You live and learn

Benchmark

Benchmark

New member
I had my last customer yesterday called me this morning and told me that she had put a stop payment on my check,it was a simple job roof clean and clean the driveway and sidewalk got through about 7:25 got the ck loaded up and went home. She said that I didn't clean her gutters and that I didn't clean the curb in front of her mailbox ,she did say something about that I cleaned the landscape blocks around the mailbox. When I gave her the price it was just for the roof cleaning and the drive and sidewalk and she said ok nothing in writing like most of my house cleaning work on a hand shake. So now I guess I will find some forms and make everyone sign it telling just what they want done so this will not happen again. I went back this afternoon and cleaned all of her gutters for free so I could get my money you live and learn!
 
NAh....no need for a form...those happen every once in a while....you just do what it takes and move on...
 
That sucks, I do a lot of my work by handshake but sometimes I write up something quick when I feel like a customer may end up being a PITA. As a practice I generally do the curbs for free if I am doing a driveway and sidewalk at a house. It takes practically no time, and the contrast really shows at the property line between my customer and their neighbors. A clean driveway looks clean but it does not show the contrast between clean and dirty when the next driveway is 20, 30, 40 etc feet away. The curbs offer a great side by side. I have gotten a couple of jobs by cleaning the curbs up to the property line. More than once I have had a neighbor call me after I left and said his wife is upset because their sidewalks and curbs look like junk compared to their neighbors.
 
Aaron I know the feeling but sometimes you just have to suck it up and keep moving. I had my first client in over 5 years get me this morning. I went and cleaned there driveway that was covered in rust stains from fertilizer end of the day yesterday. I thought when I was done that the concrete looked awesome as did there next door neighbor. I also had a one of the guys I know from the city see me there and stopped yesterday and was impressed with the F-9 removing the rust. Well this morning I called the client to get paid and WOW was I shocked. Long story short he says that he is not paying because he thinks the job is not perfect. I had a gut feeling when I took this job not to do it . I should always go with my gut! So 4 gallons of F-9 later and my overhead and I dont think there is any pleasing him so I cut my losses and move on. It does suck:(
 
I don't do much residential anymore, but had a lady a couple years back that wanted extra stuff washed that she claimed was "part of the deal" which it was not. But did it n e ways to keep her happy. Ended up getting another job from her neighbor and they mentioned how anal she was about her property, we got a good laugh about it, but then I ended up getting a call to do this old lady's whole families houses. And her family was telling me how much of a pain in the a** she is. You can get some good gigs from these rather difficult customers. Yeah don't worry bout forms and stuff, might just scare them off.

Todd McCown
Pressure Pros
(210) 913-9457
pressurepros@Hotmail.com
www.powerwashsanantonio.com
 
I agree to a certain extent, if they don't want to pay they won't whether they sign or not. But at the same time, when u go to a dealership to buy a car they make u a deal and then make u initial on the deal before they finalize it. I think people are more likely to pay if u do have them sign. Worse case u can try to send them to collections and see if they can get them to pay.

In general I think having people sign proves a commitment and weeds out the jerks who are trying to screw you. We make all our residential customers sign a carbonless carbon copy contract. The backside of it has our terms and conditions and states things we are not liable for. It has saved my butt a couple times when customers complain about something that is on our form that says we are not liable. If someone tries to sue due to something that my company is not liable for a signature stating we are not from our customer helps in court.

Lastly it is a great opportunity to up sell. Before they sign the form our employees walk the property and point out other cleanings we try to throw in when we are there. My guys get a commission on anything they are able to up sell.
 
AZ PowerWash Pros said:
I agree to a certain extent, if they don't want to pay they won't whether they sign or not. But at the same time, when u go to a dealership to buy a car they make u a deal and then make u initial on the deal before they finalize it. I think people are more likely to pay if u do have them sign. Worse case u can try to send them to collections and see if they can get them to pay.

In general I think having people sign proves a commitment and weeds out the jerks who are trying to screw you. We make all our residential customers sign a carbonless carbon copy contract. The backside of it has our terms and conditions and states things we are not liable for. It has saved my butt a couple times when customers complain about something that is on our form that says we are not liable. If someone tries to sue due to something that my company is not liable for a signature stating we are not from our customer helps in court.

Lastly it is a great opportunity to up sell. Before they sign the form our employees walk the property and point out other cleanings we try to throw in when we are there. My guys get a commission on anything they are able to up sell.
Click to expand...

I Agree with the Ty-ster on this one Guys!!
 
Squirtgun said:
Return her dirt in the form of cow manure scattered across her drive way....or spray "deadbeat" with round up in her yard
Click to expand...

Be nice Scott
 
I had that happen once. No problem, I just put it on her credit report for seven years and never took it off. There are ways to get even. She was one that tried to beat me down on the price to begin with. Some people never intend on paying in the first place. She had he husband call me and I told him I was sorry for him being married to her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top