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.

@WoofWoofBeachLife i know

feck it

you are right op
he was wrong
satisfied?

Yes, I have.

problem solved @HugATwat

How is that problem solved?

I think all the posters on here saying the op is wrong are all just from the dog hating brigade.

I think there's only one person, who's just saying it a lot.

I’m aware it’s a long standing agreement - but in this instance the op asked him not to attend and would pay him anyway.

Also it sounds like a behavioural issue if the dog is in that much distress not a training issue 🙃. And while I’m sure it would be lovely for the op to work on it and improve the dogs response, at this particular time the dog was not capable of coping so that’s a redundant jab on your part. Pretty fucking callous to call it a training issue if the dog is usually ok with being left. It’s not an unreasonable reaction on the dogs part of it doesn’t understand what’s happening?

My thoughts exactly. I think they need some training.

It is definitely his fault that he came when you requested him not to and even told him you would pay him regardless. He should have stayed the fuck away. But wow, I can't imagine a dog being so scared of a person outside the house that it pisses and shits itself! I've had a few dogs and have never encountered this. Must be very stressful for you. If it were me, I'd ask the window cleaner to pay for the carpet cleaning. What an arsehole.

you talk bollocks @Bettyboop3

Some of these replies are hilarious, are people really happy to pay for a service they specifically told a tradesman they didn’t want but the tradesman did it anyway?

You’re not wrong in the slightest OP

Okay, nosy fecker - here's an abridged version....

WC: I'm cleaning your windows tomorrow.

Me: Please don't, dog will be home alone and will go mental. I'll pay you but please skip me for this month.

Me: I texted last night but no reply. Please don't clean me today because of dog.

Me [phone call]: I don't know if you're getting my messages but I don't want my windows cleaned. I will pay you, but don't clean me.

Me: I'm heading out and have had to leave the dog at home. Please don't clean my windows. I will still pay you but please don't do me this month.

Me: I specifically asked you not to clean my windows because of the havoc the dog will cause. She has caused havoc (piss and shit and professional cleaning needed). But you cleaned them anyway. I wont be paying.

WC: You have to pay for "services rendered"

Me: Oh, so you are receiving text messages then. Nope, I won't be paying. And please take me off your client list.

WC: You have to pay for "services rendered"

Me: I won't be doing that for all of the reasons I've already said.

op can claim
doh

OP - could there be some truth to this?

You asked to cancel and offered full payment, but then never paid him. I wonder whether he thought you'd just never pay and was trying to make sure he would get his money.

Not saying that to excuse him but I'm self-employed and it's quite common for people to cancel last minute, offer payment and then disappear never to be heard from again.

it is all a load of shit anyway
clean up the shit

as you were

He texts like a bot.

he wanted paying
no doubt about it
he has a living to earn.

I think he is lucky that the op isn't sending the bill for the carpet cleaning.

& yet somehow everybody else on here seems to think you're the twat chatting bollocks.

That’s not the problem solved.

If she chose to claim on her house insurance( which I doubt) it would increase her premiums and she’s got the excess to pay anyway.

The wholes issue revolves around somebody doing something they were asked not to.

@Crumpetdisappointment imagine these issues:

@HugATwat has a hair cut “take three inches off please hairdresser” - hair dresser takes 3mm off. Therefore not doing as asked - should she pay? no!

@HugATwat cancels sainsbo delivery - shopping still turns up. Mr Sainbo says you owe money. Erm no it was cancelled.

THE WINDOW CLEANER IS IN THE WRONG

⬆️⬆️for @Crumpetdisappointment in case this was unclear!

It's the pole thing that's the issue, not the person.

She hates the brush knocking the window. She hates the water tube clinking the pole. She hates the squeaky noise as the WC pulls the brush down the glass. She hates the sound of the water jets hitting the window. I think it's a combination of all of these things together that gets her terrified. And because its the noises, I can't mitigate it when I'm out by drawing the curtains.

She's okay with the WC when I'm around. Just not when she's on her own.

She was a really nervous dog when I adopted her but is absolutely fine with everything else these days. No problem with door knocks, postmen, visitors. Anything. Just the WC when she's alone.

So it sounds stressful. But its not at all. She's great

Maybe. I would've paid once he'd confirmed that he wasn't coming.

I pay on-time every single month. I pay the same day that he's been. So I'd hope I have 'credit in the bank' and he'd trust that I would actually pay. But I understand your point totally.

@SalmonKnicks she said she would pay him so your argument holds no weight.