Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Thread gallery
5
GoodChat · 13/03/2023 11:54

@JustRingJoeDuffy ours all open outwards.

The council replaced my dads and they have clips in them so you can basically move them to a 90 degree angle in the middle of the frame to clean them which is cool, but you still can't get to the big panes upstairs

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:55

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....

I kind of get this but TBF, I didn't "book" him. He comes roughly once a month but not like "every 13th of the month" or whatever. And he also only gave me about 12 hours notice so it works both ways.

OP posts:
Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:55

you knew he hadnt responded, yet you still let your dog home alone, you could have cancelled where you were going.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/03/2023 11:55

I wonder whether he turned up and did them anyway because you didn't pay him when you offered to.

FizzyTango · 13/03/2023 11:55

HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:53

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

Show quote history

i agree op, the window cleaner trespassed.
you made it very clear you didn’t want his services. I can’t just go round cleaning people windows and then demanding payment ffs.
ignore people telling you it’s your fault you have a neurotic dog. That’s bullshit.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/03/2023 11:56

I can’t really understand why he felt he needed to ignore your messages, bearing in mind he was getting paid anyway. Just to make a point or something?

Anyway, definitely don’t pay him now

NoSquirrels · 13/03/2023 11:56

I wonder if he’d outsourced his round to someone this weekend… that would explain him not answering (if he was on holiday, say) and also why he wants paying (cos he’ll have to pay his worker).

Anyway, I wouldn’t pay him and I’d tell him he was lucky I wasn’t billing him for the carpet cleaning.

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 13/03/2023 11:57

FizzyTango · 13/03/2023 11:55

i agree op, the window cleaner trespassed.
you made it very clear you didn’t want his services. I can’t just go round cleaning people windows and then demanding payment ffs.
ignore people telling you it’s your fault you have a neurotic dog. That’s bullshit.

Show quote history

Lol nope. It’s a long-standing agreement.

Dog needs some training by the sounds of it.

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:57

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:55

you knew he hadnt responded, yet you still let your dog home alone, you could have cancelled where you were going.

No, I couldn't have. I said that in the OP. I had to go out.

I asked friends to come and dog-sit but they weren't able. I had to go out. The dog couldn't come with me.

I felt absolutely shit about it. I hoped that either he wouldn't clean (as requested) or that I'd get back before he did clean. But no.

OP posts:
Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:57

it is not his fault your dog reacted like this.
it is your fault for having a window cleaner in the first place

Btjdkfnn · 13/03/2023 11:57

What a prick.

I’d tell him that you specifically asked him not to provide the service on Saturday. And that he was therefore trespassing. As a result, he scared your dog and the house was destroyed (as he had been informed would happen) - ask him what insurance he has that will pay for the damage due to his negligence.

Bettyboop3 · 13/03/2023 11:58

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:55

you knew he hadnt responded, yet you still let your dog home alone, you could have cancelled where you were going.

You have no idea where the op was going! It could have been a hospital appointment which you certainly don't just cancel.

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 11:58

NoSquirrels · 13/03/2023 11:56

I wonder if he’d outsourced his round to someone this weekend… that would explain him not answering (if he was on holiday, say) and also why he wants paying (cos he’ll have to pay his worker).

Anyway, I wouldn’t pay him and I’d tell him he was lucky I wasn’t billing him for the carpet cleaning.

I really don't think so. He had his brother cover him a few times before and he's always included that in his "I'm coming tomorrow" texts.

OP posts:
GoodChat · 13/03/2023 11:59

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:57

it is not his fault your dog reacted like this.
it is your fault for having a window cleaner in the first place

A window cleaner who ignores his customers? Yep OP's fault, for sure...

GoodChat · 13/03/2023 12:00

@HugATwat I think @Crumpetdisappointment needs one of your hugs Smile

Bettyboop3 · 13/03/2023 12:00

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:57

it is not his fault your dog reacted like this.
it is your fault for having a window cleaner in the first place

Of course it's his fault. Like you, he seems incapable of reading messages correctly. She was going to pay him anyway. Whatever happened to the customer is always right?!

Bettyboop3 · 13/03/2023 12:01

GoodChat · 13/03/2023 12:00

@HugATwat I think @Crumpetdisappointment needs one of your hugs Smile

🤣🤣🤣

MelchiorsMistress · 13/03/2023 12:01

Window cleaner is a cheeky fucker and does not deserve to be paid.

BenCoopersSupportWren · 13/03/2023 12:01

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 11:57

it is not his fault your dog reacted like this.
it is your fault for having a window cleaner in the first place

Yes OP, it’s absolutely your fault for being the client of a tradesman who has chosen to work as a tradesman and needs clients to allow him to make a living as a tradesman. How dare you do anything so heinous?

Of course YANBU. I swear, some people on here would argue black is white if it meant they got to disagree with an OP.

Original poster
HugATwat · 13/03/2023 12:02

GoodChat · 13/03/2023 12:00

@HugATwat I think @Crumpetdisappointment needs one of your hugs Smile

😅😅😅

OP posts:
Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 12:02

hav eyou got accidental insurance ?@HugATwat

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 12:03

who are you calling a twat? @HugATwat

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 13/03/2023 12:04

What exactly has been said between you and the window cleaner, OP?

For no other reason than I'm a nosy cunt.

WoofWoofBeachLife · 13/03/2023 12:04

Crumpetdisappointment · 13/03/2023 12:03

who are you calling a twat? @HugATwat

Aww crumpet, I think that would be you. 🤣

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 13/03/2023 12:05

I’d pay to get him off my back despite him not reading your messages as he did provide a service, but then find another window cleaner.