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.

There are some really daft comments on here. Poor OP having to deal with them 😂

I wouldn’t be able to reach my upstairs windows without climbing a ladder and I’m not doing that! My windows don’t open inside or spin round.

My dog isn’t scared of fireworks at all but is scared of a dry lead blowing past. He isn’t scared the the WC either thankfully. We have to let him out so he can get a fuss before bringing back in so they can get on with their job.

Incidentally we pay our WC £18 and it only takes him 25 mins so WCs do alright. That’s for the poster who made out it’s a very low paid job.

He missed multiple texts, missed calls and voicemails? But instantly started working again when Op said she wouldn't pay? Mobiles do weird things but that's a stretch

Nothing back from the WC (yet)

To clarify, shutting curtains/blinds wouldn't have worked. She's scared of the noises of the cleaning.

And shutting her in a small room wouldn't have worked either because all my rooms have windows so she'd have been shut into a tiny space with the scary thing happening. And that would have made the problem much, much worse because she wouldn't have been able to get away anywhere. So she'd have still shit and pissed everywhere but also been doubly stressed and probably chewed the door/frame trying to run away.

And she'd struggle more trusting you the next time you needed to leave her.

Ignore the clueless idiots here.

@viviennemary - wc doesn’t have to run a business around a dog! The op manages her dog if wc lets her know when he’s coming. She asked him not to come round that month and offered to pay him still. So wc wouldn’t have been out of pocket and would have had one less job to do!

Yep, that's very true. She really likes being left alone for (up to) a couple of hours so having something traumatic happen while she's alone would be a real set-back.

My dog would have gone ballistic too. I would be absolutely furious at him _- Firstly, for him ignoring your request and upsetting your dog - and for all the work you had to do to clean up the mess. Had he abided by your wishes he would not have lost a customer. I would stand firm too. Do not pay him. Chances are had to you been a bloke he would not have cleaned them.

He rang back on the phone the OP had for him, I'd like to take him to the small claims court for the cost of cleaning and upset of disturbing you and your dog, plus he probably saw/heard your poor dog was in distress and ignored it despite previously being aware of the problem by having an arrangement to text first because of your dogs extreme nervous state.

'Incidentally, we pay our WC £18 and it only takes him 25 mins so WCs do alright. That’s for the poster who made out it’s a very low-paid job'.

So rounded up to nearly £36 per hr, which includes all associated costs, then profit.
I don't think it's anything to brag about really, it's still low-paid.

I'm sure my dog likes being left alone too, I leave her the run of the house, I think that way she realises no one's at home and settles herself on my bed, shes not allowed on my bed 😅 If we shut her in one room she stresses.

I cancelled my window cleaner, he complained to my neighbours about a dog poop I hadn't picked up, I hadn't picked it up as it wasn't my dogs and I didn't know it was there 🙄 It was my neighbours dog that had done the deed.

I now use magnetic window cleaners if there is ever a bird poop I want to clean off, otherwise I simply cba

Say you’ll pay him if he will pay to have your carpets professionally cleaned

What associated costs? A ladder and a van?

Our window cleaner (the dog-kicking b*stard) used to ask me to fill his bucket with hot water and washing up liquid occasionally - and I used to provide it!

I've got a good deal then - a tenner a clean - 4 bed detached/patio doors/windows around the front door - but they use the water pole system thingy and they done in 5/10 minutes!!

*they're

Hah! I'll see your hot water & washing up liquid & raise you...

A man knocked at a relative's door & asked if he could clean their windows. He was just starting out, he said. Relative agreed, & the man then asked if they had a ladder, as he hadn't got one yet!

@Jimblob what an absolute load of crap!

😂😂🤣

Are you implying businesses don't have associated costs?

How much do you think a ladder, vehicle, poles, and water system cost?
What do you reckon new van and pole system? £20000.
www.xline-systems.co.uk/product-category/van-mounted-systems/x-tank/

How much do you think it cost your employer to employ you?
The reason why window cleaners complain about dogs is the excrement ends up on the equipment.

Some of the posters in this thread are idiots.

OP you haven't done anything wrong, the window cleaner is a knob and I'd be billing him for the carpet cleaning.

You cannot prove the dog soiled the home because of the window cleaner.
Good luck enforcing the cleaning bill.😂

Yeah good luck with that one OP

You’re not being unreasonable at all, you went above and beyond to let him know that you didn’t want him to clean the windows and he definitely saw your texts/missed call. If he kicks up a fuss I would pay him and tell him not to return. For the person on here to tell you not to get a window cleaner because you have a nervous dog is being completely unreasonable - I get really annoyed with the judgmental people on this site, it’s really unhelpful and ridiculous 🙄

Dog excrement on window cleaning equipment? Seriously? When did dogs start pooing on/near windows? Obviously anti dog brigade🙄

"Water system" my backside!

All of my window cleaners have had a van, a ladder, a bucket, a couple of chammies and a blade.

They have got hot water and washing up liquid from their customers.

Your window cleaner must be a lot more high tech than the ones we have round here.

I don't leave dog mess lying about - it's very rare that there is any there, and certainly not close to the house because she used to use the top end of the garden, where there was grass, to do her business. Obviously I can't speak for other people's gardens, but they aren't my responsibility - and if he hasn't got the sense to make sure that he's not putting his ladder in poo that's his look out.

However, if you think that gives him the right to be cruel to a very elderly animal - or any animal for that matter - than you are disgusting!

You win!

😂