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.

Because she had an expectation that nothing would be happening to stress the dog!!

He doesn't farm it out. He always does it himself. When he's had his brother covering in the past, he's always said so in the "I'm coming" text.

YANBU

Did you read the OP’s first post? She offered to pay him for NOT coming! So no harm to his business

I fully get that. Window cleaner is in the wrong.

But what about fireworks start going off, a police car screams past, kids are outside shouting. All of those things set off an anxious dog. So I was just asking why she doesn't put the dog somewhere that the mess wouldn't matter. No need for the exclamation marks 🤣

Read the thread. The dog doesn't make a mess. She's no trouble at all when I leave her for a couple of hour just wandering around the house.

Unless the WC comes which he shouldn't have done because I texted and called to cancel numerous times.

Read the thread. Those things don't bother my dog. Only the WC.

"Secondly, I don't have a room in my house like that."

You could build one

@HugATwat

definitely do not pay.

the guy is an idiot.

my window cleaner texts in the same way, but in every communication he reminds people to include their address if they need to reply as the same text goes out to all customers.

I guess the system Isn't as sophisticated as it could be, phone numbers and addresses linked...

but as long as I include the address, he does as requested.

However, in your situation, I'd EXPECT him to return the call to find out who needed to cancel.

send him the invoice for the carpet cleaning with a note 'please find attached the invoice for carpet cleaning required after you ignored my messages instructing you not to clean my windows, you ignored my messages and as previously discussed caused my dog an incredible amount of stresss, resulting in the carpets needing cleaning. Please pay before the end of the month.

And shutting the dog in a confined space (even a fairly large room) would be somewhat counter-intuitive. When she used to be stressed when I first adopted her, her instinct was to get away. Shutting her in a room when she's scared would potentially treble the damage.

But, as I said, not an issue. Apart from the WC.

Have you thought about just getting rid of the windows?

😂😂😂

How very middle class

This is what I was going to say. Surely the window cleaner would have realised very quickly that the dog was going mad and remembered the issue.

Has he confirmed or denied receiving the messages regarding cancellation OP?

At last, somebody with a sensible suggestion!

OP you're absolutely in the wrong.
Keep dog in small, windowless room with Radio 4 on full blast 24/7.

Oh that's such a great idea, thank you for that.

The only problem is that I'd then have to cancel the WC for good and he's just an honest chap struggling to run a small business. So that'd be very unfair.

I guess, I could get the windows bricked up but then get WC around once a month anyway to give the breeze blocks a good going over.

Win-win.

There are no words for how batshit some people on this thread are.

Having a window cleaner is perfectly normal and not a sign of being excessively lazy. I couldn't safely clean my own windows and also happy to outsource that job and pay someone else

I have a similar set up where there's no set date but window cleaner texts as they can't get to back windows without me opening garage so I try to work around it so I'm home but it's just not always possible. I don't find myself wracked with guilt if I have to either reschedule or just pay for the front windows occasionally. My window cleaner is also perfectly happy with this set up.

Meh, you'd have thought so.

He usually has music in his lugholes while working so might not have heard the dog I guess.

He has said nothing about the messages that I sent to him.

no/limited windows, no soft furnishings, no carpet, fairly small, washable surfaces.... most peoples bathrooms fit this criteria...

You win 🤣

@SummaLuvin

Speak for yourself.

This is one of the more insulting things towards working class business owners I've ever read. You're assuming he's an imbecile just because he cleans windows for a living. "please skip my windows today" is not a complicated request.

OP, YANBU

I think you should have phoned on the Friday evening. Too important to rely on the assumption a text will be read. The dog response you described could have been such that it frightened the window cleaner and him drop something or worse.

Have a plan for the next window cleaner, let him or her know about the dog before you engage.

There ain't half some bollocks on this thread.

YANBU, OP.

OP, have you considered using the dog to clean the windows. Solves all your problems, and its free!