Feedback required from Mothers living in Scotland

[Widowertomumsnet]

For those of you living in Scotland I wondered if you could help me on a census about window cleaners :-

1. Are you aware that window cleaners are required to be licensed by law as per Civic Government ( Scotland Act ) 1982.

2. Do you know if your window cleaner is licensed

3. Do you think licensing of window cleaners is a good thing

History of the window cleaning license :- This was brought in to protect members of the public as window cleaners have the most access to your property. Each window cleaner has to have a Police check to see if they will be a threat to the public and must be insured.

Would be grateful if you could answer all the above questions as I am doing a report to send to all local councils. Reason why I am asking for this is I am a member of the Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network who are trying to force councils to enforce the license as at present it is not.

Our industry is being blighted by rouge window cleaners who are giving a bad name to our industry. The Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network are in favour of the license as it protects members of the public. We asked one council to do a blitz in one area and a man who was convicted of attempted manslaughter and dealt in drugs was stopped. How many more shady person that window clean and are unlicensed
are working in your areas is a big problem. Hence us window cleaners who obey the law are paying for a service and receiving nothing in return.

So would much appreciate your answers to the above questions as our concern is the general public do not even know this system exists.

Much appreciated.

1. No I didn't

2. Trying to find one as I've moved to a new area & they are not the most visible of people in this weather

3. Yes it's a good thing

I've also learned a whole lot more about windowcleaners as I googled your Network to check this wasn't a hoax.

1. no
2. no, live in a rented flat and clean windows ourselves
3. don't care

Message withdrawn

a) Didn't know.
b) Don't have a window cleaner as none of them will clean our third storey windows due to lack of insurance (or at least that's what he told me)
c) Never thought about window cleaners needing a license. Now I think about it, i suppose it could be a good thing, but don't most people lock their windows anyway? And doesn't Scottish Law require all windows over a certain height to be able to open inwards so you can clean them yourself without going up a ladder (again, what I was told while installing new windows in our flat).
As window cleaning is such a cash-in-hand job, I'd have thought that the license was more to stop benefit fraud than for the customers' security.
Just my tuppenceworth, obviously, I could be talking complete nonsense.

1. Didn't know.

1. Did have a window cleaner but he was not the kind of person i wanted around my house and garden swearing at his daughter and telling me my windows were f&^king manky. So no I don't think he was licensed somehow.

1. Yes I do think it is, I feel quite intimidated having a man up a ladder able to see into my windows with access to my garden. He could easlily be up to allsorts but no one would bat an eye as they would see his shammy and bucket.

I would pay more to get a proper job done by a proper window cleaner.

Didn't know that

Don't know if he is

Yes that would be a good thing

1. Did'nt know
2. Ditto
3. Yes

Also mine window cleaner is crap, but he's the only one about.

1. yes I knew that
2. don't know if mine is
3. Yes think it's a good thing

1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

1. No
2. Don't have one - clean my own windows (once in a blue moon...)
3. Yes.

Thank you very much for your replies, it is worth thinking about if your window cleaner is not licensed why he is not. Some may be genuine and do not know they need one. Others would be refused a license as they are deemed a risk to the public, these are guys who have committed seriuos crimes for example sex offenders. Some as you say are beneift frauds who go around offering to clean windows for £2.50 just for beer money.

We have managed to get one council to list the licesned window cleaners on their website so the general public know they are safe. Hopefully more to follow.

Skribble there are window cleaners that no longer use ladders but a new cleaning tool called water fed pole so there is no longer a need to quickly draw your curtains as soon as you see a window cleaner coming

Any other ladies in Scotland who would still like to contribute please do so as this information is going onto a report to local councils.

Thank You

1. No

2. No

3. Not sure - what would be the benefits?

The window cleaners we used to have had reputedly been inside for drug-dealing. But imo they'd done their time and deserved a second chance. They were v well known in the area so I don't think they'd have tried anything on. We found them v reliable.

Our current window cleaners are long-established and have business contracts with local businesses as well as being known socially. Being licensed or not wouldn't make any difference to me in this case.

I think not having drug dealers cleaning my windows is a benefit .

1. No, I didn't know.
2. No, I don't know
3. Probably - since you point out the risk. It would be useful to have a simple system to access to check if someone is registered.

Our window cleaner only does the front windows and two side windows (which we can't open and do ourselves) - we're on the first floor. Dh is normally in, but if he's not, the window cleaner will post a bill.

He came to our door about 6-8 months ago and come around about every 4 weeks or so.

We're in Glasgow.

Has never offered anything but window-cleaning services to us!

The reason we can't open the windows is that they have been painted shut and we haven't been able yet to unstick them.

But anyway - life is too short to wash lots of big sash windows even if I could get to them - escpecially if someone will do them for £7.

Dh won't let me get a cleaner - so this at least is one wee bit of cleaning that gets done by someone else!

Quote " It would be useful to have a simple system to access to check if someone is registered. "

This is something we are asking Councils to do, already one is having all licensed window cleaners on their website so anyone can check.

Quote " Has never offered anything but window-cleaning services to us!"

I offer other services but sometimes I have to drop a customer as they are looking for something else

It's a good thing top get public awareness as too many Police websites are warning of bogus window cleaners. So always ask and check their license then you know you are in safe hands.

Thanks for the feedback.

1. I was not aware of that
2. Don't have one - too remote (apparently)
3. good thing

1. didnt know they had to be licensed

2. mine does wear a badge round his neck so think he's registered, havent actually looked at it

3. think it is a good thing

1)Didn't know
2)Don't know but will find out
3)Definitely a good thing.

Hope this is useful as i definitely think this is a good idea.

1. Didn't know
2. Don't know
3. Have no real opinion

Our window cleaner is a lovely man. I would keep him even if he wasn't licensed. He is in such demand in the village that I don't think a licence would affect his trade one way or another - he is turning down work, as my friend can attest.

1. Didn't know
2. Don't know
3. Yes I have often thought about it especially when he turns up when I BFing or changing nappies/DDs running around in the nuddy.

Ours is a lovely old man and he always knocks on our door for a glass of water as he knows I'm a SAHM and always about.

1- didnt know
2- dont have one
3-
yes its a good thing. The couple of window cleaners that clean in my area only do it to cover the fact that they are dealing drugs.