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Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 5:49 pm
by Forestboy1978
Basically done a job for a customer.
Here's the link https://www.dropbox.com/sh....ba?dl=0
He asked me if he could labour on the job. I said no of course. He then siad would I reduce the price if he took timber. I said yes, I'll reduce it by £60.
Day before starting work get a text saying spent all day removing timber and site is clear. Good luck tomorrow. I siad thanks for that, you didn't have to but thanks.
Turned up and started work the following day to recieve a message saying his day rate is 100 so can I kindly remove that sum from the invoice. Immediately downed tools. Phoned him asking what he was thinking. I said NO to him acting a a labourer and what took him a day would have taken the 3 of us 30 mins literally. Came to an agreement that it must have been a misunderstanding...
Here's my exact statement copied and pasted “I can't say I didn't get a good vibe off you and if you'd asked me a week or so ago I would have said yes but we're literally just about to start testing a guy full time as we need someone full time these days and I don't want to mess him around�
Obviously he's an idiot but I thought what the hell let's get teh job finished.
Day 2, get to a point at the end where I realise that he's not gonna want trellis next to the conservatory as it would be invasive on privacy. Phoned him up and he said he didn't. He wants 6 ft panels. I read him the quote from my phone and he said he didn't care, he wants 6ft panels. I said you are supposed to read the quote before confirming blah blah blah.
Of course it was my error, but that's why we write detailed quotes detailing precisely the materials and dimensions and siutaion, whihc I explained.
Obv normally I'd let this go and just put the panels and trellis in storage but cos he's a p***k I'm not having any of it.
Anyway, I emailed him saying. OK I'll replace the panels that I quoted you for and pick up different panels and fit them BUT you aren't getting your "day rate" of 100 and I want £1500 deposited before it happens.
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 5:53 pm
by Forestboy1978
He's paid the money and I've finished the job. Now waiting for another £240 and of course the impending review on checkatrade.
Tenants are delighted. Neighbour is too and she has a row with him this morning and put the phone down on him cos apparantly he was going to fit the final 2 panels and not pay for the job. Lol. Quite honestly I wish he had. I can afford it, and I've got enough cash for a lawyer and evidence and witness statements and emails and text correspondence to to sue him.
First time in 6 years of trading we've had a problem like this.
And now I get an email from a customer that I jetwashed his driveway 2 months ago which now has weeds growing and he's incredibly annoyed.
WTF...
Am I supposed to future proof his driveway for weeds......
https://www.dropbox.com/sh....7a?dl=0
What a week.......
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 6:27 pm
by lutonlagerlout
as soon as you get the wrong vibe, walk Forest.
I do , I am all about quality and as soon as I hear "tiny budget",or "we need to get this done cheaply" I make my excuses and leave them to the lowest common denominator ergo the pikeys
anyone who wants to engage your professional services ,should understand its a business, not a hobby and to do your work right ,you need time served men
cheers LLL 
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 6:39 pm
by Forestboy1978
All the trouble began after work started though. 8-900 on materials. Most could be re used but still got to pay the labourer and store 3 1/2ft panels till god knows when.
Honestly, being on checkatrade is paying us in calls but it's stressful. I'd like to speak my mind but I can't.
And what planet does a guy live on where he thinks it's my responsibility to future proof his driveway for weeds. I've looked at it and it's bad but it's mainly cos it's been badly installed. Voids and subsidence everywhere. Part has been re done correctly and what a surprise, no weeds.
sheesh
Looks like I'm gonna get 2 consecutive bad reviews. Dunno how they'll effect our business....
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 6:41 pm
by Forestboy1978
I'm stressed and angry!!
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 8:40 pm
by Forestboy1978
Woohoo, checkatrade said they have to publish all review but the tenant is entitled to leave a review.
I've asked the tenant and they are happy to leave a review for the work. Now, if he leaves a review, yes it'll effect my score but people will see another review for the same job in total contradiction to his and clear images showing the work. Maybe he'll notice the tenants review and wont bother.
Best result I could have gotten really.
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 11:47 pm
by lutonlagerlout
its basically Blackmail,a very good installer that we sub some work too had a 100% check-a-trade
and then whilst doing a patio the client asked him to install some land drains
which he did
they then said the land drains are not working properly and threatened a bad review if he didnt put right
he did what he could out of his own pocket and they still left a shitty review ,but......
all his other reviews are glowing and his response to the crap review is measured and thoughtful
just makes the reviewer look a right messer to be frank
LLL
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 11:59 pm
by Forestboy1978
I know they look a messer Luton but it still messes with my score and that messes with my OCD lol.
I was at 9.89 and was shooting for the 9.9 but we keep getting 9s for tidyness even though sometimes it's cleaner afterwards than it was before.
Some guys have averages of 9.99 with 100s of reviews. I just can't see how it's possible. I work my ass off for my mostly 10s but the odd 9 brings it down.... grrr. OCD
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 7:27 am
by lemoncurd1702
Forestboy1978 wrote:I know they look a messer Luton but it still messes with my score and that messes with my OCD lol.
I was at 9.89 and was shooting for the 9.9 but we keep getting 9s for tidyness even though sometimes it's cleaner afterwards than it was before.
Some guys have averages of 9.99 with 100s of reviews. I just can't see how it's possible. I work my ass off for my mostly 10s but the odd 9 brings it down.... grrr. OCD
Ever thought of asking the customer for a 10, I bet that's what the other guy does.
If you get on well with the customer and explain how it will help your business I'm sure they would be happy to help.
In all honesty though, as a customer I would be suspicious of that high a rating.
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:04 am
by Forestboy1978
So would I Lemon!
Hadn't occurred to me to to ask to leave a 10. Always say please leave us a review and of course, any problems, let me know first.
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 1:32 pm
by lutonlagerlout
my mate had a restaurant in central london,he reckons that for every 100 diners you get one that is looking for fault/problems
the duck was served pink,which most want ,but always 1 that says its undercooked/overcooked etc etc
its part of life,bank it and move on,or it will eat you up
LLL
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 11:30 pm
by Forestboy1978
yep it's banked. but the guy with the weeds growing out of his driveway is getting on my ***s lol
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 7:46 am
by mickg
the rating system is bollocks Forest, a paving guy operating near where I am based is very average with the quality of his work but gets all 10's, like already mentioned they prompt the customers for the four 10's score so that alone is a flawed rating for the quality of the contractor...
I did a driveway 14 months ago, I left home at 7.15am and got to the house around the 9.15am mark as I called at the merchants every morning to pick up materials as right outside the house was a bus stop so there was no room to store all the materials required, on route got stuck in traffic as major road works were in operation near to the job and he gave me a 9 for time keeping
I just hand the form to the customer to complete and post, when the rating appeared I was scratching my head at the time as to why the customer had given us less than 10, then it clicked, in his eyes we got there late...!
we are now no longer a member of checkatrade and from the sound of things it would be a good thing if you found another source of leads for your work too
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 11:43 am
by Forestboy1978
Exact same thing has happened to me.
The thing is though, it brings in soo much work. I get emails and text and phone calls daily. I could be running 3 teams of 3 guys if I wanted to, and I do want to, cos admin now is easily 20 hours a week already. In fairness, part of that is cos I haven't really started getting my act together until just over a year ago so from an admin perspective, we're still not geared up fully but it's still heavy going. Most weekends are taken up doing quote or viewing quotes. yeah I earn a good income, but not that good.
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 12:55 pm
by Forestboy1978
Got another one. Customer last year we did a job for and their enormous hedges wanted us to come back this year to do them again. She mentioned some numbers and I thought no way am I doing that for that. 7 months later she phones and asks and I said no. They're ultra high 20+ ft, I hate them generally but will do them for GOOD money which she wont pay. Don't really fancy risking my life and then paying vAT on a tiny sum so I said no.
Now she's threatening to leave a crap review for work done 7 months ago.. FFS!!!!!