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.

Thick as pigshit.
This is funny coming from posters who think that window cleaners have no running costs because they just use a bucket, cloth, and vehicle. They also expect them to communicate 24hrs a day and accommodate any eventuality.

Mumsnet batshit strikes again.

@Hurrahhurrah nobody's said he needs to be contactable 24 hours a day, but surely you check your messages before you leave for work if you're visiting customers?

@Hurrahhurrah I don't think anyone expects 24 hour contact with their WC

You seriously have no comprehension skills whatsoever, do you?

And the irony of your last sentence is off the scale! 🤣🤣🤣

I bet at least person on here does (or will argue that they should do) 🤣🤯

Any comment of this @Hurrahhurrah

Of course not, that's far too much like common sense! 😂😂

Yes.
He didn't answer for reasons unknown.
Who knows.
Maybe he couldn't be arsed.
He might have not answered deliberately.
This thread is as batshit parents should expect call all hrs from teachers thread.

This thread is as batshit parents should expect call all hrs from teachers thread.

Only because you're still here @Hurrahhurrah

@Hurrahhurrah but the OP text and called at various times, it wasn't a one off.

You admit that your DH has his phone off 80% of the time including working hours, therefore he's giving a number out to be contacted on but not accepting those calls even during working hours. You seem to think that's acceptable, that he doesn't need to answer s phone that he had given people details of? That very strange and rude.

Now, I understand that people have poor time management and customer service skills, but if you give out mobile details you are saying those are your contact details. So these contractors etc need to manage their time and customer services skills.

Otherwise they could use a texting service that means you don't have a mobile that you don't use effectively.

You don't seriously expect @Hurrahhurrah to understand any of that, do you?! We can all hope, I suppose!

Do you think @Hurrahhurrah that as the WC, gave out contact details, then failed to acknowledge that method of contact and react accordingly, the perhaps when the error was made, he should've said

Sorry OP, I lost, mislaid my mobile and didn't see the perfectly legitimate effort of you trying to call me on my contact number (that I gave you), I apologise and please accept that, I'll give you this clean free and I hope your dog is ok?

What part of what I said is poor time management, customer service skills.

He's not obliged to answer his phone.
It's a website and advert.

He turns it off because he's busy.
Then he catches up when he can if he wants to.

@Hurrahhurrah by providing contact details, you accept that they are going to be used to contact you,

Or you don't provide them?

It's false pretences saying "these are my contact details" if in fact your so ignorant you just ignore people trying to contact you.

I find your attitude of "can't be bothered to respond to people trying to contact you" as extremely bizarre.

Do you never expect anyone to answer their phone, because "why should they"?

@Hurrahhurrah what's a website and advert? Your DH or the WC?

What advertise the number at all?

Do you expect a company to stop a meeting answer your call for instance. This week he's spent 8 hrs in meetings with some lucrative clients.
People have the choice of the office number or his direct mobile. Which keeps off from everyone including friends. He catches up in his time. Even the office phone is sent direct to answer message daily.

Anyway it's quite obvious the WC in question isn't interested in an ongoing dialogue with the op.
The problem is the customer only thinks of the themselves and not the business perspective.

Move on call another WC.
Simples.

@Hurrahhurrah no I do not expect them to have a phone on during a meeting, that's also ignorant.

But I do expect an advertised number to be answered in a finely manner, I would only deal with a company that is able to do that. If a number is advertised, I'll call it, I won't then chase the provider by having to call an alternative number. That's poor service, if you can't answer the number because you're either busy or as you've said can't be bothered, then redirect it. Do not expect me to chase you.

Just what is the point of advertising a number that the owner turns off 80% of the time? You cannot think that's good customer service

Im sure the OP has a new (phone answering) window cleaner, as I say it's not difficult.

@Hurrahhurrah 8 hours in meetings over a course of a week is hardly onerous, most of us mange that and also to return calls from
Other potentially lucrative clients...

Poor poor time management..

It's Thursday, so only 2 hours a day in meetings.

8 hours in 4 days? Is that all? What’s he doing the rest of the time to justify ignoring his phone?

That was Tuesday-Wednesday.
Not the course of a week.
Plus another lead came via email from a large housing association which he dealt with via email and phone quickly.
What you the customer expect may not be what you experience.
I expect them to answer the phone. Who are you, the president of America.
Plus I know tomorrow he's onsite for an HR.
Then he's off till Tuesday.
He's told the staff not to call for any reason.
So no, he won't be answering his phone to Mrs bucket.😂

Do you really think it's unreasonable to expect a business to reply to several messages and a phone call?

If you give your customers less than 24 hours' notice that you will be coming, yes, you do need to be prepared to check for messages from them out of business hours.

OP's been a good customer for at least three years. A customer who is prepared to pay you not to turn up is definitely a profitable one.

Sure, the dog is not the window cleaner's problem. His customers are his problem. Ignoring their communications and pissing them off is the way to lose customers, and ultimately it's the way to lose the entire business.

No, she needs him to look at his texts and/or answer his phone, and she needs him to act on those texts. For the life of me I can't see why you won't accept that.

If he couldn't be arsed or decided not to answer deliberately, clearly he doesn't deserve to be paid.