Get me some balls

[Prufrock]

Please

what size?

Because despite seeming to be a bolshy individual I am ridiculously pathetic at dealing with other people.

Example 1. I ordered a bed on 28th April for my gorgeous new bedroom which was being built at the time. The bed has just arrived. It is STUNNING. seriously so - 2m x2m, chocolate brown leather with a huge headboard. I love it. Only problem is - stupid doofus who made it forgot to tell teh transport company to pick up the made-to measure mattress from her shop, so that's still in london. So I can't bloody sleep on it. And the transport company called and said they couldn't re-deliver until Monday. "Is that OK" they said. "Well not really" said I. "well we can't get there any sooner", they say. "OK then" says I. aaaggghhhh. Why can't I just tell them that it's not acceptable and to get my mattress here NOW!

Example 2. I got a new cleaner last week after not having one for 6 months. My old cleaner charged £45 for the house. They quoted £70. "OK" I said. They came in last Thursday -I was out all day, cleaned, and left a not to say it would actually be £90. And it wasn't even that great a clean. Dried on Weetabix left on the table, hoover not put away, finger prints still on the windows. I want to tell them not to bother coming back tomorrow - but she calls this am, and says that she will be arriving early, at 10am and was evrything OK last week? "yes fine" I say - "see you then".

Why am I such a wuss when it comes to telling people off? I have no problem doing it to my dh or kids!

BIG ones bundle

prufrock, always thought you were tough as nuts!!!! Telephone cleaning company with list (as advised by OO) and tell them they caught you when you couldn't really talk, but actually you were not happy at all for xxxxxxxxxxxxxx reasons. Then say, you want to see a considerable improvement otherwise they can forget the £90, let alone £70 - they won't be seeing any of your money at all.
As for the bed, that really, really sucks. HAve you paid in full?

You seeBugsy - that is exactly the advice I would give as well - I just can't actually imagine saying it without stuttering and ending up promising them a further pay rise!

I paid for the bed in full, in advance. I have called and told them that Monday is not acceptable so they are now delivering the mattress on Friday. Proble is I so wanted this bed- nobody else in the country could have made it for me , and I actually had a wall built in my bedroom to fit it and light fittings put in to fit perfectly at the corners. (Which they do) so they kind of had me over a barrell. And the reson for the daly was that teh first 2 shipments of leather were not of good enough quality - so I could hardley say " Just use the crap stuff and do it quick"

LOL Prufrock, I hope you sleep well in your yummy bed.
Whenever, I am feeling a bit feeble about customer servicey kind of things, I imagine I am a former boss of mine, who was utterly terrifying about that kind of stuff & seemed to be made of steel. She was so good & getting things done for her. Always managed to convey the impression that she was doing people a huge favour by asking them to do any kind or work or service for her.
If I pretend I'm her, then I seem to get better results than being my usual empathetic, affable self!!!

prufrock, that sounds a bit like a porn bed

£70 an awful lot, esp with weetabix

my trick re: missing mattress is say you're going to ring Watchdog/You & Yours. or just call them every 30 seconds until they do it. or cry. or all 3.

(meant the porn bed in envious way, not in tacky/tatty way )

this is my bed bundle - not tacky at all.

I am going to call the cleaner an say to not come again after I have put ds to bed. I WILL do it. I am entitled to do it. I will not backdown...

I think "what would Madonna do?" and act accordingly, she doesn't take any shit imo

(obviously without foul leotard get up)

Blissful bed - enjoy! Good luck with cleaners - think of me, Bundle & Olive providing you with a wall of steely bollox! (Or perhaps not - might be offputting)

tip: write it down and practise how you're going to say it, including dealing with any tricky questions they might give you (eg why? - answer: it was rubbish and I wouldn't even want it done for half the price...THEY MAY OFFER)

I am such a wuss.

I called - and she had excuses for all the things I said - she didn't know where to put the hoover, couldn't work out my bathroom cabinet and didn't want to break it (Valid - i's the only one of it's kind in the country). And I had left the place in a bit of a tip before she arrived. So tomorrow I am going to ensure I am here so I can tell her what I want doing.

And I didn't even mention the price.

But I will write down everything so that we have something for her to work to then if it's not done I will be able to say so without feeling like I'm asking too much.

Oh why oh why am I so pathetic.

Oh and bundle - I could never say "it was rubbish" I said "I wasn't impressed, but that's probably because I'm quite anally retentive". Aaarrrggghhhh

At least you called! I would have just moaned for weeks!

At least now she knows you are not a pushover (you're not!) and you both know where you stand.

Bed looks fab by the way!

Prufrock, do you live in a stately home? £70 is far, far more than I pay my cleaner (4 bed semi) - or was that for more than one cleaning session?

I would def. not pay 90£ or even 70£ for someone to half clean my house. Actually I just do it myself and keep the ££ to spend on something else.

Sounds like you really do need to get a spine. A trick is to think about how many hours you have to work to pay the cleaner, or for anything like that. You pay for something, you should get the service.

I didn't mean to sound harsh. I just mean it's your money. Your paying for a service. You should get that service with no excuses. I would be asking for a rebate/ discount since you have had to wait so long. As far as the cleaning, I would not have them in my house a second time. Call around find a better quote. Its YOUR money.

Prufrock you are not pathetic you sound a lovely person. As or you had left the place in a tip ...well thats why you need a cleaner, or did she expect you to clean before she arrived?

Write it all down and stick to it, if you arent happy again just say that its not working out and you will call her again if you want her to continue to clean for her!

Good luck