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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:39 pm
by DeckmanAdam
Thanks for all the replys, ill hold out for the letter.
Swift learning curve for me aswell looks like i may have to go about certain jobs in a different way.
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:55 pm
by Rich H
Agree with all the above. The burden of proof is with her.
A few years ago a client (who was nutty as a fruit cake) discovered a ring missing and, because our labourer was on his own clearing up on the day of the discovery, she accused him of stealing it. I suggested that perhaps she had mislaid it and to have a look again but she refused to talk to me further. The next thing I know, the police are at the door. They were very p'd off about the whole thing and apologetic but said they were required to follow up. They told her in the end to stop wasting their time. Fortunately for me, she had already paid.
I found out later that she found the ring in her handbag. Crazy woman. Thankfully the labourer was very good-natured about it and didn't take the hump nearly as much as I had.
Another time, I was accused of breaking someone's toilet. I got a plumber in to have a look and all it was was a bit of limescale had slipped under the seal causing water to run into the bowl continuously, just my bad luck it happened while we were there. I paid the bill to keep things friendly but the client was really unreasonable about the whole thing and it still bothers me now!!
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:21 pm
by stapleme
The old toilet usage is always a shameful experience ..
I was using a clients toilet just for a wee and there were terrible marks left in the bowl by someone else... I looked for a brush to scrub it down and not one in sight.... i didnt want to be blamed for this mess....What would you do...
just leave it??
or take a handfull of toilet paper and get in there and scrub away??
???
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:30 pm
by matt h
leave it, had to clear a room that looked like the house of usher before i could even attempt to work in it once... some people just dont have any standards. Only refused point blank not to work in one property, you could smell it a couple of streets over iykwim:(
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:38 pm
by Dave_L
stapleme wrote:The old toilet usage is always a shameful experience ..
I was using a clients toilet just for a wee and there were terrible marks left in the bowl by someone else... I looked for a brush to scrub it down and not one in sight.... i didnt want to be blamed for this mess....What would you do...
just leave it??
or take a handfull of toilet paper and get in there and scrub away??
???
Yeah, worst case scenario that! There's no way I'd be scrubbing off someone elses ginger wheelspins! Eurgh!
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:17 pm
by seanandruby
years ago the council had to carry out extensive work on my mothers house. she made them all endless cuppas, bless her. one day she caught one pissing down the outside drain. she told me " i wondered how they managed because the toilet was out of action." :laugh:
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:27 pm
by Dave_L
seanandruby wrote:years ago the council had to carry out extensive work on my mothers house. she made them all endless cuppas, bless her. one day she caught one pissing down the outside drain. she told me " i wondered how they managed because the toilet was out of action." :laugh:
lol - what a classic!!!!!!! 
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:47 pm
by Tony McC
Knowing that Adam, being a decent sort of contractor, will have liability insurance, if the customer wants to pursue the broken hob, pass it over to the insurance company and see how far she gets with it. No witnesses; her word against yours; already paid-up for the work - she'll be lucky if they return her call!
It's good to see that many other contractors agree with my "don't risk it" approach. I never, ever wanted to be left in charge of the keys to a house, or to be given free access. There's enough to balls up outdoors without risking the interior! I know some clients think they are just being really helpful by allowing a contractor to wander in and out at will, but there's too much risk attached, and there's always one dodgy customer that will see it as a way to claim for new carpets or a nicked telly.
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:42 pm
by lutonlagerlout
we have to go inside in the course of our work but we all use the slip on work boots which i find superior to lace ups anyway,also the golden rule
NO NUMBER 2s IN THE CLIENTS LOO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE
nothing surer to upset folk,it would me thats for sure
LLL
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:12 pm
by DeckmanAdam
Cheers tony,
I have told them about it so just waiting to see what happens next.
Going to take that approach myself now to make sure this never happens again.