.🤣🤣🤣

Ivecomeoutoflurking · 14/03/2023 23:03

This is the thread that keeps on giving 😂 I thought around page 14/15 that the batshittery was dying down but then, wham! Page 16/17 brought in the second wave of absolute bonkers replies.

Oh and OP yadnbu!!!

Crutcher · 14/03/2023 23:12

JohnnyYenSetHimselfOnFireAgain · 14/03/2023 18:55

Are you deliberately seeking attention or just plain thick?

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The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact they often go hand in hand.

changeme4this · 14/03/2023 23:41

GoodChat · 14/03/2023 22:30

@changeme4this so what are his customers supposed to do if they have an emergency and need to tell him not to attend? Is it just tough shit?

Absolutely not, I suggested that perhaps the dog on this occasion could have been put in the laundry or bathroom “just in case” (and seeing friends were also not available).

gawd forbid anyone with their own business have a need of their own where they cannot/do not access their mobile for a while.

it’s just a series of unfortunate events.

Mamanyt · 14/03/2023 23:42

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, please. He is not working in an office, and she's bringing the dog there. IF people are working in my home, and agree to stipulations that I might have, and he did, I expect them to follow those stipulations. She even said she would pay in full for the missed appointment. That's as fair as you can get.

Jimblob · 14/03/2023 23:46

Definitely sent the moron a bill for the cleaning.

Also report him to the tax man, as they never pay the correct amount of tax.

Follow that up by reporting him to the DWP as he’s probably claiming benefits too.

Qantaqa · 15/03/2023 07:57

How did I miss this thread! This is gold!

@HugATwat If not The only real solution here is to train Suzie to clean the windows surely?

Twiglets1 · 15/03/2023 08:15

Jimblob · 14/03/2023 23:46

Definitely sent the moron a bill for the cleaning.

Also report him to the tax man, as they never pay the correct amount of tax.

Follow that up by reporting him to the DWP as he’s probably claiming benefits too.

And tell his mum what he did as shes probably got no idea how he behaves at work!

Rosula · 15/03/2023 08:28

changeme4this · 14/03/2023 23:41

Absolutely not, I suggested that perhaps the dog on this occasion could have been put in the laundry or bathroom “just in case” (and seeing friends were also not available).

gawd forbid anyone with their own business have a need of their own where they cannot/do not access their mobile for a while.

it’s just a series of unfortunate events.

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Because of course every house has a laundry.

What if the reason the window cleaner can't come is something that can't be resolved?

To be honest, if you run a business that is dependent on communication through a mobile, then you just have to make sure you can access it. Especially when you use that mobile to communicate with them, and only give them a few hours' notice that you're coming. Not bothering to look at it before you start your day and during the course of the day is ridiculous. If you choose not to check it for any reason, then you have to accept that you are the one who takes the hit.

mustgetoffmn · 15/03/2023 08:34

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.

She rang as well as texted he didn’t answer

ladyluck13 · 15/03/2023 08:37

Poor pup. There's some right weird responses on here..Clearly you're NTA, you tried everything to contact the ignorant git and offered to pay anyway, I'd bin him. Also i know a chap with a WC business, he definitely earns a good wage, it's not cheap nowadays to get windows cleaned and if you build up a clientele, quids in. Your fellas just shot himself in the foot.

nofluffsgiven · 15/03/2023 10:11

No you're no being unreasonable, he runs a business and that includes keeping up with communication. You gave him enough time and opportunities to read his bloody text messages and he must have seen your missed call. I'd be livid! I think he probably did it on purpose because he's arrogant or just an A hole

Fluffmum · 15/03/2023 10:23

Pay then never use him again

Lulu49 · 15/03/2023 11:03

Think somehow he missed your text. Sometimes mobiles do weird things. I think, had I not got a re

Lulu49 · 15/03/2023 11:05

I think somehow he missed your texts. Mobiles do weird things sometimes. I think had I been you and hadn’t received a reply I would have put the dog somewhere like the kitchen just in case. Have you actually spoken to the WC?

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