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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annoying window cleaner

28 replies

bookworm8500 · 11/11/2024 10:25

I can only really describe him as 'pushy' but he really gives me the creeps and I wonder if IABU.

We have recently moved and I asked for reccomendations on Facebook. I since realise this reccomendation came from his wife as he is just starting up in the area. 😆

Then first time he came over he cleaned our guttering and the flat roof extension (done before we moved in). He proceeded to slag off the building work, the quality of the windows, the guttering etc etc. He definitely likes the sound of his own voice and feeling important, but whatever, he did a good job but I didn't appreciate him slagging our new house off. We had a survey BTW and no big issues came up.
He spent most of the day doing the first clean. I went to work in the afternoon. He text me at 4pm to say he'd finished (with before and after photos). He requests payment by BACs.
At 5pm he text me again and said 'Any idea on when you’re sending payment please?'
I was a bit surprised to be chased as if I was a late payer an hour after he left when I was still at work, but I let him know that I would pay that evening which I did.

Fast forward 5 weeks to last Friday, he text to say he could come and do the windows on Monday (today). I didn't reply as I was at work and genuinely hardly look at my phone (I am a physio working mainly in ICU and HDU). 2 hours after he text me, he sent me a single question mark! And then another hour after that he text me again and said 'can you let me know please?'.

I replied when I got home from work and was quite to the point that I hardly look at my phone when I'm at work but yes, Monday is fine.

Anyway, I'm at home today and he finished my windows at 9am, left and he's just text to say 'please let me know when you plan to pay'.

AIBU to think that he's bloody annoying? My last window cleaner did the windows, left the invoice (which I paid within 24 hours) and I never heard anything else.

AIBU to find someone else and sack him off?

OP posts:
Justme2023123 · 11/11/2024 10:26

Bin him

Manchesterbythesea · 11/11/2024 10:28

Just never get him again. Sounds like a complete dick.

Justleaveitblankthen · 11/11/2024 10:29

Get rid! And block his wife from Facebook too 😬

Pinkmoonshine · 11/11/2024 10:29

Sounds like he’s worried about work and being paid.

You could take control by deciding to keep him on but let him know that you will pay him within 24 hours of his work. Then ignore the texts.

Rosebud21 · 11/11/2024 10:33

It's annoying, but, tradespeople I've used request payment on completion of work, before leaving the property as they have many non/late payments & don't want the hassle of chasing up. However, the unsolicited comments about your home would be enough for me to decide not to use their services in the future.

CoastalCalm · 11/11/2024 10:59

He’s just starting off so probably short on cash just reply saying you will transfer the money by end of the day and keep that arrangement going forward - I have mine set up as a payee , I am home when he comes so usually remember to pay while he’s busy but he just puts a little blue slip through as a reminder

potatocakesinprogress · 11/11/2024 10:59

I know a fair few tradies like this, they drive me insane and don't seem to think it's weird they text for payment every 2 hours.

They'd be better off automating it, god knows how much time they waste doing it when they could have an email or text automatically sent every 24 hours or so.

AgileGreenSeal · 11/11/2024 11:00

It’s tricky because he’s probably not being paid by some customers and is likely a bit nervy about letting it go on too long. Chasing up payments it’s an absolute nightmare for guys doing this sort of work.

On the other hand it’s also a bit too extreme to be getting the constant texts. I always used to just leave the money for my window cleaner on the windowsill, so there wouldn’t be any faff.

I wouldn’t like the unsolicited comments about your property either but the main issue for me would be does he do a good job? If so maybe you can just pay him when you’re ready and ignore the annoying texts. He will get used to you being a “good payer” and will likely drop texting you.

Also if he gives you the creeps then either close your curtains when he’s due to come or discontinue using his services.

Rainbowdottie · 11/11/2024 11:23

Ooo that sounds like hard work, I'd find someone else. My window cleaner comes once a month, doesn't tell us, just turns up and cracks on. My dh works from home so is able to pay him straight away...in the days when we were both out at work or out generally, he'd just come back for his money one evening. Wouldn't necessarily be the same evening, could even be a week after. Tbh I wouldnt even know my window cleaners number.....did he just come with the house 🤔🤣....I don't know how the "relationship " started, but it's very casual.
Yours sounds very very hard work. I don't mind anyone wanting a payment...they've done a job after all...but asking to come? Not giving time to pay? WhatsApp messages? Comments about your house? Just no 👎

My window cleaner is not here probably past 20 mins. Unless you have a mansion, what was he doing on his first clean to take all day? I think that would have signalled to me ,he's a bit OTT.

Edited to say my window cleaner is very cheap. Another one would be at least twice the price, 3 times, if I was being more realistic. But to have all that hassle and I didn't even like him, I just don't think it's worth it!

user2848502016 · 11/11/2024 11:45

It's tricky because it would really annoy me but also he's probably not been paid by people in the past and just feeling worried about it.

I'm soft so would probably give him one more chance but tell him you can't usually answer messages during the day at work, or pay him. So it will be evening when you can reply and send payment over.

If he still hassles you after that then bin him!

MumOfOneAllAlone · 11/11/2024 11:49

He sounds like he's struggling financially but he also sounds bloody awful 😄

Paying at the end of the day is fine

He's unprofessional

Purpleraiin · 11/11/2024 12:12

I had this with my window cleaner. He'd finish and text when I was at work asking for payment but i wouldn't see the message during work hours. I'd come home to a card also through the door asking for payment and within half hour of being home he'd be knocking my door for payment.
I was on holiday for the last clean and my doorbell picked him up coming twice a day while i was away and I came home to a card for each day I was away as well. I got rid after that.

ginasevern · 11/11/2024 13:29

If he's just started his business he's probably in need of the money and also doesn't yet know who he can or can't trust. I know, I was the same when I started my little business. I probably came across as pushy or "desperate" at times. Why don't you arrange a regular day for him to clean the windows (I think that's usual) so you aren't fannying around with texts. I would also ask him to send you invoices on completion and tell him straight that you will pay them within 24 hours. If he doesn't like any of that then bin him.

AutumnLeaves24 · 11/11/2024 13:49

You're making me appreciate my window cleaner all the more,

they come mid month. Usually a Tuesday, but not always. Mostly depends on the weather we've been having.

he texts an auto reminder the night before, you can just reply if you don't want it done, but you don't need to do anything if you do (except close your windows!!)

they clean with the special water hooked up to a long brush & the windows self dry.

if I'm home I'll pop my head out & say hello etc. if I'm not home they put a slip of paper through the door to say they been & say how much. (Always the same for me, but I suppose other people chop & change what they have done. I cba with the complication!!) and I pay whenever I get home. 2 second job on my phone.

i can't remember why now, but for some reason a few years ago, it went a bit arse up & he simply sent me a nice reminder text that I'd not paid for the clean on the xxth. All very nice & friendly. When I was in hospital he also text me to ask if I needed help with anything.

he has staff, lots of his little van around, I've only met 1 who is a bit grumpy, but not rude.

its not cheap compared to some others, but its worth the extra few quid for the service and not to have time bloke up a ladder peering in my windows. Though they did them manually until he spent a fortune kitting out the vans with this new system.

i wouldn't use yours for anything!!

DancingFerret · 11/11/2024 14:02

He obviously doesn't have a clue how off-putting his pushy attitude and pestering really is; he sounds very immature, but it's not your problem to fix.

However you word it, the short response is "Bye".

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 11/11/2024 18:55

He's a pest, just tell him you don't need any more work done by him.

NewMrsF · 14/11/2024 14:18

I’d 100% sack him off.
”I won’t be using your services again due to to your attitude, bye”
what a prick

OhYeahOhYeah · 14/11/2024 14:20

bookworm8500 · 11/11/2024 10:25

I can only really describe him as 'pushy' but he really gives me the creeps and I wonder if IABU.

We have recently moved and I asked for reccomendations on Facebook. I since realise this reccomendation came from his wife as he is just starting up in the area. 😆

Then first time he came over he cleaned our guttering and the flat roof extension (done before we moved in). He proceeded to slag off the building work, the quality of the windows, the guttering etc etc. He definitely likes the sound of his own voice and feeling important, but whatever, he did a good job but I didn't appreciate him slagging our new house off. We had a survey BTW and no big issues came up.
He spent most of the day doing the first clean. I went to work in the afternoon. He text me at 4pm to say he'd finished (with before and after photos). He requests payment by BACs.
At 5pm he text me again and said 'Any idea on when you’re sending payment please?'
I was a bit surprised to be chased as if I was a late payer an hour after he left when I was still at work, but I let him know that I would pay that evening which I did.

Fast forward 5 weeks to last Friday, he text to say he could come and do the windows on Monday (today). I didn't reply as I was at work and genuinely hardly look at my phone (I am a physio working mainly in ICU and HDU). 2 hours after he text me, he sent me a single question mark! And then another hour after that he text me again and said 'can you let me know please?'.

I replied when I got home from work and was quite to the point that I hardly look at my phone when I'm at work but yes, Monday is fine.

Anyway, I'm at home today and he finished my windows at 9am, left and he's just text to say 'please let me know when you plan to pay'.

AIBU to think that he's bloody annoying? My last window cleaner did the windows, left the invoice (which I paid within 24 hours) and I never heard anything else.

AIBU to find someone else and sack him off?

I’d sack him off. And he’s taking the mick doing them every 5 weeks in this gloomy weather.

PacificAtlantic · 14/11/2024 14:21

That’s pushy rude business behaviour. Steer well clear and find out who your neighbours use.

Falseshamrok · 14/11/2024 14:24

Ours just turn up randomly and clean the windows, they then knock for cash or if not in put a card through the door saying how much we are due. I've never been chased for payment or even hear from them!

Yours sounds super annoying.

BeMintBee · 14/11/2024 14:25

If sack him off. As long as you pay the same day then there is really no need to chase. Chasing you for responses about when he’s coming is not on either.

I’d give him some gentle feedback about his communication style if you decide to keep him on.

teatoast8 · 14/11/2024 14:26

Get rid

Lickityspit · 14/11/2024 14:32

I feel your pain. Im getting a lot of building work done just now and the second the workmen are out the door the woman in the office is on the phone demanding payment.
i would find someone else if I was you

ComeAgainPlease · 14/11/2024 14:35

Dump his pushy arse but do let him know why so he has the chance to change his ways

CautiousLurker1 · 14/11/2024 14:55

Bin him. Had a landscape gardener do a similar critique of building work we’d had done (crap choice of tiles blah blah). He also proceeded to tell me how he was currently signed off for a month due to mental health issues that have made him a bit violent … so, yeah, no, didn’t chose to have him work around my dogs or teens.