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.

It'd probably be easier than the window cleaner pursuing OP for payment, after all, she has the evidence that she told him not to come.

I personally would pay. You’re one of his many regular customers and he came and did it as per the usual arrangement. Ultimately he did spend the time and he did clean them. He can’t have understood you’d pay him for not doing it as obviously that would’ve been less effort for him. It’s not like he’s going to be on a massively high income. Just pay him but don’t use him in future.

You’re one of his many regular customers and he came and did it as per the usual arrangement. Ultimately he did spend the time and he did clean them.

Despite being told not to for a good reason that he was aware of. Maybe he'll bother to check his messages in future.

YADNBU. I had this with a window cleaner for my old rescue dog. I wanted to be around when he was there so I could keep her calm and specifically told him this. Not only did he just turn up when I wasn't in, but he also unscrewed my back gate lock so he could go round the back. "Your dog was going mad" he said. 🙄Well duh. Told him not to bother again. You are the customer, and you say what goes on your property. He is an arse.

Categorically would not pay him!

User0610134057
That would be your choice. If you choose to pay someone who ignores your tests and phone messages, more fool you.

Obviously he shouldn't be paid. He can take it to the small Claims Court if he wishes to pursue the £18. He will fail.

Do window cleaners have special levitating powers?

@Emotionalsupportviper
Ladders are £300+ you need at least 3 different sizes including an A framer ladder for smaller work.
Scrims are £5 each, you need at least 30 per day. Sill cloths are much cheaper but still need a load of them. Not to mention squeegee blades/ applicators/ pockets/ business materials/ marketing/ insurance for van and public liability/ specialist clothes /boots.
Water fed pole work is much more expensive, it's £1000's to set up a water filtration system for pure water, special poles hoses and brush heads on top of this a good WFP window cleaner will have all the traditional gear as well. Buying a van and kitting it out to carry all your ladders and gear safely. There's more to it than rocking up to a house with a chamois (not sure any window cleaner uses them anymore) you're just showing your own ignorance in your post.

Apparently, it's just a bucket and some cloths from B and M.
Mumsnet said so.🙄😂

Batshit. Utterly batshit.

I can certainly see why that would give someone the right to boot a small blind arthritic dog halfway across a garden. 😠

(I have no idea where he bought his cloths, but "rocking up" with a ladder and a bucket is exactly what he did. Obviously I didn't have a "good WFP window cleaner".)

Apparently, it's just a bucket and some cloths from B and M.
Mumsnet said so

Glad you appreciate it.

Probably not, but most people would expect them to have the common sense (Google it) to spot dog excrement and not put their ladders/bucket in it. 🤦🏻‍♂️ 🙄

And most people would expect someone running a business providing a service to check their phones regularly but the WC doesn't seem capable of that either!

Exactly! 😂

I agree much like parents should take calls from teachers after 9 pm.🤔😂

Mumsnet folklore you should be available 24 7 just in case I need to tell the WC little doggy will be home alone.🤣

And don't forget you need to keep the window cleaner updated of your movements 24/7 so he knows when he can't come. I'm sure they'd just love all their clients doing that!

Maybe the WC was small blind and arthritic.

How about this for a novel idea, clean up your dog mess around the house and keep the dog inside and away when people are visiting your home for work purposes.

You really are a nasty GF aren't you? What's so funny about kicking an elderly, blind dog or upsetting a timid rescue dog?

I have no idea where teachers come into this apart from in your confused little brain.

If you're running a business, don't have regular bookings and give customers less than 24 hours notice that you'll be turning up you must be a special sort of stupid not to check your phone.

A business without regular bookings isn't a business.
I'm not a nasty GF, however posters seem to be stretching customer service expectations to other worldly levels that are unrealistic.

He didn't respond to her request and cleaned the windows. No one knows why the WC didn't respond.
Neither I nor DP respond to business messages over the weekend or after 6 pm. In fact DP put his phone on do not disturb 80% of the time.

In that case the WC needs to give plenty of notice when he's coming to give his customers, you know the ones who pay his wages, a chance to cancel if it's not convenient. It's not unrealistic to have plans, the world doesn't revolve around the bloody window cleaner.

Oh and you haven't enlightened us as to what's so funny about traumatising animals. That's what I meant about you being a nasty GF.

What's a GF?

GF = goady fucker

Aaaaaah! 😉

Really bizarre he didn’t read your ten messages asking him not to come yet managed to read and respond to the one about you not paying. YANBU at all, sounds like your dog will be much better if you clean the windows yourself from now on…

The ones who pay his wages.
I think you have assessed the relationship between service provider and customers incorrectly.
There are plenty of customers, business also recognise customers who are not profitable and in fact are a pita.
Those are the ones claiming not to be able to find reliable trades, WC or complain about service levels in retail etc.

Having a rescue dog isn't the WC problem. It's the owners.