is it time to pack up

[abs]

Hi , I'm starting to feel a bit fed up with this now, winter looming ,dark nights,none payers, I'm feeling un motivated and really cheesed off with none payers ,in the last 8week I've has to threaten 3 customers with court to actually get paid, I've applied for a production role at Toyota ,if I get it puraclenz maybe for sale /emoticons/sad.png

 

[Natty1972]

Hi abs, chin up bud , I use the winter to get rid of non payers , if there go into December owing, no Xmas clean, into new year still no payment, there are dumped.

I use the saying " what goes around, WILL come around......eventually " .......

 

[Dave B]

Unfortunately non payers are par for the course

Next time they are due use that time to leaflet or door knock in the area you are in

Soon replace them and make sure you take them to court so you will eventually get paid from them also

Don't let the winter blues get you down mate

You've had a **** time of it that's for sure but this job is very rewarding once you weed out all the chaff

Canvass-weed, canvass-weed

That is what it takes to get a good round of loyal customers

Perversely i enjoy these miserable winter days

 

[Kenny Q]

Anyone who messes you around, do what you can to get paid, then dump. If you are taking on work, then there will always be messers. Dump and replace, until such time as your round is as you want it, full of people you can trust..

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

I don't know how long you have been at this but if you are new the beginning and first winter can seem hard.

The longer you are at it the easier it gets.

It can take a good year or two to refine and build a good round while the forums are a source of good info they can also be full of bs so just because you read success stories of people picking up loads of well priced work on the web a lot aren't true.

Keep at it working for yourself isn't for everyone but in a couple of years you will sit back with a full round of good payers and be glad you stuck at it.We all at some point hate this job I know I do most if not all have felt how you do now at some point.

 

[abs]

Think my problem is I don't collect at all and I never have ,I rely on customers paying online and most do but some take the ****, I only do 3 cleans then ditch them

 

[abs]

Don't get me wrong I love this job most timea, and for those that don't know me, I've been a window cleaner for 23 year but only run my own company now for about 4 year, company is doing well and I have weeded out most of the losers, I just feel the buzz I uses to feel has gone

 

[Kenny Q]

You could try driving a taxi for six months, you'll soon get your buzz for window cleaning back! When I get fed up I just remember the jobs working for others, never fails.

 

[Dave B]

We all have those moments @abs

Keep your chin up bud as it doesn’t take long to get out the other side and back on form

 

[Nicky]

Hang on in there DONT let three bad customers get you down, get out there and canvas you will soon pick up 3new ones & drop the bad payers but don't let them of the hook get your money. If your van is sign written Saturday morning nice and early drive to the supermarket park by the main doors for the time your allowed you WILL PICK UP a customer or two but make sure the van is clean, and if timeallows go to the next supermarket do this for two or three weeks, good luck with wot ever you decide. I've been on the windows for 32 years and I have also felt like u do now don't give upthis the best job you will have

 

[Adams0211]

I love this job but at times i think it's one of the loneliest jobs in the world. If you're going through a bad/stressful/difficult period it can be magnified by the fact that you're on your own all day.

I had period of time earlier in the year when my dad was critically ill and it all got on top of me. The odd day that I did go to work was hard because I had no distractions (cleaning three bedroom council houses all day isn't exactly distracting) and too much time with only my mind as company.

I hated my old job but I knew that if I was having a rough time the lads at work would get me through it and it was a welcome distraction to whatever I had going on.

I say stick at it and the motivation will come back to you. One thing that I found helped me before was taking a mate out with me for the day. He didn't do much but kept me company and we had a laugh which made me feel a bit happier about work.

That's just my thoughts anyway.

 

[Tuffers]

I often feel like packing it up! Today I was on the road at 7:00, I've just finished for the day. I got home at 5:30, printed some leaflets, filled my tank, texted tomorrow's customers, chased up non payers, counted my takings (never seem to have any money) and now I'm going to have my tea. Tomorrow it all starts over again. At least I might win the lotto tonight /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[peter rogers]

Hi , I'm starting to feel a bit fed up with this now, winter looming ,dark nights,none payers, I'm feeling un motivated and really cheesed off with none payers ,in the last 8week I've has to threaten 3 customers with court to actually get paid, I've applied for a production role at Toyota ,if I get it puraclenz maybe for sale /emoticons/sad.png

Threaten. Such a strong word mate

 

[peter rogers]

Hi , I'm starting to feel a bit fed up with this now, winter looming ,dark nights,none payers, I'm feeling un motivated and really cheesed off with none payers ,in the last 8week I've has to threaten 3 customers with court to actually get paid, I've applied for a production role at Toyota ,if I get it puraclenz maybe for sale /emoticons/sad.png

Threaten. Such a strong word mate

 

[abs]

Threaten. Such a strong word mate

Yes it is a strong word but I've had to do this to 3 customers recently, but they have all payed, why can't the arseholes pay while I'm being nice then I don't have to use threats I'm a man of my word and it takes a lot for me to get to that point

 

[adamangler]

I've been feeling a bit fed up lately too. work slowing down, weather making it worse, chasing bad debts and none payers making it a bit stressfull. can be pretty depressing when everything goes against you.

You have to focus on the positive side mate, look at all the opportunity being your own boss has, it's all out there for the taking. nothing worth having comes easy. sometimes you just have to dig in.

Look at how far you've come not how far you have to go.

 

[Dave B]

Slowing down? ?

Done 3 fsg jobs already this week

 

[phillip]

Chin up mate dont let the ******* get you down. They only do it as they cant cope and are streesed themselfs. They want to pass there negitive energy to you, to make them feel better, tell them to pay or bin and move on. You got to keep moving. I agree with above people on hear do give it the big i am about stuff and its genrally a load of ****. Every one gets hard times. You my friend have had it real hard i have seen your posts and could not begin to feel the pain you must have been through. Use that pain and fight on dont give up. For your family and for you. Best of luck

 

[dmw]

Hi abs, chin up bud , I use the winter to get rid of non payers , if there go into December owing, no Xmas clean, into new year still no payment, there are dumped.
I use the saying " what goes around, WILL come around......eventually " .......

The thing is , when you've had the customer who you've bent over backwards for to accommodate help, wait for payment or they've just got a bad attitude, once you finally offload them, you just feel so much better and think why didn't I dump 'em ages ago?

I've been feeling a bit fed up lately too. work slowing down, weather making it worse, chasing bad debts and none payers making it a bit stressfull. can be pretty depressing when everything goes against you.
You have to focus on the positive side mate, look at all the opportunity being your own boss has, it's all out there for the taking. nothing worth having comes easy. sometimes you just have to dig in.

Look at how far you've come not how far you have to go.

 

[spruce]

Think my problem is I don't collect at all and I never have ,I rely on customers paying online and most do but some take the ****, I only do 3 cleans then ditch them

We have more and more paying online but some need a prod. Unfortunately we still collect on a Friday evening although its a good way to keep in contact with our customers. My son hates collecting, but you need to put a positive spin on it. You worked for it, now is the time to reap the rewards of your labour.

We also have very little bad debt, although we also get it as well. Honestly, I couldn't be bothered chasing it. In the 12 years of window cleaning bad debt has only been small amounts. I'm not going to let them have the benefit of giving me an ulcer because of it. If it was a large amount then I would pursue it. I do let every cleaner I see know about it - hopefully it will save someone else the hassle. Messers never learn, they go onto mess with every window cleaner they get.

We remember the debt. We had one customer move without paying the last bill. I found them 18 months later by using the electoral roll. She demanded I tell her how I got her contact details as her privacy was protected by the data protection act. I replied that they informed me. She paid by cheque and it cleared. I never got sued even although I offered her my details so she could start proceedings.

I had one guy beg for a clean and he would pop back and pay as he didn't have any money. Despite calling numerous times he didn't pay - no money. Another cleaner started cleaning his windows and he never paid them either. A third windie bought the round and he took him to court. His girlfriend settled the debt the day the court case was due. This guy then had the audacity to ask me to clean his windows about 5 years later. My reply " Mr XXXX, you have already had a clean out of me and refused to pay - I'm not a sucker for it a second time." Now every window cleaner in the town knows him. His windows are filthy. He can't clean them himself as his flat is upstairs.

We only clean once with new customers. We will go to 2 cleans but I'm very hesitant for 3 cleans. I can't remember the last time I went to 3 cleans without payment. They also need to establish our trust as well as the other way around.

Over the years we have also experienced good customers go bad. So you need to keep a watch out for the ones whose circumstances change. I'm carefully watching a customer who now has a new double horsebox down the side of the house. The thing/things that fit into those horse boxes are very expensive to maintain. If he has got 2 of those things, one for each daughter, then it could spell payment issues in future. The last clean I had to send a reminder text for payment which took a few days to be responded to. Never had this with them before. Nice couple, but they are on "amber" at the moment. It will take a few quick payments like before to go back to "green."

Having a clear-out could be just that, or it could be that one of them has moved out and the one left wouldn't be able to afford to pay the window cleaning bill.

.

 

[noddy]

the simple question is are you making good money ? if you are then dump them and carry on

if not and your loseing money or earning very little then no point in flogging a dead horse sell up and get out while you can make some pennys off your round , to many people hang on to long instead of moving on while they can get out while at the top seen loads of lads go down this route , if your harts not in it the off you go

, sometimes working 9-5 getting holiday pay and turning your phone off after hours sound good to me