5 Fails by Angie’s List

Many window cleaners in North America use Angies List for getting jobs, but how do they perform for the customer?

5 Fails by Angie’s List — Why “Soft Skills” are Key to Customer Service Success Editor's Pick! (by Bob Thompson) - One might think that a small company like Angie’s List (~$100 million/year) would outperform e-commerce giant Amazon.com (~100 Billion/year) on customer service. Sadly, no.

After moving to San Diego, I was a happy Angie’s List customer, using the service to find local service providers for moving, cleaning, and more. All went well until I booked a house cleaning service advertised as “deep cleaning” when the actual service was anything but. When I contacted Angie’s List to complain — multiple times — the customer service rep (CSR) basically read me their terms and conditions which said no refunds after 30 days.

It didn’t matter that I couldn’t schedule the service provider inside that 30-day window. My only option was to book something else within another short time window, which I didn’t want to do. So, they kept my money. Yes, that’s right. Angie’s List kept my money and provided nothing of value whatsoever. That “free” money cost them a lot. I’m now a “never Angie’s List” customer, and have relayed my story to hundreds of people in person or speeches. And now I’m writing about it on CustomerThink, a site that serves 100K visitors per month.

So for a short-term “win” that forced me to comply with nonsensical rules, Angie’s List lost my business forever, and this post will be added to growing pile (82K and counting) of Angie’s List Sucks posts easily found on Google. Stupid beyond belief.

Contrast that with Amazon, where I recently had a problem with a delivery. I contacted them and they promptly refunded my money. The rep (yes, I spoke with a real live person) was helpful, friendly, and clearly wanted to resolve the issue to my complete satisfaction.

Agent Training/Development Ranked Biggest Investment

I recently completed a study of customer service practices (disclosure: sponsored by Oracle) to determine the relative impact of 14 different practices on success. My online survey (n=209) also asked service managers/execs to select their first-, second-, and third-largest customer service investments for the coming year.

Investment priorities generally correlated with the more critical customer service practices, including new customer service solutions, channels and other capabilities. However, one investment stood out as a bit of a surprise — “agent training/development” was ranked No. 1.

That raised a question for me — training in what, exactly? Here is what I learned after putting that question to a number of customer service experts.

Listen with Empathy

Nearly everyone mentioned how critical it was to truly listen what a customer is saying, and understand how they feel. As Jeff Toister points out, this skill shouldn’t be taken too literally and limited to just phone calls.

Listening skills including listening to and interpreting verbal messages, but I also include written messages (email, social media, text, etc.) in this category too. Employees are faced with countless distractions at work that make it difficult for them to understand what their customers really want and how their customers are feeling. One of the best things a customer service professional can do is try to understand the underlying emotion a customer is expressing when they’re sharing their issue.

My Angie’s List rep showed no evidence of actually listening, or caring about my situation — only in repeating their terms and condition. Fail #1.

Solve Problems

Why treat CSRs like robots and only allow them to do exactly what’s in a script? People have brains, put them to use! According to Steve Curtin, taking ownership is key:

… a process, policy or service model rarely contains the sentiment that a customer’s problem is your problem. When employees lack this mindset, their solutions to customers’ dilemmas are limited to what’s on the screen or page before them – and this may not completely solve the customer’s problem. But when employees take ownership by adopting the mentality that a customer’s problem is their problem, this enhances their ability to consistently resolve problems to the satisfaction, if not delight, of customers.

In my case with Angie’s List, the “problem” was a 30-day refund window which didn’t allow for fulfillment delays. But the CSR was clearly not interested in solving that problem, wasn’t empowered to give a refund, and refused to escalate the situation to management. Fail #2.

Defuse Anger, Build Human-to-Human Relationships

If everything went perfectly, you wouldn’t need customer service. But even in highly automated, quality-obsessed companies like Amazon, occasionally something goes wrong. At these moments of truth, Richard Shapiro advocates creating a human connection:

If a rep says, “I hear you are concerned, but I can help you,” it automatically provides a human connection, the first building block to building a relationship. In person, the rep can authentically compliment the customer about something he or she may be wearing or even make a comment about the weather. If the rep is on the phone with the customer, make mention of a noise in the background like a dog barking or baby crying. This shows the customer that the rep is actually a person, too.

I was unhappy when I contacted both Amazon and Angie’s List to deal with issues. Amazon handled it well, while the Angie’s List rep just poured fuel on the fire. Fail #3.

Turn Calls into Revenue

After my Amazon experience which required a refund, I was back online a few days later ordering more. Really outstanding CSRs can turn a customer call into new revenue, says Chip Bell:

Customers are smarter, Internet savvy and more demanding than ever. They expect CSRs to be smart and resourceful, not human robots with programmed scripts. Up selling takes specialized skills, not rote order taking procedures.

After my Angie’s List experience, I immediately stopped ordering and have tried my best to discourage friends and neighbors, too. Fail #4.

Blend High-Tech and High-Touch

With rare exceptions, most businesses will continue to offer customer service by phone, even as adoption of digital channels increases. In fact, a recent NewVoiceMedia study found that “68 percent of respondents claim they would prefer to interact with a live agent rather than automated self-help (FAQs/guided support, dial directories, chatbots, etc.) when dealing with customer service.” People are the key to delight customers, says Shep Hyken:

Obviously a good self-service portal on the company’s website is important, but there are many channels that customers interact on that are responded to by the CSRs of a company. A comment on a social channel, like Twitter or Facebook, will take a well-trained CSR to respond in way that is correct and personal. Until these online and social channels are take care of by computers and robots, in such a way that the customer is delighted with the interaction, it will be the people that will make the difference.

Angie’s List had good automated tools for finding contractors and booking orders. But when human judgement was required, they failed miserably. That’s Fail #5, which is enough for this article.

Empower, Reward, Improve

There are other skills that need development, including decision making and time management, says Bill Moore of Customer Relationship Management Institute (CRMI). He also counsels managers to empower their reps and recognize them for improving customer satisfaction:

Be sure to compliment the training with internal procedures that provide the service representatives with the authority to resolve conflicts up to a certain dollar amount without approval. The Ritz Carlton and Nordstrom’s are two examples of where employees are authorized a certain level of remuneration to immediately resolve a customer issue.

And … ensure measurable improvements of customer satisfaction are tied to an ongoing employee recognition and reward program.

And finally, Ron Kaufman writes that a passion for “perpetual service improvement” is the key to growth:

Excellence in service is not taking a prescribed set of actions. Rather, service excellence is taking the next right action to create new value, better value, or more than expected value for someone else; an internal colleague or an external customer. Service excellence is the commitment – not merely to predictable standards – but to continuously stepping up.

Bottom line: People still matter. My sincere thanks to the customer service experts who helped me better understand the skills customer service reps need to avoid defections (Angie’s List) and build genuinely loyal relationships (Amazon).

Chip Bell: The Chip Bell Group

Steve Curtin: Steve Curtin LLC

Shep Hyken: The Customer Focus

Ron Kaufman: UP! Your Service

Bill Moore: The Customer Relationship Management Institute (CRMI)

Richard Shapiro: The Center for Client Retention

Jeff Toister: Toister Performance Solutions

Why Use A Professional Window Cleaner?

Before you hire a window cleaner: Anyone with a bucket, squeegee and window mop can call himself or herself a window cleaner. Ask questions before you hire just anyone including; what types of products they use to wash windows.

Should I get a professional window cleaning? (By Shannon Antinori for Angie’s List) - Clean windows can make your home brighter and improve its overall appearance. A professional window cleaning can also provide an early warning of potentially dangerous problems, says owner Bill Volkart of Dazzle Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here are some reasons you should consider hiring a professional window cleaning service to keep your windows sparkling and functional.

Saving time. 

Cleaning your windows can be a time-consuming project, says Mike Giustino, owner of Affordable Window Cleaning in Round Lake, Illinois. Giustino says he can finish a project that would take a homeowner five hours in less than half the time.

Spotting general problems. 

A professional window washer can identify problems such as sashes that are painted shut, ill-fitting window screens, wood rot on windowsills or damaged or non-functional windows.

Spotting the problems early can often save you a big expense later, Volkart says — and it could even save your life. “Little things like painted sashes and clogged channels might spell the difference between getting out in case of fire or being forced to take another way out of danger in a very stressful situation,” Volkart says.

Removing insect infestations. 

Bees and hornets sometimes build nests behind window shutters, and wasps can build paper nests between three-piece storm windows, Volkart said. Ladybugs also can build nests in channels, making the windows hard to operate.

Extending the life of a window. 

“Old aluminum screens left in place for years gradually etch a pattern of deposits on the glass, much like lime deposits in the shower,” Volkart says. The etched glass is not only unattractive, but it is also more prone to cracks and chips. A professional window washer can restore the glass and extend your window’s life with a treatment of muriatic acid or, in less severe cases, Bar Keepers Friend and grade 0000 steel wool, he says.

Providing the right window cleaning supplies and tools. 

Professional window cleaners can ensure that the right products are used to clean glass without damaging it. If you have leaded glass or stained glass, you may be unintentionally damaging it by using an ammonia-based window cleaner, Volkart says. With repeated use, an ammonia-based cleaner can cloud leaded and stained-glass windows, and the damage can’t be repaired, he cautions. Professional window washers also have the right equipment, such as ladders and telescoping window-washing tools, to safely clean hard-to-reach windows, Giustino said.

Finding the cause of spots on your windows. 

Puzzled about what’s causing the spots on your glass? Your mulch may be to blame, Volkart says. “Cheap mulches often are infested with a fungus aptly named shotgun fungus,” he explains. “When mature, the fungus shoots out black spores that glue themselves to glass and vinyl siding and are very hard to remove completely.” A professional window-cleaning service can pinpoint the cause of the problem. Replacing your mulch with a higher-quality product can help your windows and siding stay cleaner and last longer, Volkart said.

Before you hire a window cleaner:

How much window cleaning costs varies, but Volkart says you usually get what you pay for. Anyone with a bucket, squeegee and window mop can call himself or herself a window cleaner. “Ask questions before you hire just anyone,” he advises. “A true professional will make sure your windows are not only clean, but functional and will advise you on ways to protect the biggest investment most people ever make – their home.”

Giustino, who recommends getting your windows cleaned at least once per year, says it’s important to ask for references and read reviews before hiring a window washer. “Ask them how long they’ve been in the business,” he says. Giustino also recommends asking companies whether they clean windows with a hose or a power washer, and what types of products they use to wash windows.

The End Of Angie's List

Angie’s List cannot stop getting sued by consumers who allege shoddy business practices. Popular with window cleaners in The USA & Canada, it seems like the bubble has finally burst.

Angie’s List Haunted By Huge Fraud Lawsuit As It Criticizes Indiana Religious Freedom Act: Angie’s List, an Indianapolis-based consumer reviews website, has been among the most strident critics of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows individuals and business owners to challenge laws they believe impose heavy burdens on their religious freedom.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, signed the new legislation Thursday, hailing it as a triumph for “religious liberty,” CNN Money reports. By Saturday, Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle said the company may cancel an expansion of its Indianapolis headquarters in light of the new law. “Angie’s List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents,” Oesterle said, according to The Indianapolis Star.

“We are putting the ‘Ford Building Project’ on hold until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees, both current and future,” the CEO of the quaintly-named, $315 million company also said. The now-endangered “Ford Building Project” involves the conversion of a century-old Ford assembly plant into office space. To sweeten the deal, Indianapolis city officials have been prepared to give Angie’s List, a publicly-traded company, $18.5 million in tax-related incentives. The building conversion had been scheduled to begin in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Angie’s List cannot stop getting sued by consumers who allege shoddy business practices. A class action lawsuit filed on March 11 marks the third in four years for the company, which charges consumers to use it and which holds itself out as a trustworthy arbiter of consumer opinion. According to the lawsuit, however, Angie’s List is little more than a sophisticated racketeering operation that favors businesses that pay for advertising by making those businesses more visible and by quashing negative reviews of businesses which pony up for ads.

“Angie’s List does not help members find the ‘best’ service provider, but rather the one who paid the most money to Angie’s List,” the complaint claims, according to the Star. The primary plaintiff in the class action lawsuit is Janell Moore, a resident of Pennsylvania and an Angie’s List member since 2012. Moore claims that she relied on Angie’s List to select a contractor to remodel her home. That contractor failed to finish the work and did not refund Moore’s $4,000 deposit, the complaint alleges.

When Moore tried to write a scathing review of the contractor on Angie’s List, she claims, an Angie’s List employee informed her that other subscribers had also written negative reviews. However, those reviews were scrubbed from the consumer-reviews website.

While Angie’s List holds itself out as a consumer-driven company, in fact the company depends overwhelmingly on advertising for its $315 million in revenue. In 2014, for example, Angie’s List raked in $241.9 million from service providers and just $73.1 million from paid subscribers.

The lawsuit filed in March seeks unspecified damages for fraud and unjust enrichment, among other causes of action, notes CBS Philadelphia. John Banzhaf, a renowned public interest law professor at George Washington University, notes that a federal religious liberty law similar to the new Indiana law has been on the books since 1993 when President Bill Clinton signed it, and when the U.S. Senate passed it 97-3. Over 30 states already have similar laws.

Ain't It Time To Say Goodbye To Angie's List? Customer review website Angie's List ANGI +0.76% (ANGI) is playing investors, and even its own customers, for fools. Angie’s List charges members for a service that sites like Yelp YELP +1% (YELP) and the Better Business Bureau offer for free.

If ANGI can’t provide more accurate and impartial ratings, consumers have no reason to pay for their service. I am not sure that consumers will use ANGI’s ratings at all in the not-too-distant future. I am convinced the stock price implies usage and payment for usage that is far from realistic.

Reviews or Advertisements? Angie’s List refers to itself as a “consumer-driven organization”, but a quick look at its revenue breakdown reveals that is far from the truth. In 2012, 69% of ANGI’s revenue came from advertisers. Figure 1 shows how advertisers have steadily become more important, and consumers less important, to ANGI’s business.

The company can try to claim that these advertisers don’t have any say in reviews, but there is quite a bit of evidence to the contrary. The NBC affiliate channel 12 in Richmond, Va., did a little digging into Angie’s List and found that lower rated companies can bump themselves up to the top of search results by paying extra money. In one case, the top rated heating & air company showed up 12th on a list of search results because they wouldn’t pay the $12,000 to $15,000 required to move up the list.

Customers are taking notice of these misleading practices. For a company that offers customer reviews, ANGI has plenty of bad reviews of its own. A small sample of these bad reviews can be found here, here, and here. Even service providers have issues with ANGI. With all these complaints, it’s hard to see how ANGI can keep convincing consumers to pay for a service they can get elsewhere for free.

Angie's List: Doomed? (by Anthony Rodio): Angie's List began trading this week with a market cap of $800 million. Personally, I find this hard to believe and unsustainable. Don’t get me wrong: I am happy for the fine people in Indianapolis at Angie’s List. My opinion that the valuation is overly generous does not come from the fact that Angie’s List has been around for 16 years and has yet to make a profit. Or the fact that their loss doubled in 2011 compared to 2010. Or even that Angie’s List’s customer acquisition costs remain well north of industry benchmarks, though those three facts certainly are worthy of some reflection.

My opinion is driven by a conviction that Angie’s List is built on an antiquated business model. Lists are dying; it is really that simple. Web sites like Angie’s List and Yelp have evolved the Yellow Pages model by including reviews, limited price information and maps. However, consumers simply do not want evolution — they want revolution. Consumers want to be freed from the tyranny of lists. Consumers are tired: tired of searching through the “list” to locate well-reviewed providers (only to find out they are not available when they contact them); tired of not having any price transparency until the provider is in their home or they are in the provider’s office; tired of spending hours trying to find a provider and feeling ripped off when they finally do.

Popular with window cleaners in The USA & Canada, it seems like the bubble has burst.

Philly Woman Sues Angie’s List, Calls Service “Fraudulent,” “Deceptive” - The whole point of the popular website Angie’s List is that it is supposed to provide ratings and reviews of contractors, mechanics, dentists and the like based purely on customer experience, referring to itself in the company membership agreement as a “passive conduit.” But according to one Philadelphia woman, Angie’s List is anything but.

Janell Moore has filed a class action suit in Philadelphia’s federal court alleging that Angie’s List manipulates ratings to favor its advertising revenue, calling the company’s practices “fraudulent, deceptive and misleading.” Indeed, the Angie's List Frequently Asked Questions page clearly states: "Companies with the best ratings from members will appear first."

But Moore says that's simply untrue. "Angie's List secretly alters the order in which service providers are listed in members' search results," she claims in the suit. "Angie's List ranks service providers based on how much providers pay in 'advertising' fees … A plumber with an 'A' rating and all positive reviews … who did not pay any 'advertising' fees will be ranked below a plumber who did pay 'advertising' fees but has worse reviews or ratings."

Moore cites, among other evidence to support her claim, a 2013 investigative report by an NBC station in Virginia, which found that companies can boost their position in search results on Angie's List by paying Angie's List fees.

According to that investigation, one contractor that came up 12th in the relevant search was actually the top-rated contractor in the given category, and the contractor told NBC that Angie's List wanted more than $10,000 to bump him higher.

In the last quarter of 2014, Angie's List posted membership revenue of $18 million, while the company's advertising revenue had skyrocketed to $58 million, up nearly 30 percent since the year before.

In the lawsuit, Moore explains that she first had concerns over Angie's List after she had a problem with an Angie's List-recommended contractor last year. Moore says that she paid the contractor $4,000 to remodel her kitchen but that he never finished the job and refused to return the money.

Click for consumer affairs reviews.

Moore submitted a negative review of the contractor to Angie's List and maintains that it was only after doing so that she was permitted to see other negative reviews of the same contractor. She says she never would have hired him had she been given access to those bad reviews, and Moore's attorneys say that those negative reviews were suppressed because the contractor had paid money to Angie's List.

Moore accuses Angie's List of breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment and of breaking Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. She is seeking unspecified damages on behalf of her and the entire class, which is pretty much anyone who uses Angie's List.

An Angie's List spokesperson has said that the company does not comment on active litigation, and the company has yet to file a response in the case.

It's not the first time that a Philadelphian has sued Angie's List. In 2013, Philadelphia resident Marie Fritzinger filed her own federal class-action lawsuit against the company over its membership fees, claiming that she (and the millions of other people in the class) were overcharged when it came time to renew. In 2014, the company reportedly settled the case for nearly $3 million.

Window Cleaning News

A worker cleaning a window of the Enzo Ferrari Birthplace Museum on Friday. The museum opens to the public on Saturday. The Enzo Ferrari Birthplace Museum opens this weekend in Modena, Italy. Built next to the home where the founder of Ferrari was born, the museum was the last work of the star architect Jan Kaplicky. It has been a long time coming; the building was designed in 2003. After Mr. Kaplicky’s sudden death in January 2009, the structure was completed by his former colleague in the firm Future Systems, Andrea Morgante. The officials hope visitors will come to the old Ferrari house, where Enzo was born in 1898, to view effects from his daily life, like his famous pen and signature purple ink, as well as the bold structure next door. The complex is about 12 miles from Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello.

Elderly woman falls to her death from 7th-floor flat in Bishan, Singapore: A 64-year-old housewife died on Tuesday after she fell out of a seventh-floor flat in Bishan St 22. Police said that they received a call requesting help at 11am. Paramedics who arrived on the scene shortly afterwards pronounced her dead.  It is believed that the woman was washing the window at about 11am when she fell. According to neighbours, her husband is believed to have been in the flat at the time.
A 64-year-old housewife fell to her death from a window of her seventh-floor home in Bishan yesterday. Clad in an orange T-shirt and blue pants, Mrs Chua's body was found at the foot of Block 233 in Bishan Street 22, surrounded by crumpled newspapers and broken laundry poles. Police said they were alerted at 11am; paramedics who arrived on the scene shortly after pronounced her dead. The Straits Times understands that she was standing on a chair and cleaning a window in her flat when she fell.

Soap nuts, which are berries from South Asia, are biodegradable, non-toxic, non-allergenic and antimicrobial.

A clean deal with soap nuts - What’s next? When a competitor recently went out of business, the Johnsons acquired its recipe for creating liquid soap and they are now close to selling as much liquid detergent as soap nuts. They are also jumping through the necessary hoops to certify the liquid organic, and then develop a complete line of products from shampoo and hand soap to dishwashing liquid and window cleaner. With their sights set on international markets, they are in the process of getting products into South Korea through an exclusive distributor. They think it’s only a matter of time, infrastructure, and packaging before they expand worldwide. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” Mr. Johnson says. “I’m hooked on the whole process. I see the vision of what this business can become.”

‘I’d like to give him a good kicking’ - A pensioner who fell foul of a bogus caller who stole cash after claiming to be from the water board has said she would like to get hold of the man and “give him a good kicking”. The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, said she is not letting the experience of having her pension money taken upset her and is more annoyed that the thief got away. But, while she remains very active in her eighties, she is worried that pensioners who may not be so fit or capable would be more badly affected by the experience. The woman was one of two Crawley pensioners who lost money after opening their doors to people claiming to be from either the gas or water board. She believes the man may have watched her draw her pension money from a nearby post office before following her home – and she suspects he had an accomplice because she never left him alone once he was in the house. She said: “It was only about 10 minutes after I got home. Whoever it was, he went into the lounge. I had put £21.50 into an envelope for the window cleaner and he took the £20 note.

Milton, 25, has been working as a part-time doorman in a Greenwich Village rental building for the past 3 ½ years. It is his first job as a doorman. Here’s what he had to tell us about off-the-books services. What are some of the things that tenants have asked for? Sometimes they ask for us to clean their apartment windows and that’s not in our job descriptions.  If it’s ok with the super we charge them a separate rate that most of them agree to. Do most doormen take money for extra services? Sure – window cleaning, dog walking – nothing too crazy.

Vermont Soapworks Cleans Naturally: Plesent spent seven years as a window cleaner and was in close contact with many kinds of soaps and detergents. “I used to jump off buildings to clean windows,” he said, also explaining how he got his nickname, “Spiderman.” “I became detergent-sensitive through overexposure to chemicals at work. I was intolerant even to fragrances and most artificial foaming agents.” He even had severe dermatitis on his arm for eight years until one day he found his solution. “One day, I came upon a bar of handmade soap,” he said. “I thought it would rip my skin off, but surprisingly, within three days, my eight-year dermatitis ran away.” Such a magical invention inspired him to manufacture his own natural and organic soaps that bring comfort to users of all skin types.  Combining his knowledge of biochemistry and his determination, he set up this factory 19 years ago and has been serving the East Coast and the rest of the world ever since. In Vermont Soapworks, a near-native Vermonter Larry Plesent and his 24 employees produce handmade soaps whose history can be traced back to Louis XIV (who persecuted soap-makers that produced soap inattentive to sensitive skins).

A pregnant mum-of-two was jailed for two years yesterday after crying rape following a one-night stand with a man she met on a bus. Christine Jordan, 25, invited Kevin Percival, 27, back to her flat for sex. But she accused the window cleaner of rape after he failed to remember her name when they met five days later in a pub. CCTV footage from cameras on the bus proved her story was a lie and now jobless Jordan, who is pregnant with twins by another man, will give birth behind bars. Judge Jonathan Haworth told her: “You alleged that a man had followed you home and as you opened the front door he forced his way inside and raped you. Jordan, of Fen Ditton, Cambs, denied perverting the course of justice but the jury at Cambridge crown court convicted her unanimously. Her two children have been taken away by social services. Her son lives with her mother, while her two-year-old daughter is being adopted. Speaking after the hearing Mr Percival’s mother, Merle, said: “She deserved it, but the damage has been done. "I am glad that the judge took it seriously. This has destroyed Kevin and my family. “He would never do anything like this.”

House fire was man’s suicide attempt: A 30 year old man, depressed after splitting up with his girlfriend, decided to kill himself by setting fire to his mother’s home, causing £20,000 worth of damage, a court heard. When Scott Bateson’s house-proud mum arrived back from work, she found the fire brigade there and Bateson, who had been drinking, said: “Mum, I’ve burnt your house.” Bateson, of Clements Close, Atherton, had lit small fires in the kitchen and when these became a large blaze, he fled upstairs and escaped the burning premises when a neighbour put a ladder up to a window. Harry Pepper, prosecut- ing, said Bateson had split up with his partner because he had been violent to her. A restraining order had been made, which meant he could not see his children. He turned to drink and moved into his mother’s home in Blake Avenue, Wigan. On December 8 last year, he went to a neighbour’s home and asked if they would come to his funeral. He then went back to the house intending to kill him- self and started the fires, said Mr Pepper. He also lost his window cleaning round and he was essentially homeless. The day before the offence he drank a bottle of vodka and on the day consumed seven cans of lager.

'Window cleaners' sought after car stolen: Police are trying to trace two men who were knocking on doors and claiming to be window cleaners around the time a car was stolen from outside a house in Hillmorton. The pair were active on Percival Road on the day a BMW 318i saloon was stolen from the driveway of a house on the street between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday (March 10). The people living there returned home to find burglars had broken in to the back of the property and stolen jewellery and the keys to the car before driving off in it.

Door to door enquiries made by police revealed that at around 1.15pm on the same afternoon, two people claiming to be window cleaners were calling at houses in the road. Both were wearing black gloves and were travelling in a black car. They appeared to have no cleaning equipment with them and said they had run out of business cards when asked for them. DC Mick Watkins said: "These people may well be genuine, and if that is the case, we are keen to identify them as soon as possible so they can be eliminated from our enquiries." One of the men is described as white, around 18-years-old, with blonde hair and wearing black tracksuit bottoms and trainers. The second man is described as an older, between 30 and 40-years-old, bald and of a stocky build.

Bogus caller warning: Cops are again issuing a warning over bogus callers trying to con West Lothian householders. Police say there were a number of incidents last week where residents were approached at home by people offering to carry out unsolicited work on their property. On each occasion the residents have turned the callers away, and notified police. A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “The type of work varies from hedge cutting to window cleaning and roofing work, and we are warning people to be on their guard if they receive an unsolicited call by anyone offering to carry out this kind of work. “If anyone has any suspicions over the intentions of any cold caller, then they should deny them access, and contact police immediately.

Another set of ladders were pinched from a property on Wishaw’s Shand Street on Tuesday, February 28. They were stolen from a part-time window cleaner between 2.30pm and 10pm after the metal chain securing them was cut. A witness saw two boys pushing a silver BMX bike with a set of ladders on it toward Bush Crescent. They were wearing dark clothing and had hoods up.

MCC get the cleaners in: MCC will spend £2million on infrastructure enhancements and maintenance of Lord's in 2012 - starting with a full external refurbishment of the J.P. Morgan Media Centre. The award winning Media Centre, sponsored by J.P. Morgan since 2011, is having its first refurbishment of the single outside shell since it was opened in 1999. The process includes a comprehensive wash, 20m2 of corrosion repairs, wet and dry sanding, a two coat re-paint, and full window clean.

Cricket coach in court over assault: A respected cricket coach who fractured a man’s hip and wrist when he pushed him over in the street has been spared an immediate jail sentence. Graham Sivyer had downed seven pints of lager on a night out with his wife and friends when he knocked down window cleaner Graham Brennan after words were exchanged outside the Future Balti Indian restaurant in Wibsey town centre, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday. Sivyer, 50, of Ash Grove, Wibsey, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Brennan grievous bodily harm at 12.50am on September 18 last year. Mr Bridge said Mr Brennan had just set up a window cleaning business at the time and could no longer work. He had difficulty sleeping and had suffered nerve damage. He also feared he could lose his rented home because he was no longer able to work. Sivyer was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 180 hours of unpaid work for the community. He was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Brennan.

Angie's List Report: Keeping Home Windows Clean: Spring is not to far away, and do you have any plans on doing a little "spring cleaning"? One item on your "spring cleaning" list should be your windows. "We recently talked to our Angie's List members about spring cleaning and what they plan to tackle. Fifty percent said they are going to be doing some spring cleaning with a third of those respondents saying cleaning the windows was at the top of their list," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's list.

Not only will clean windows make the house's appearance more aesthetically pleasing, it also removes grit and grime that may build up on both the inside and outside surfaces. "It's important to have your windows cleaned because windows left unclean for long periods, windows are porous, and mother nature the mineral from things flying around, can absorb into the pores of the glass and stain it permanently, or it could take costly extensive measures to get that staining out of the glass," said Matt Swales, a window cleaner.

For most homes, cleaning your windows can be an easy task to do on your own. However, some homes may require you to hire someone to help you out. "If you are looking to save a few bucks you can still hire a window cleaner, but consider dividing the job up. You can tackle the first floor windows that don't require special equipment. Leave the second story to a professional, because they'll have the proper ladder," said Hicks.

Those in the window cleaning business say the environment where your house is located has a lot to do with how often the windows need to be cleaned. "If the house sits in a wooded area, or near construction that is blowing dirt across on it, may want their windows more cleaned more often than a homeowner whose in a more established neighborhood with not as many trees or forest near it," said Swales.

Before you hire someone to come out and clean your windows, be sure walk around the home and determine how many windows need to be cleaned, how hard those windows are to access, and the type of window and frame. All of these factors will help determine an estimate on the final cost of the cleaning project. Most homes should get their windows cleaned at least twice a year. The best times would be once in the spring and once in the fall. Also see here.

Tips to Give Your Home a Fresh Spring Face: Ellisville interior designer Patrice Munden writes that with spring officially just a week away, now is the time get in the spirit by freshening up your home inside and out. Clean your windows. Have all of the windows in your house professionally cleaned inside and out. It is amazing how much fresher your home will appear to you and others.

Residents and business owners along a new subway line in New York - which has been under construction since 2007 - say the ongoing project is making their lives miserable and costing them money. Francisco Quijada first looked out of the window of his interior design store more than 45 years ago and he says the view was as bright as his future.  No more. “I gave up cleaning them, because it cost me money and I know very well that within a week or so they’re going to be the same way,” said Quijada. Quijada said the construction obstructs the entrance to his store and has cut his business in half. “The noise is very disturbing. It’s also very frightening. You would almost think you’re being attacked when they dynamite. It’s like having a bomb go off,” said Young. Quijada described the explosions as mini earthquakes and he said the blasts have caused cracks in his walls.

Window Cleaner in food: Uproar Over 'Pink Slime' in School Lunches - Remember pink goo? Let us refresh your memory. Pink goo, aka pink slime, is scraps of meat and connective tissue swept up from slaughterhouse floors that are doused with a pink chemical to kill dangerous pathogens -- since they've been, you know, on the floor -- then blended together into a substance that looks like strawberry fro-yo. That chemical is ammonium hydroxide, also used in wood stains, window cleaners, Pine-Sol and Pledge. Pink slime has been used in ground beef products sold commercially since the 1990s -- the processed meat reportedly accounts for 70 percent of all ground beef consumed in the U.S. Parents freaked out after reports surfaced last week that school districts around the country were serving kids hamburgers containing up to 15 percent of the processed product known in the meat industry as "Lean Finely Textured Beef" or "Lean Beef Trimmings."

Window Cleaning According To Angies List

Window Cleaning: Window cleaning benefits any house. Not only does it help make the house’s appearance more aesthetically pleasing, it also helps remove grit and grime that builds-up on both the inside and outside surfaces. Glass left unclean can become etched over time and look hazy.

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll:

• More than half of respondents say they regularly give their home a “spring cleaning;”
• More than a third of respondents want to hire someone to do the window washing for them.

Angie’s List, the nation's premier provider of consumer reviews talked to window cleaning pros for advice on cleaning them properly and safely:

Frequency of cleaning: Most homes should get a thorough window cleaning twice a year – ideally in the spring and fall. You may find your windows need cleaned more often if you live on a busy street or near saltwater. Letting salt stay on the glass too long will eventually damage the glass.

Which cleaning method is best? The type of cleaning solution and equipment you need varies according to the type of windows you have. With dozens of types of glass, windows often require special cleaning agents and using the wrong one could be ineffective or cause damage. For example, double glass windows are held together with a vacuum that could be compromised if the rubber trim that seals it is damaged by the wrong type of cleaner. If the seal breaks, moisture and dusts can get in the window, making it impossible to get clean. Most glass can be cleaned with soap, water and a squeegee. However, some situations will call for specialized cleaning solutions. For smaller windows where a squeegee is too large, use a lint free towel to wipe them clean.

Ideal weather conditions: If you clean the windows, do it during a cool, cloudier time of day. The hot sun dries windows faster, which can lead to streaking. Removing the dirt and grime from your windows is a difficult, time-consuming and a potentially dangerous job. Thousands of people are injured each year from ladder falls, and adding in buckets of soapy water and the need to stretch to reach corners increases the chances of an accident.

Angie’s List window cleaning hiring tips: Check insurance: If you hire a pro, make sure the company is insured. Because a lot of window washing involves ladders, safety harnesses and scaffolding, precautions are essential to ensure everyone's protection. Damage can be done to glass by someone is who not qualified. You need someone who not only knows how to clean glass, but knows glass and how to maintain in properly.

How do they clean windows? It’s important to ask what types of chemicals and tools are used during the cleaning process, especially if your windows are tinted. Many companies will clean with eco-friendly materials upon request.

What’s the cost? Window cleaning prices vary and are often based on the number and size of windows, the time estimated to do the job and the complexity of the job. Always ask for an in-home estimate. MONEY SAVING TIP: You could save a few bucks by cleaning the first floor windows yourself, and leaving the second floor, more difficult to reach windows, to a pro.

Satisfaction guaranteed? Ask the company if they provide a money-back guarantee if you’re not 100% happy. Most companies will offer one and some even offer a rain guarantee – so if it rains within a certain amount of time of the cleaning and your windows are spotted, the company will come back out at no charge to you.

Professional Window Cleaning Service - Save Yourself Time

Read Testimonials from 100 other Thrilled WCR Customers!

Angie's Advice: DIY is fine, unless you undervalue your time: It's the dirtiest of dirty jobs, and Connie LaRocco has no interest in doing it. So once a week, it's worth it to the Greenwood resident to pay about $10 for someone else to do away with the doo. Specifically, dog doo. "I'm older, and I have back problems," said LaRocco, "so I hired someone to do it. It's nice to know that it's done."

Often, homeowners assume the cost of hiring a pro for a tedious task can't be justified. Really, they're undervaluing their own time, as well as the stress relief even a little help can offer. By hiring a professional to tackle those tasks, families can spend more time together and less on jobs like housecleaning, lawn mowing, window washing and, yes, even cleaning up after your dog.

While most homeowners can keep up with basic tidiness, Jim Alford, owner of Mr. Clean Cleaning Service in Indianapolis, said his service is designed to clean areas homeowners might overlook, like air return vents, light bulbs, blinds, door jambs and cabinet fronts. According to a recent Angie's List survey of housecleaners in Indianapolis, the average cost per cleaning is about $30 to $40 per hour.

"Spending the money to have your home cleaned is really an investment (in) your family," said Alford. "I have heard over and over again how much (customers) appreciate knowing that when they come home from work and walk into their home that it will be spotless; the job is already done; and they can sit and relax."

Taylon Sandlin, owner of Skybright Window Cleaning in Indianapolis, estimates it would take most homeowners a weekend, if not longer, to clean their windows, and the result still would not be the same as hiring a professional who has the proper tools and training. The average price for an inside-and-out window cleaning, which includes wiping the sills, tracks and screens, is about $200.

"We can clean that entire house, including the tracks and every other nook and cranny, in just over two hours," Sandlin said. "The time savings is huge, but safety is probably even more important, primarily in regards to using a ladder."

Lawn care is another task that eats up a lot of precious summertime. Few homeowners enjoy the sweat and mess, keeping the gas can full and maintaining the mower. Leaving the mowing and trimming to the experts costs on average about $35 per mow and frees up weekends for something more enjoyable.

If you don't hire a reputable, reliable professional though, you'll likely add to your stress level rather than reduce it. There are plenty of companies whose business it is to take on your chore list. Budget the cost of hiring a professional, then do your homework to find someone with a good reputation who will make your life easier. Angie Hicks is a Fishers resident and founder of Angie's List, a national provider of ratings in more than 500 categories of service.

Three Window Cleaning Reports

Program Helps Carlsbad Small Businesses Grow: While many small businesses are facing tough times, a set of programs at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is offering help. The Small Business Success Program is helping businesses like Fish Window Cleaning. Kolan Hairston and his wife Lupe own the franchise and said the economy began to take its toll in late 2008. "We saw ourselves go backwards probably 30 percent over the course of the year," said Kolan Hairston. Now, the Hairstons say things are better. They've hired two more people, bringing the number of their employees to seven. So, more people are getting their windows cleaned.

They said the programs at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as well as meeting with other business owners have helped. "We're held to what we do or what we won't do," said Lupe Hairston. "If we didn't do something somebody else will say, "Hey, why didn't you do that? Follow up with your marketing or follow up with your people." The programs offer advice on marketing, business plans, financing and more.

There is advice on marketing, business plans, financing, and more. "[The programs help] find different ways to grow your business, different ways to promote your business, that kind of thing," said Kolan Hairston. Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce CEO Ted Owen said about 80 percent of the chamber's 1,700 member businesses take part in the programs. "The number one step is owning up to the fact that you don't know what you're doing, and it's difficult for people to say that," said Owen. Owen said it's important for business owners to get together and share experiences. "Like-minded people who have the same goals... can get together and teach each other everything they know," he said.

Don't be a fall guy - Hire a window washer by Angie Hicks: Washing your home's windows can seem like a simple enough task — until you precariously perch yourself on a ladder, stretch to reach high areas, and fight through the bugs, bees and trees. Clean windows can enhance your home's appearance, but actually getting them streak-free can be challenging, and for homeowners with hard-to-reach windows, it can be downright dangerous.

"I always ask, 'How long would it take you and how much is your safety worth?' " said Tiffany Maron, owner of Squeegee Squad in Riverview. "It's a hard job. It's time consuming. It's dirty, and even when they're done, it still may not look as good, even if they spent twice the amount of time as we would have." Maron and Tom Cruickshank of The Window Cleaning Experts Inc. in Tarpon Springs recommend a home's windows be cleaned by a professional at least once a year. "Once a year, you've got to get the pollen off," Maron said. "We've got saltwater, especially waterfront homes, and the debris on the glass can etch into it. It takes the top layer off it and makes it look foggy after a while. If you don't get it off consistently, it'll wreck the glass."

Professionals should do more than just clean the glass. The frame, seals and tracks should be cleaned as well. "We do a thorough cleaning of the glass and frames around the glass, which involves opening windows, cleaning out the track area as well as the seals," Cruikshank said. "We go up on ladders to get hard-to-reach windows. Most people that aren't used to that wouldn't be able to do it. Once we do it, it's done right and you don't have to worry about it."

Cruikshank and Maron both prefer a squeegee and dish soap and water to paper towels and window cleaner. "We don't use any harsh chemicals," Cruikshank said. "We use squeegees to (clean) the glass and a dry cloth to buff out the glass so it shines."

Window cleaners typically charge by the number of windows, the time estimated to do the job and the complexity of the job. You can save money by cleaning the lower-level windows yourself and leaving the hard-to-reach windows to a professional. If you clean your windows yourself, do it during a cool, cloudier time of day. The hot sun dries windows faster, which can lead to streaking.

"We're pretty creative with getting up to those hard-to-reach places," Maron said. "We can get to a place that in certain homes you could never get to. Florida has a lot of tricky windows between pool cages, tall houses, and waterfronts."

If you hire a professional, first research the company's history. Ask for references, proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation. "There are a lot of uninsured people doing work out there that maybe can do it for less money, but if they get hurt or break something, the homeowner is ultimately responsible for it," Maron said.

Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie's List.

Four elements of an effective fall protection program: Earlier this year, the Ontario Ministry of Labour completed a 90-day provincial compliance and enforcement campaign to ensure employers and workers were complying with the regulations laid out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The goal of the campaign, part of the Safe at Work Ontario strategy to strengthen workplace safety, was to promote long-term compliance and decrease injury and fatality rates. The focus of the campaign was fall-related hazards at provincially-regulated construction sites, diving operations and window cleaning activities. Ministry inspectors visited sites to assess whether workplace parties were complying with regulations, adequate measures and procedures for the safe use of equipment were in place, and workers using fall protection systems were adequately trained.

The results of the blitz underscore the need for more awareness and training surrounding fall protection in the construction industry. Of the 7,313 total field visits conducted, 3,912 were at construction sites where fall hazards were identified. Inspectors visited 2,821 different construction projects during the campaign. A total of 784 stop-work orders, 3,421 orders and 121 summonses were issued for fall-related hazards. More than half of the orders issued were for violations related to missing or improper use or maintenance of guardrails, non-suspended scaffolds and fall protection systems. All sectors of the construction industry were issued orders during the campaign, including industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI); building construction; single-family housing; and apartment and multi-family housing.

In the preliminary report issued in May, the ministry concluded that the results of the campaign indicate several issues. First, the fact that 80 percent of the summonses were issued to supervisors indicates that there is a lack of adequate supervision on construction projects. Second, the type of violations observed indicates that work measures and procedures needed to keep workers safe were not in place. Third, a comprehensive look at the data suggests that workers and supervisors are not aware or adequately trained in fall-related hazards and general safe work measures and procedures.

Each of these issues can be remedied with a comprehensive fall protection program. The program is a combination of a written plan that defines the company’s policy, assigns responsibilities and lays out how fall hazards will be addressed, and the company’s implementation of the plan, including ongoing employee education and training.

Analysis. A key step in the development of the plan is a fall hazard analysis. This survey analyzes each fall hazard that will be encountered on a job site, how the hazard will be controlled, and the type of fall protection and rescue equipment to be used when an employee is exposed to the hazard.

Fall hazards can be controlled in a number of ways, with preference given to engineering out the hazard or changing work procedures so that employees are not exposed to the hazard. In the construction industry, these methods are usually not possible, so the next step is to implement passive fall protection systems such as guardrails and covers. Where this is not possible, a fall restraint system should be considered. A fall restraint system prevents a worker’s center of gravity from reaching the fall hazard. A fall arrest system should be implemented if none of the above methods are suitable. A fall arrest system is designed to stop a fall in progress.

Rescue Plan. For every fall hazard that is controlled, a rescue plan must be in place. This will address the procedure and equipment to be used to rescue a fallen worker, and must be specific to each hazard identified in the fall hazard analysis.

The fall protection plan should account for and delegate responsibilities for equipment inspection, record keeping, maintenance, equipment replacement, incident reporting, enforcement, accident investigation and training.

Training. The OHSA requires workers to be adequately trained in the proper use of fall protection equipment. To maximize comprehension, training should be conducted through a combination of classroom and hands-on work.

Employees should be taught how to recognize and control fall hazards and how to use written fall protection procedures. They should have an understanding of federal and provincial fall protection regulations, employee roles and responsibilities under these regulations and the company’s program, and post-fall rescue procedures. Practical instruction should include how to select, inspect, use, store and maintain fall protection and rescue equipment.

Worker training must be documented, and these records must be kept and made available to Ministry of Labour inspectors upon request.

Training should not be the last time employees are reminded of the importance of fall protection equipment. Constant reminders during toolbox talks as well as regular refresher training are keys to maintaining a high degree of safety consciousness among employees. Refresher training should be conducted at least every two years, but should be done more frequently if work procedures change or new fall protection or rescue equipment is implemented.

Non-compliance policy. If compliance continues to be a problem, consider implementing a policy that punishes non-compliance. This policy could range from no-tolerance to a tiered policy with varying consequences after each offense. Consequences from non-compliance could include dismissal from the job, sending the employee home without pay, asking the employee to pay a fine, or something a bit more creative. Make sure any policy is well-defined, consistently enforced and in line with provincial labour laws.

Developing a fall protection program and ensuring that workers are appropriately trained are the first steps in combating compliance problems in the construction industry. Ontario is also implementing several measures to improve safety on construction sites. These measures include strict enforcement targeting repeat offenders and shutting down construction projects when workers’ lives are in danger, increased focus on training and supervision during inspections, a public campaign to increase awareness of safety in different languages, and a telephone line for workers and the general public to report suspected unsafe work practices.

Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca states: “We cannot and will not stand by as worker safety is compromised. This is a shared responsibility, so I challenge employers, labour groups and workers to make sure that everyone returns home safe and sound after work.” Fonseca is right. There’s no better incentive to stay safe than the privilege of returning home to your family at the end of the day.

Window Cleaning News & Video

Angie Hicks, of consumer group Angie’s List, says “What many people don't realize is getting streak-free window is sometimes harder than it looks. Also, window cleaning can be rather dangerous. It's similar to gutter cleaning - if you don't have the right equipment, if you don't have a high enough ladder. We hear way too often of people falling off of ladders and having to head to the ER. So, if you don't have the equipment, hiring someone to have it done may be the best option.” Angie’s List provides these window Cleaning Tips:

· Most homes should get a thorough window cleaning twice a year – ideally in the spring and fall.
· A thorough cleaning can help remove caked on dirt, dried paint, adhesives and calcified water spots, as well as muck from the frames, which can cause windows to stick if allowed to build up.
· The type of cleaning solution and equipment you need varies according to the type of windows you have. With dozens of types of glass, windows often require special cleaning agents and using the wrong one could be ineffective or cause damage. For example, double glass windows are held together with a vacuum that could be compromised if the rubber trim that seals it is damaged by the wrong type of cleaner. If the seal breaks, moisture and dusts can get in the window, making it impossible to get clean.
· Most glass can be cleaned with soap, water and a squeegee. However, some situations will call for specialized cleaning solutions.
· Large panes are best cleaned with a squeegee and a window cleaning detergent solution and finished with detailing cloth to eliminate streaks. Small panes and leaded or stained glass are best cleaned with plain water and specialized window cleaning cloths.
· Minimize the need for extra cleaning by not taping or sticking anything to your windows you don't want to leave there permanently. If you're painting, protect your windows from drips or splatters.
· Window cleaners have the right equipment to take off glue, paint, and other debris that can settle on glass. If you have tinted windows, it takes extra care to clean them. The cleaning of windows also includes the screens and wiping clean the sills.
· If you hire a pro, make sure the company is insured. Because a lot of window washing involves ladders, safety harnesses and scaffolding, precautions are essential to ensure everyone's protection. A lot of damage can be done to glass by someone is who not qualified. You need someone who not only knows how to clean glass, but knows glass and how to maintain in properly.
· Window cleaning prices vary and are often based on the number and size of windows, the time estimated to do the job and the complexity of the job. You could save a few bucks by cleaning the first floor windows yourself, and leaving the second floor, more difficult to reach windows, to a pro. If you clean the windows yourself, do it during a cool, cloudier time of day. The hot sun dries windows faster, which can lead to streaking.

Window Genie® Comes Out of the Bottle to Help Grant Wishes: Window Genie® will raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating $5.00 for every new customer from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. Existing customers will also have the opportunity to support the charity by making donations through their local Window Genie® franchise.
Richard Nonelle, President of Window Genie®, commented on the company's decision to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, saying, "As a system, we felt strongly about giving back to our local communities and we wanted to do this with an organization that we were passionate about, as well as one that operated with the highest level of integrity." The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. Window Genie® is proud to play a role in bringing joy to children when they need it most.
David Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, is also enthusiastic about the new sponsorship. "Our relationship with Window Genie® does even more than raise resources to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions," he said. "It also shows that our mission resonates with people, and that Window Genie® trusts our ability to turn its generosity into meaningful Make-A-Wish experiences for the children we serve."
Franchise owners throughout the country are geared up to promote the new sponsorship and raise money with each new customer during the upcoming year. Master Franchise owner for the State of Florida, Magnus Sublett commented, "Window Genie® has always been about delivering the best in service, so to be aligned with one of the very best charities and to give back to children in our local community is a great opportunity and privilege."

A Scarborough window cleaner has been cleared of attacking his former lover's neighbour with an axe. At the end of his trial at York Crown Court, Shaun Chapman, 41, was also cleared of causing an affray in the street. Mr Chapman, a recovering heroin addict of Westway, Eastfield, had had a two-month affair with Mary Ireland and, following a series of texts between her and his long-time partner, drove to her home to try and "sort things out". He was then said to have caused a scene, made threatening gestures towards Miss Ireland with an axe and then attacked her neighbour, Richard Gilliam, with the weapon as he wheeled a child along Hertford Close, Eastfield, in a pushchair.
However, a jury cleared Mr Chapman of charges of affray and assault by beating - a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon (the axe) was abandoned on the direction of Judge Shaun Spencer QC before the jury retired to consider their verdicts. Miss Ireland claimed that on August 19 last year, she spotted her former lover in his van outside her house and that, as her made gestures of drawing an axe across his throat and pointing at her, she dialled 999.
David Garnett, prosecuting, then alleged that Mr Chapman had driven his van towards Mr Gwilliam, and attacked him with the axe, causing a minor cut to his leg. Mr Chapman said that the stress of his partner's heart problems and post-natal depression had led to him starting his affair with Miss Ireland, claiming that his mistress had been pestering him to marry her. He added that, after he finished the relationship, Miss Ireland had concocted the assault claims with her neighbour to get back at him.
The window cleaner told the jury that he did not own an axe, and no such weapon was found by the police. He said that, apart from getting out his van to knock at Miss Ireland's door, pulling up two sunflower plants from her garden in anger when she did not answer and shouting from his van, he had left without seeing Mr Gwilliam or anyone else in the street.
Following the verdict, Mr Chapman said that he had been put through "hell" because of the allegations, losing his window cleaning round and having his driving licence taken away because of the claims that he had driven his van towards Mr Gwilliam. He said: "I know I made some mistakes, but I ended the affair after talking matters over with my partner and returning home to her and my two kids." He added: "I just wanted to forget about the whole thing and for people not to believe what was being said about me".

Window cleaner dodges prison after knocking out wife's tooth in fight: A 41 year old man who knocked out his wife's tooth during a fight has avoided jail. Kevin Woolridge struck out at his wife Clare at their home in Queen Street, Cheadle, on the evening of December 17 last year, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday. His hand struck a bottle she was holding and it knocked out a tooth. Woolridge told police he thought his wife was going to hit him with the bottle and struck out to defend himself. The defendant, now of Glebe Road, Kingsley, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Paul Cliff, mitigating, said it was a reckless assault rather than intentional. He said there was no history of domestic abuse and added that Woolridge, a window cleaner, has now separated from his wife. Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Woolridge to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months' supervision and he must attend a domestic abuse programme. He also has to complete 180 hours' unpaid work, pay his victim £1,500 compensation and £1,000 prosecution costs. "Domestic violence is despicable," said Judge Glenn. "It was, however, a single blow and your victim does not suggest you were violent on other occasions."

Charles Edwards considers himself lucky. "Most people I know have been laid off," he said. But Edwards has, somehow, made it through mostly unscathed. The 46-year-old Venice resident's business, Fish Window Cleaning, is still getting calls, which means Edwards rises early and works until 6 p.m. seven days a week. It's a good life, he said, but Edwards knows his is a rare story in his neighborhood. The way he sees it, the area needs more businesses, more warehouses, more people working good jobs. Someone needs to speak up, Edwards said. "I believe the government needs to step in," he said.

Pensioner angry as council binmen only remove bins twice in 9 months: Disabled pensioner John Wootton says he is "disgusted" that a council emptied his bin just twice in nine months. The 67-year-old had a brown bin for garden waste delivered to his Penkhull bungalow in November. Stoke-on-Trent City Council bin men are supposed to collect it from his property and empty it for him. But Mr Wootton says, despite repeated calls to the authority, his bin has only been collected twice since. The retired self-employed window cleaner, below, of Lion Court, said: "It's ridiculous. They are supposed to fetch the bins because we are on an assisted list as we are disabled but they just don't bother. "I'm sick of ringing the council about it. They make promises every time I call them but nothing gets done. I'm disgusted with them." Mr Wootton, who has Alzheimer's and dementia as well as other health problems, has assisted collections for his other two bins. But he says these are emptied without any problems. All three bins are kept at the back of his home. Mr Wootton added: "They come up the path to fetch our other bins, empty them and bring them back. I can't see why they can't do it with the brown one.

Skyscraper forced to replace faulty glass: The developer of the Mantra Pandanas building in Darwin's CBD says every glass panel on the building's balconies will be replaced because of a manufacturing fault. It is believed three glass panels have shattered since they were installed in 2008, including one last week that sent glass showering onto a car parked below. The building's developer, Gwelo, says investigations have revealed that the glass may have been weakened due to a fault in the manufacturing process. The glass panels are manufactured interstate and overseas. Gwelo's Bernie O'Connell says awnings will be installed by Monday to protect pedestrians and cars on the Litchfield Street side of the building. He says the replacement of all glass panels should start in a month and the cost will by covered by the manufacturer. The new panels will include an extra strengthening treatment known as "heat soaking".

Part of Lambton Quay - one of Wellington's busiest streets - has been cordoned off after glass began falling from the 20th storey of a high-rise building. Emergency services were called to 280 Lambton Quay about 2pm after reports of falling glass. The glass was believed to have come from a window dislodged in the wind, central fire communications spokesman David Meikle said. Police cordoned off the area near Panama St and firefighters were working with contractors to secure the window, he said. There were no reported injuries.

ASK THE EXPERTS: Clear rules on accounts - J.M. writes: I work as a window cleaner and I was thinking about hiring an accountant to help with my tax returns. Can I reclaim the cost of the accountant's services as a business expense too?
P.H. replies: For tax purposes, you can claim all costs that you have spent wholly and exclusively earning your business profit. So fees paid for someone to prepare your business accounts qualify as a business expense but any element that relates to your tax return should not. However, for simplicity, Revenue & Customs will usually allow the whole amount you pay to an accountant, provided that excessive personal costs - for example advice on inheritance tax - are excluded.

Benjamin Jose Sanchez, age (51), beloved son, father, brother, and uncle, was called home to be with his Savior Jesus on, July 6, 2010. Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1979 and served on the USS Truxton CGN-35 in Engineering Maintenance. He received an honorable discharge in June 1983. Mr. Sanchez received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kennedy-Western University while working at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oakridge National Laboratory. Ben and Bernadette owned and operated the Sierra Vista Window Cleaning.

Act now to gain tax credit - it may be the last time: Time is running out for thousands of families who have yet to renew their annual claim for tax credits. The end of the month is the deadline for claiming child tax credit and working tax credit for this tax year. It will be the last chance for some claimants to obtain the benefits, as changes announced in last month's Budget mean many middle-earners will no longer qualify for help from next April. Currently, 6.3million families qualify for tax credits. The average payment was worth £78 per week in the last tax year.
Kirsty Webb renewed her tax credits over the phone last week. The 35-year-old nurse and her husband James, 32, who is a window cleaner, receive almost £240 a week. This includes money towards childcare costs. The couple have a son Braydon, 2, and care for three children from Kirsty's previous marriage - Chantise, Keely and Keanan Phillips, aged 16, 13 and 10. Kirsty, from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, says: 'Even with both of us working, it would be a huge struggle to cope without the tax credits. Three days of childcare a week for Braydon costs £390 a month alone, almost as much as the mortgage.'

Two window cleaners in Auckland, New Zealand...



A spate of burglaries in Sutton is being attributed to the warmer weather as residents leave windows open to cool down. At least four separate burglaries occurred over the weekend with thieves climbing in through open and unlocked windows. Overnight on Friday July 9, £5,500 cash and jewellery was stolen from a property in Constance Road after a bedroom window was left open. The householder believes the suspect may have posed as a window cleaner.

Police in Fife are warning residents to be alert to bogus callers in the area, following a string of suspicious house calls in recent weeks. PC Paul Buttercase, community safety officer for North East Fife, said elderly householders are the most vulnerable targets for the criminals who have been encouraging unnecessary gardening work. The ‘workmen’ have been turning up at doors and charging excessive amounts of cash for materials requested ahead of the work, but then it is never carried out. PC Buttercase said: “Bogus caller crime occurs all year round but can be more prevelant during the spring, summer and autumn months.
“The persons involved in this type of crime are callous criminals who often target elderly and vulnerable members of our community. “This type of incident does not just involve gardening work but can include persons claiming to be collecting window-cleaning money, distraction type thefts involving persons pretending to be working for utility companies and persons offering to do or suggesting building work.” PC Buttercase advised residents to use spy holes and chains on doors, and to check people’s identities before opening the door properly.

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Beach lifeguards and county pools survived the budget cutting axe on Monday, but firefighters and the Sheriff's Office could face more cutbacks to head off Palm Beach County's $100 million shortfall. County commissioners decided to avoid some unpopular budget cuts to the Parks and Recreation Department and instead identified more than $4 million in other potential spending cuts that ranged from window washing to new street lights.

Budget-cutters tread water: Finally on Monday, commissioners hit on a couple of cuts that had no obvious constituency. Eliminating a street lighting program would save $150,000 a year. And there also was $51,000 for window washing, even though it would result "in 'dirty' windows for a longer period of time." Just $11.8 million to go - to trim a dime off the tax rate. The only protests commissioners won't respond to are the ones from people who won't settle for budget cuts that amount to nothing more than nickel-and -diming. These taxpayers want $50 million in cuts to keep the tax rate where it is today, dirty windows or not. What happens when they show up? They make no headway. The decisions already have been made.

BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando County Commission got a balanced budget on Tuesday as required by law, but few of the critical questions — including what will be cut and where new revenue will come from — were answered. In order to balance the $311 million proposed budget, county staff included a 6 percent increase in the property tax rate, an idea two commissioners immediately indicated they didn't want to support. Two others said any increase would be a last resort. Stabins had sent a general e-mail to county employees late last month seeking their ideas and he got an overwhelming response. The suggestions ranged from having county employees mix their own window-washing solution using ammonia to firing County Administrator David Hamilton.

Remember the tiger in your tank? Tiremaker BFGoodrich wants to put a tree frog on your wheels, not to mention a cheetah and probably a few other animals. The company's first national advertising campaign since 2008 uses animal attributes as metaphors for how its tires grip the bitumen, accelerate and resist the slings and arrows of outrageous throughways. The launch spot, breaking the evening of July 14, starts with a professional window cleaner trying desperately to reach bird poop some feet away from his aerie on the outside of a glass-sided office tower. Two dweebs look up from discussing paperwork to watch in amazement as we hear the sound of an air wrench. The window cleaner has bolted on an immense tree frog's foot, which he slaps to the glass, and easily pulls himself over to squeegee the poop. Cut to the same air-wrench sound as a mechanic tightens the bolts on a wheel with new BFGoodrich tires.