Confessions Of Australian Window Cleaners

'Ryan, do you do any services other than window cleaning?'

Confessions of a window cleaner - you don't need to make it up - "You could virtually make it up and it would all be true." Those are the words of Geoff Thorn, President of the Australian Window Cleaning Federation. You name it, it seems window cleaners have seen it and for good reason it is a trade that has earned the reputation for more than its share of 'wink, wink, know what I mean' humour.

It's fertile territory that provided ample material for the 1970's film 'Confessions of a Window Cleaner', arguably described as a 'classic sex comedy'. Even earlier in the 1930s ukulele-playing George Formby put the industry on the map with the song 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'.

The lyrics in one version included the lines: 'Now lots of girls I've had to jilt, For they admire the way I'm built, It's a good job I don't wear a kilt, When I'm cleaning windows!" No wonder the BBC banned it from the nation's airwaves with director John Reith dismissing it as a 'disgusting little ditty'. But is the reputation still justified? Definitely if Ryan of Ryan's Window Cleaning is anything to go by. It is relevant to know he is 32 and single. 

"Recently I was working a big home up in Vaucluse," he said. "It was one of those warm days the week before last. I was dripping in sweat. When it was time to pay the lady came over to me. All she could do was look at my chest," he said. "She said would you like to go for a swim in the pool? I thought why is this woman flirting with me? I had met her husband. I said I needed to get home. She said: 'No, no, go for a swim.' I went for a quick dip and I noticed she kept looking out through the lounge windows."

Another time, Ryan recalled, he was in a house near Parramatta on the water and the woman was there by herself. I'd been there for an hour or two and I was doing the inside of the windows in her bedroom. She came in and sat down on the bed and said: 'Ryan, do you do any services other than window cleaning?' I said: "I can help you with your gutters. I can help you with your palm trees." She must have thought I was stupid and didn't know what was going on. She just laughed it off."

He says there were similar incidents with ladies in Lane Cove, Terrey Hills and Bondi where a woman told him she had to have a shower before going to the gym. "She said: 'Can you get started on this window on the outside?' I said: 'Sure, no problems.' That's the exact same place she came in and took all her clothes off and started having a shower. I thought she's just trying to drive me up the wall here."

Not all the stories are salacious. Mirko of Sunstruck Window Cleaning said he was cleaning large panels of glass at an office on the North Shore which hadn't been cleaned for a long time. "When I had almost finished one of the employees walked into the glass thinking there was nothing there and broke his nose. It was funny and horrific at the same time. He was so embarrassed. I said to him: 'That's the best compliment you can give me'."

Mr Thorn,  who has 30 years in the industry said all the stories were likely to be true but said the more serious issue was cleaners setting up without insurance. "A ladder can blow over and hit a child and there's just no insurance. I know of itinerant people who start window cleaning businesses because they want to make a dollar fast. They have no insurance so if something goes wrong they just walk away. You really need to make sure all tradesmen are insured."

Own Goal For Fraudulent Window Cleaner

Own goal: Footballer Gary Burnett claimed he had whiplash but was caught offside by his Tweet.

Footballer scores own goal after tweeting about match 24 hours after making bogus whiplash claim: A semi-professional footballer’s bogus claim for a whiplash injury after a crash at a McDonald’s drive-through was exposed when he tweeted about playing football 24 hours later. Gary Burnett tried to pocket £2,000 for the smash which he claimed left him with shoulder and neck injuries in October 2013.

But the 24-year-old then took to Twitter to update his followers about his side Northwich Victoria’s progress. One day after the accident in Birkenhead, Merseyside, Burnett wrote on Twitter: “Nice little trek to Kendal later for footy” - referring to an away match in the Lake District town. Three weeks later he was on Twitter again bragging about knocking higher ranked team Nantwich Town out of the FA Trophy with a second-half goal.

Investigators from insurance company Aviva tracked his messages and this week won a legal battle to make Burnett pay their court costs. The player, now representing Curzon Ashton FC in the National League North, was ordered by a judge to stump up £11,000.

The part-time window cleaner, of Lowton, Grt Manchester, had claimed the injury left him out of action for four weeks. Burnett’s claim was described as ‘fundamentally dishonest’ by a judge at Wigan County Court who accepted the footballer had misled his solicitors, his medical expert and the insurance company.

Dave Lovely, Aviva claims director, said: “This case highlights how a minor claim can be seen as an open-goal for fraudsters. “However, we are determined to tackle these fraudulent claimants and stop them scoring against us and our customers. “It shows that we will pursue and prosecute those who commit fraud, while taking care of genuine claimants.”

Jared Mallinson, partner at Horwich Farrelly solicitors, representing the insurers, added: “The hapless footballer clearly couldn’t resist boasting about his performance on social media despite claiming to have been unable to play. “The court’s decision to find him fundamentally dishonest is a red card to any would-be fraudster that they will be caught.”

Premiums & Health For U.S. Window Cleaners

Tom Beckfeld, a self-employed snowplower and window cleaner, poses outside his home in Big Lake, Minn. Beckfeld acknowledged he's worried about getting a big rate increase notice from PreferredOne but added he has saved so much money thanks to the Affordable Care Act's ban on excluding patients with preexisting conditions that he'll be better off no matter what.

Renewal costs may surprise MNsure customers (Minneapolis): Minnesotans who bought policies on the state's health insurance exchange are starting to get their first renewal notices, and many could be in for a jolt. Premiums for most of the more than 55,000 individuals signed up for private insurance plans via MNsure are going up. For the nearly 33,000 who have coverage from PreferredOne, most who want to keep those policies next year will have to pay over 60 percent more, according to officials with the Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters who've seen the company's rate data.

Tom Beckfeld, a self-employed snowplower and window cleaner from Big Lake, acknowledged he's worried about getting a big rate increase notice from PreferredOne. But he said he has saved so much money thanks to the Affordable Care Act's ban on excluding patients with preexisting conditions that he'll still be better off. Beckfeld, 56, has diabetes and high blood pressure. The only insurance he could get before MNsure cost about $750 a month. PreferredOne charges him $421 a month and covers much more, including drugs. He put the savings at about $12,000 this year.

"Even if PreferredOne doubled its rates and came more in line with Blue Cross and everybody else, I'm still looking at saving thousands of dollars a year," he said.

Most people who bought PreferredOne policies via MNsure are expected to switch to other carriers because PreferredOne —which grabbed the largest market share by offering the lowest rates — is pulling out of the exchange. Consumers who qualify for tax credits definitely will have to choose other carriers because subsidies are available only through MNsure.

Tom Beckfeld, a self-employed snowplower and window cleaner, poses outside his home in Big Lake, Minn. Beckfeld acknowledged he's worried about getting a big rate increase notice from PreferredOne but added he has saved so much money thanks to the Affordable Care Act's ban on excluding patients with preexisting conditions that he'll be better off no matter what.

Premiums for three of the four carriers sticking with MNsure will also rise, the plans have confirmed. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, which was No. 2 with 22 percent of the signups this year, will raise its premiums an average of 17.2 percent. HealthPartners's rate increases average 8.1 percent, while Medica's will rise just 1.8 percent. However, UCare's average premiums will fall 9.1 percent.

State officials say MNsure will still offer some of the lowest premiums in the country. Blue Cross and HealthPartners recently started sending out renewal notices. Medica and UCare officials said theirs won't go out until early November, just ahead of open enrollment, which begins Nov. 15. A PreferredOne spokesman did not respond to requests for comment on its rates and renewal plans.

Heidi Michaels, an insurance broker with Dyste Williams in St. Louis Park, said she's already helping clients sort out their options. For example, she has an Eden Prairie family of four with a PreferredOne plan with a $710 premium and a $4,000 deductible. The closest 2015 PreferredOne plan they could choose would cost 42 percent more with a $7,700 deductible, and their clinic isn't in that network. They could also choose a Blue Cross plan that includes their clinic and cuts their deductible to $2,000, but the premium is 37 percent higher and office visits are limited to two. "So they're left with not-great choices, but regardless of their choice they're going to have an increase," said Michaels, president-elect of the underwriters group.

HealthPartners has already sent "pre-renewal" letters to help its members prepare, said Executive Vice President Andrea Walsh.

Anthony Schmitz, a custom kayak builder and writer from St. Paul, indicated that he'd be glad to get a renewal notice, whatever it says about a premium increase — at least it would be evidence that he's insured. Like many Minnesotans, Schmitz had difficulty enrolling due to technical problems with the MNsure website. He said he's paid his premiums regularly, but got a cancellation notice from Blue Cross in July and has been struggling to straighten things out. "I believe as of yesterday I have insurance again, but who knows?" Schmitz said.

Signing up was also a "long ordeal" for pastor David Berge. But the 32-year-old, his wife, and two sons ultimately got Medica and UCare plans through the public Medical Assistance program for lower-income people, which comes without any premium. And a note in his mail recently was welcome. "We got a letter saying we were automatically re-enrolled, so we don't have to do anything, which is definitely good news," Berge said.

“I ran into trouble with marathons,” said Herzog, who is a professional high-rise window cleaner. “Marathons were not the best distance for me.”

Bill Herzog – Running Is All About Getting Fit And Giving Back: Bill Herzog had a unique incentive for tying up his brand new running shoes and going for his first jog nine years ago. The nudge to get out the door and down the street was his wife, Tammy. His incentive was a kiss. “My wife got into running before me,” Herzog said. “It gave me an incentive. If I couldn’t run as fast as my wife, I was never going to get a kiss.”

So began Herzog’s unlikely journey in running that has led him to 5K road races, to half marathons, marathons, triathlons and (gasp) to being the president of Club Oly Road Runners in 2009 and is now race director for the club. His chase for kisses led him to a community embrace. “It’s all about giving back,” the 48-year-old Herzog said.

And it’s about getting people to get out and run, to pursue fitness and good health. In hopes of being a nudge for others to take that step and get involved in running, Herzog is helping to organize the annual Turn Back The Clock run, which will be held Nov. 2 at Rainier Vista Community Park in Lacey. Since it’s on Daylight Savings, the day we turn back the clock and get an extra hour that day, Herzog is encouraging people to take part in a “healthy, enjoyable and well-organized event.” Runners can choose to do a 5K, 10K or, for the first time, a half marathon that day.

Growing up in southern California, Herzog was never much of a runner. His sport of choice was rock climbing and surfing. Tammy, looking for a way to get into better shape so she wouldn’t be panting as she taught her self-defense classes, helped change that. Unexpectedly, Herzog’s running fetish turned him a marathon man. But after running five of them, he made an important discovery. “I ran into trouble with marathons,” said Herzog, who is a professional high-rise window cleaner. “Marathons were not the best distance for me.”

After running over 200 miles in preparation for the marathon and then running the marathon – his best time was 4 hours and 6 minutes – his legs would tighten up about a month after the event. That nudged Herzog to triathlons. “I think by mixing it up and doing different activities and not just running was better for me,” Herzog said. “Some runners can tolerate a lot of running. Others can’t. I break. If I just run and do nothing but running, I have injury problems.”

Just under 5’11″ and weighing 200 pounds, Herzog doesn’t have the lean body of a long-distance runner. But by mix in running with swimming and biking, Herzog can go on and on. He’s done about 50 triathlons, including the Leadman Triathlon, which is a longer version of the Iron Man.  It’s held every September in Bend, Ore., and the swim portion of the race is 3.1 miles, the bike portion is 138 miles and the run is 14 miles. This year, Herzog did the shorter version. “Doing the swimming, biking, and running has been best for me,” Herzog said.

Interestingly, while Herzog has found his niche in triathlons, he’s not content with it just being about his accomplishments. Instead, he gets involved, volunteering. “I think it’s important to give back,” Herzog said. “I think it’s really important not to be so self-focused.”

Over the years, Herzog has been involved with non-profits. He moved here to Washington from California nearly 20 years ago and helped plant a couple of churches. So, when Herzog got involved with running and joined the Club Oly Road Runners, he saw it as his responsibility to raise his hand and volunteer to help. “People had helped me, nurtured me. And given me help,” Herzog said.

Andy Fritz, Miguel Galena and Rich Brown befriended Herzog and helped him learn more about running and training. Brown, the Tumwater High School cross-country coach, is now coaching Herzog’s daughter. “There were things that needed to be done. Someone needed to put a hand up, a hand in and help out,” Herzog said about his commitment to volunteering. “I just started helping. That’s the other thing that the club is all about – giving back and helping others. It’s always been about volunteering.”

Herzog, with his passion for triathlons, was a catalyst in bringing the Black Hills Triathlon back. He’s on the committee for that event that’s held every year at Long Lake Park.

In addition to encouraging others to start running, Herzog and the running club he’s part of also helps by donating money to organizations and individuals. They help Crime Stoppers put on its annual run, the Reindeer Run. They’ve also helped the Olympia Education Foundation with a number of races. Their upcoming race – Turn Back The Clock – is a fund raiser for local high school cross country programs. “We’re all about helping the running community,” Herzog said. On occasion, they’ve also helped individual families. They donated about $600 to a club member’s family when her husband went through cancer treatment. “We try to help where we can,” Herzog said.

Whats New & On Offer In The Window Cleaning World?

Plus much, much more - click the picture to take you there!

WCRA Payroll - Only $39.95 per month for 1-10 employees • Pricing includes • Unlimited payroll processing per month, even daily! • Direct Deposit or Self-Print Checks • Tax Pay and Tax Filing for Federal, State, and Local Taxes • Accounting Software Integration for QuickBooks and many more! • Self-Service HR Tools and Compliance Posters • Online reports, new hire reporting and account set-up • NO HIDDEN FEES • FULL Support by Paychex Employees • Annual fee is $40 per company and $4.25 per W2 or 1099

New Insurance Benefit - WCRA members we have a big surprise for you! We are super excited to annouce a partnership with Joseph D. Walters insurance agency! This top of the industry insurance company is willing to offer all WCRA members an exclusive discount on insurance. So what kind of a discount are we talking? We are glad you asked!
  
WCRA members will now get a 25% discount on their premiums. All members will get the first $2000 of equipment coverage included at no charge. Members will also get an additional 10% off if they pay their premium in one payment. Members will have access to an exclusive “All About Insurance” subforum.  This will be the place to get answers to questions about general liability, workman’s comp, commercial vehicle as well as homeowners insurance coverages and policies. Wait there's more! There is an additional 5% discount if you get a quote in the next 60 days!  

The WCRA, Window Cleaning Resource Association, offers many postcards to its WCRA Members. They come in 4 x 6 and 8.5 x 11, are completely adjustable, and can be edited to fit your business needs.  They are Photoshop files, ready for you to just plug in your information.  New cards are added on a regular basis to offer all of the members a huge selection for each season.  Best of all, they are completely free to our WCRA Members.

WCRA and PWRA Members now have the opportunity to apply for a commercial fuel card with a special cost savings rebate! Based on your location and the proximity of the closest station, you will receive an invitation to apply for one of the following brands: Shell Fleet Plus Card, ExxonMobilBusiness Card, Sunoco® Corporate Card, the Phillips 66®-Conoco®-76® CommercialCard or the 76® Commercial Card. Each credit card has a rebate offer that helps to save money and provides the tools to manage fuel expenses more effectively. Scheduled mailing will be sent out approximately three times a year to our members inviting them to take advantage of this discount. When you receive an invitation to apply, we hope you will take advantage of this added member benefit so you can experience the benefits, savings and convenience these commercial fuel cards have to offer.

WCRA - PWRA Members At Cost Printing - WCRA and PWRA members are eligible for at cost printing. We charge you what we get charged as a printer. Save up to 25% on normal printing costs. Includes Standard Business Cards 2 x 4

Postcards: 2.75 x 8.5, 3 x 6, 4 x 6, 4 x 9, 4.25 x 5.5, 5 x 7, 5.5 x 8.5, 6.5 x 9, 6.5 x 12, 8 x 6.5, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, 9 x 11, 9 x 12.

4.25 x 11 Door Hangers (1-sided)

4.25 x 11 Door Hangers (2-sided)

8.5 x 11 Flyers (1-sided)

8.5 x 11 Flyers (2-sided)

8.5 x 11 Brochure (Tri Fold)

8.5 x 11 Brochures (Z Fold)

8.5 x 14 Brochures (Tri Fold)

Stock up on window cleaning equipment - WCRA members get an exclusive discount when you order any products from Window Cleaning Resource.com! Once you are a WCRA member you will be able to enjoy a 5% off discount off of everything in the Window Cleaning Resource store. We wanted to say thank you for becoming a WCRA member and we know this discount will come in handy when you are making future purchases. So what exactly do we offer? 

At Window Cleaning Resource we offer window cleaning supplies, tools, equipment, an products at the guaranteed lowest prices. Shop Window Cleaning Resource has carries an enormous selection of many different products including: traditional window cleaning supplies, waterfed poles, water purification system, high-rise gear, soaps, chemicals, extension poles, sponges and brushes. Window Cleaning supplies support is available from 7AM to 8 PM east coast time for your buying convenience. All window cleaning equipment orders received before 2 PM ship the same day. Since you are a WCRA member we have you built into a special tier and your 5% discount is added automatically to each item in the store. Need help? No problem! Call 1-862-266-0677 and talk to a representative or use our live chat feature located at the store! 

The new WCR warehouse is now being fully stocked.

UK Window Cleaners Pay More For Car Insurance

Expect to pay more if you have the word 'car' in your job title.

Your job title could be costing you a fortune in car insurance (By Ben Griffin) - We've always known a person's job title can affect the price of their car insurance premium, but have you stopped to think just how much? Confused.com has, and the results are quite staggering. The insurance comparison firm suggests car salesmen pay more than 13 times than the average fully comprehensive car insurance cost of £736, that figure based on statistics obtained between March 2012 and March 2013.

The average annual premium for a car valeter was an eye-watering £4,817. In fact, and this is somewhat ironic, four of the most expensive average car insurance premiums in Confused.com's list applied to people with the word 'car' in their profession.

Window cleaners were quoted £4,607.12, professional footballers £4,038.10 and car dealers £2,883.85. The survey went on to look at occupations that had the lowest average annual premium. A bursar at a state school pays only £372.46 while a head of personnel and secretary PA only had to shell out £384.50 and £393.30, respectively.

It comes as no surprise to learn a police inspector trained in advanced driving should expect to pay just £402.86, coming fifth place in the lowest average annual premium list, while a principal officer of civil services pays £396.30.

Insurance premiums are calculated based on driver statistics and probabilities. Therefore changing your job title (or lying about it) may not result in a favourable outcome ─ and if an insurance company finds you lied, you may void your insurance and not get a payout if you're involved in an accident.

"There are still distinguishing factors that can affect the cost of your car premium," Confused.com head of insurance Gemma Stanbury explained. “These factors include the type of car you drive, the area you live in, your age, your profession and your own driving history.

"However this does not mean that every Bursar, Secretary and Police Inspector will be able to get a cheap deal. Each driver will be quoted on their own data - but your profession can significantly affect your insurance cost," she said.

Top five profeessions quoted the highest comprehensive car insurance premium: Occupation - Average Annual Premium:  

   
1    Car Salesman    9640.33
2    Car Valeter    4817.37
3    Window Cleaner    4607.12
4    Professional Footballer Apprentice    4038.1
5    Car Dealer    2883.85

Top five professions quoted the lowest comprehensive car insurance premium: Occupation -  Average Annual Premium:   

1    Bursar State School    372.46
2    Head of Personnel    384.5
3    Secretary PA    393.3
4    Principal Officer Civil Service    396.3
5    Police Inspector    302.86

Your job could cost you thousands in car insurance: Some professions pay through the nose, but choosing your job title carefully can minimise the premium. Insurance premiums vary by thousands of pounds depending on the driver's profession, according to research published today by Confused.com. The price comparison website has found that its average quote for car salesmen – £9640 – is thirteen times the average cost of £736. Other professions which are hit hard by insurers include car valeters (£4,817), window cleaners (£4,607) and professional football apprentices (£4,038).
 

Gemma Stanbury, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: “Whilst over the last year we have seen a drop in average car insurance prices by 9.8 per cent, there are still distinguishing factors that can affect the cost of your car premium. These factors include the type of car you drive, the area you live in, your age, your profession and your own driving history. Confused.com suggests that whatever a driver's profession, telematics can reduce the premium for careful drivers. It has a smartphone app which uses GPS to measure acceleration and braking and check for speeding. Smooth drivers who stick to the limit pay less than those who drive harshly and speed.
 

Recent research for The Evening Standard by the rival price comparison site, GoCompare.com, has pointed to another solution. Choosing carefully from similar job titles can cut a driver's premium. However, Kelly draws a distinction between choosing a job title with care and being dishonest. He said: "Although giving extra thought to your job title could save you money, it’s important that you are as honest and as accurate as possible in all aspects of your insurance application. "Being dishonest with your title, like saying you’re a civil servant when you’re actually a television presenter, may result in your insurance being invalidated or even cancelled, which will cost you a lot more than what you would save by misleading your insurer.”

What If?

Jeremy Vıne: whose fault is it anyway? Never mind the Olympics, the Brits' national sport should be 'avoiding blame’ - A man nearly died in my garden last week. I wasn’t there at the time, but when I heard what happened it wasn’t just images of ambulances that came to mind; I imagined what the police would have said to me if things had turned out differently…  “So this gentleman – the deceased – did you know him?”  “No. Well, yes. Sort of.” “Were you aware he was planning to erect a ladder on your kitchen roof and climb up to the third floor? Your daughter’s bedroom?”  “No.” “And yet you had paid him to clean that window. So how on earth, may I ask, did you think he was doing it?” And at that point I would have raised my hands in surrender and said: “Fair cop. My window cleaner has died and it’s all my fault.” Thank heavens, he did not die.

But the story was frightening enough. The man’s ladder had been resting on the bitumen surface of the kitchen roof. Heat had loosened the tar and the foot of the ladder suddenly slid from under him. A camera on the back of our house shows the ladder fall first, rapidly followed by the man, who travels at speed through the air, upside-down. Luckily his left leg gets caught around a rung of the ladder, which stops his head striking the concrete. He dangles like a broken puppet. After a while he gets to his feet. So there were no police, no ambulances. But I turned it over in my head. If the poor man had died, I just know I would have been responsible. I would have been responsible because it was my window, my house and my melting roof.

The list of reasons goes on. I once asked a lawyer friend what would happen if, theoretically, I blew up a paper bag and popped it behind the head of a young lady who, unbeknownst to me, had a heart condition and dropped dead. (Naturally, I would never do such a thing.) Unforeseen tragedy? “No, manslaughter,” he told me. The fact that she had a heart condition could not be used in mitigation. “You’re just as much to blame for killing a frail person as a healthy one,” he said. Clearly I would have had no chance with the window cleaner.

But where do you draw the line? A report earlier this year revealed that a nurse who slipped on a piece of potato had claimed nearly £4,000 in compensation from her hospital trust for failing to provide a safe working environment. Another worker had claimed nearly £3,000 for injuring their shoulder while throwing litter into a bin. And what about the extraordinary chain of events that took place in Augusta, Maine, a few years ago?

A woman drove her husband to the office. In addition to a goodbye kiss, she thought she’d brighten his day by flashing her breasts. Unfortunately, a passing taxi driver, Jim Vegas, glanced over. He saw the breasts and lost control at the wheel. The cab hit the Johnson Medical Building. On the first floor a dental technician was cleaning a patient’s teeth. The impact jolted her hand, she cut the patient’s gum and, in shock, he clamped his jaw shut and severed two of her fingers. Now who was responsible for that? The woman who flashed? The taxi driver?

After the 2010 election people congratulated me for “bringing down Gordon Brown” after I interviewed him about the “bigoted” pensioner Gillian Duffy on my radio show. But I don’t take any responsibility for his downfall because it was just chance that the former PM happened to insult Ms Duffy on the same day he was due to see me. The interview was simply the culmination of a series of events. The trouble is, no one likes to use the word “accident” now. As a result the avoidance of blame is a national sport. When I caught my five year-old eating chocolate from a cake I was baking after I had told her to stop, she came out with the classic line: “I’m sorry, dad, but it fell on me.”

Which is why I’m certain that, if my window cleaner had died, the police would have called, and even though I’d never met him or told him where to put his ladder, it would have been all my fault.

Guide to Home Insurance (UK) Public liability cover. Remember that you are liable for accidents to individuals working at your property and damage caused to other people’s property. For instance, if your window cleaner falls off his ladder and dies, you will need ‘public liability’ cover to cover you if you are sued. Most buildings insurance policies automatically incorporate public liability cover, but always check.

Contractor Liability (US): Are You Covered for Mishaps on Your Property? What happens if, despite all precautions, there’s an accident involving your contractor that leads to a liability issue? Who’s responsible—and who pays? Step 1: Check the personal liability section of your home owners policy. What’s typically covered: Negligence—a contractor slips on an ice walkway. Check your policy and state rules for specifics, notes Chicago-based attorney Steven J. Thayer. What’s not: Major injuries—limits are usually fairly low. Don’t trust your home owners or umbrella policies to protect you if a builder’s employee sustains major injuries. 
Also, accidents due to your gross negligence. For example, if you knew your roof was damaged and unlikely to handle the weight of a ladder and didn’t tell the contractor, a lawyer could argue that was gross negligence. Policies vary widely. Look in the personal liability section of your home owners policy for details, says Jack Smith, a spokesperson for the trade group Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York. The bottom line? Instead of worrying over your insurance, make sure your contractor has his own.

Not all states require this for small contractors, so ask your contractor to provide you with a policy certificate. Accidents involving the contractor’s own equipment, such as falling off a ladder. (Contractors using your ladder could claim it was your faulty equipment, not their clumsiness, leading to an insurance battle and a lawsuit. Don’t provide your contractor with anything more dangerous than a pencil.)

UK's Window Cleaner's Call To Stop The UnInsured Cowboys

Window cleaner's call to stop conmen: A concerned window cleaner is warning householders they could face expensive legal action if they pay uninsured workers to wash their windows. Matthew Softley, (pictured) 39, who trades as the Window Man, says these cleaners can often be much cheaper but can leave residents with extra costs if they cause injury or damage. He wants to set up a scheme where residents can access the names and contact details of legitimate window cleaners.

He said: “If you have got any offers to clean your house for under £10, I would seriously question them and if they cannot give you satisfactory answers or produce any paperwork, avoid them like the plague. “The main thing I have been trying to tell people is with these guys there’s no way on earth they are going to have any form of insurance. “If you have got an uninsured tradesman on your house and they injure a member of the public, the member of the public can sue the householder. “Also, if an uninsured tradesman is on your house and he wants to put in a claim against you because he has injured himself and he isn’t insured, he can sue the householder.”

Mr Softley said people can ask to see an insurance document, which should state that the worker is insured to clean windows, including with the use of a ladder if that person has a ladder. He said residents can call the insurance provider to check it is legitimate and still in date. He said people should be particularly wary of window cleaners who do not have contact details and will only be paid in cash.

Mr Softley, of Abbey Meads, said rogue window cleaners are rife across Swindon, but often target vulnerable and elderly people on council estates. He said: “Some of these guys have got whole areas sewn up and a lot of the people in these areas are just getting ripped off because the quality of the work is disgusting. “A lot of the old dears who are having this work done, you are trying to poach them but they are absolutely terrified of change or confrontation with anyone. I have been window cleaning for about a year and a half and predominantly a lot of it is on the council estates that this is going on.”

Coun Paul Baker (Lab, Penhill) is backing Mr Softley’s plans for the scheme to protect residents. He said: “Then you know you have a recognised and respectable person doing the job and there’s no fear of anybody, especially elderly people, getting ripped off.”

From the Window Mans website (spelling mistakes not corrected) ...

BEAT THE CHEATS

There is a major problem for the hard working decent window cleaner in swindon.  That is the illegal workers/benefit cheats, who have been pleauging the profession for many years.  Some of these people have been getting away with it in the Swindon area for many years.  I know of some people that have been getting away with it for over 10 years.  These people range from the all out benefit cheats, to the bloke who cleans windows on the side and does not pay tax or national insurance.  Some people think this is o.k and harmless and getting one over on the tax office.

The bottom line is it's a crime and taking away work from hard working decent window cleaners.  In my view it's just the same as supporting the local drug dealer.  Just because someone is nice and regular does not mean they are not braking the law.  These people really could ruin your life, and put you through a lot of pain and stress with lengthy court cases.

The quality of the work by these people is disgusting and all they think about is getting off the property as fast as possible.  I have picked up customers in many areas who have stated they have a window cleaner who charges them £6 (this for a £12 house) the frames, sills and doors are dirty and in some cases black or even green. 

I have come across two people working together around swindon who offer to clean houses for £6. To make that pay after tax and everything else they would have to be cleaning over 44 houses a day.  There is no way any two people could do that even if they were ripping people off and doing a poor job.  If I had someone who worked as fast as me working with me we could do about 25 at a push.  If all the houses were close together and we did not have to travel from area to area going from job to job.  There is not a window cleaner who  has a round and whole are sewn up like that, even if there was they could not do that many houses in a day it's impossible.  So how are these people making a living and and providing a quality service?  They must be topping up there state benefits or not paying tax.
 
The things to look out for with illegal workers are:
The bloke who walks around with his ladder and bucket of dirty water with a couple of dirty rags, who you don't have any contact details for. They come knocking your door or put through a leaflet saying they will clean you windows for below £10 or house with a conservatory for under £20 for a small one.  There is not a window cleaners on this planet using traditional cleaning methods who could make a living cleaning your home for £6 to £10 for a small house unless they are illegal or just rushing their work so fast to make it pay that the quality of the work is very poor.  By this I mean dirty frames, sills and doors.  Everything earned is taxed at 27% then there is national insurance.  Thats before you take out other things such as fuel for the day (most window cleaners will use about £10 per day), public liability insurance, tools equipment etc.  I am youngish very fit and work hard and can work fast enough to a high standard to clean bout 14  terriced or council sized houses per day max doing both back and front.  When you increase the size of house say with more or bay-windows etc that number will drop.

The bloke who will take cash only for his work the sure sign that he is up to no good.  Any honest legal window cleaner will be happy to except either cheque, direct bank payment or cash.  Just because some one is

Are they insured/properly insured?

Nothing is worse than being monetarily liable for a window cleaner’s accident that occurred on your property. That is exactly what can happen if an uninsured window cleaner falls or, by some other means hurts themselves or a member of the public.

Illegal and some legal window cleaners for that matter don't bother with Public Liability Insurance.  Many customers don't have a clue about problems this can cause and the impact it can have on their lives in the event of serious injury, death or damage to property. Do not just assume that a window cleaner has Public Liability insurance.  Don't ever employ or use a window cleaner until you have seen their current policy in printed form. 

If in dout (sic) about any document shown to you then call the insurance company direct to confirm the policy is real.  Don't be put off with some story about them not being able to find it.  It should always be shown on request no ifs or buts.  If it can't there is something wrong and do not use these people.

No one is breaking the law or doing anything wrong by not having public liability insurace for domestic window cleaning. Apart from putting the customer and thier property at risk.

Another problem people working on the side and stating that they have Public Liabilty insurance thinking they are coverd from say their taxi driving insurance.  When in fact if there policy does not state window cleaning and use of ladders etc.  There will be no protection for you the customer in the event of any damage to your property or serious injury to you, your family or members of the public.  Or even the window cleaner who could very well take you to court for damages running into thousands.  As mad as that sounds that can and does happen.  Rouge window cleaners could try and get a big payday by using no-win no-fee solicitors at your expense.  It's just not worth the risk using an uninsured window cleaner.

Misleading cliams by some dishonest people using Water-Fed Pole Sytems to gain more work.

If in any doubt about this then feel free to contact Trading Standards.  Who I have talked to at length about Water-Fed Pole Sytems and TRADITIONAL methods. If the use of ladders were banned and illegal for working at height then the bloke who comes to paint your house, install your sky dish, put up your t.v areal, install your gutters fasiacs, fit your windows would be breaking the law. For other window cleaners to tell people that the use of ladders is banned is a criminal offence under fair trading laws and can be delt with by legal action from trading standards. If you have been told this by Water-Fed-Pole System window cleaners to gain more work and rubbish the better quality work that TRADITIONAL methods provide. Then please contact: If in any doubt about this then feel free to contact Trading Standards. Who I have talked to at length about Water-Fed Pole Sytems and TRADITIONAL methods.


If the use of ladders were banned and illegal for working at height then the bloke who comes to paint your house, install your sky dish, put up your t.v areal, install your gutters fasiacs, fit your windows would be breaking the law. For other window cleaners to tell people that the use of ladders is banned is a criminal offence under fair trading laws and can be delt with by legal action from trading standards. If you have been told this by Water-Fed-Pole System window cleaners to gain more work and rubbish the better quality work that TRADITIONAL methods provide. Then please contact: Diane Miles Fair (Trading Officer/Trading Standards), Swindon Borough Council, Dmiles@swindon.gov.uk

46 Counts Of Insurance Fraud For Window Cleaner

Man Slapped With 46 Counts of Insurance Fraud: Authorities arrested Los Angeles, Calif. business owner Emmett Timothy Kennedy III, 47, on May 12, charging him with dozens of counts of insurance fraud after Kennedy allegedly under reported his company’s payroll.

In 2007, the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) suspected Kennedy’s company, WWC Window Cleaning, to have been committing premium fraud. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) began an investigation, and in 2009 it obtained a search warrant to collect WWC’s financial records. The CDI discovered that WWC was underreporting the number of employees at the company to the SCIF and the Employment Development Department (EDD).

As it turns out, WWC had been paying part or all of each employee’s salary in cash, allegedly under Kennedy’s direction. This action defrauded the SCIF and Unemployment Insurance fund of more than $1 million in a mere 4 years.

“The actions of this business owner put his employees at severe risk, had an accident occurred in the workplace,” said Calif. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “The under reporting of his payroll shows an extremely blatant disregard for the welfare of his employees and the law.”

Kennedy now faces 46 counts of insurance fraud and four counts of violating the Unemployment Insurance Code. Each of the 46 counts carries a possible 5 years in prison. The court set his bail at $1 million.

SACRAMENTO, California: Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced that Emmett Timothy Kennedy III, 47, of Los Angeles was arrested as he appeared in the Los Angeles Superior Court to face 46 counts of insurance fraud and four counts for violating the Unemployment Insurance Code, all of which are felonies. Every count of insurance fraud carries a potential five year prison sentence. Kennedy is the President of WWC Window Cleaning which is alleged to have defrauded their insurance carrier and the State's Unemployment Insurance fund of over $1,000,000 in unpaid premiums. Kennedy's bail has been set at $1,000,000.

"The actions of this business owner put his employees at severe risk, had an accident occurred in the workplace," said Commissioner Jones. "The underreporting of his payroll shows an extremely blatant disregard for the welfare of his employees and the law."

In 2007, the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) contacted the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and reported their suspicion that WWC Window Cleaning (WCC) was committing premium fraud. CDI's Fraud Division, together with Investigators from the Employment Development Department (EDD) initiated an investigation of WWC. A search warrant was executed on March 17, 2009 which resulted in the seizure of WWC's financial records. A forensic audit of the financial records was performed by EDD and it determined that WWC actually had more employees than they were reporting to their insurance carrier SCIF or to EDD for the proper Employee Contributions or Unemployment Tax.

This misrepresentation defrauded SCIF and the Unemployment Insurance fund of over $1,000,000 in a four year period. To conceal the misrepresentations, WWC paid their employees in cash for either a portion or all of their salary. WWC is alleged to have taken this action at the direction of Kennedy.

This case is a result of a joint investigation between the California Employment Development Department and the Department of Insurance - Fraud Division and is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Workers' Compensation and Health Care Fraud Unit.

Window Cleaning News

The first digital edition of the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) is online & ready to view. Just click the cover.

Fallen window washer has no OHIP coverage: A window washer who narrowly escaped death last week after plunging from the roof of a 33-storey condominium now faces another challenge: paying his hospital bills. Arturo Rodriguez fell more than 15 floors from the top of a Front Street condominium last Friday, but was saved by his safety line. The 30-year-old was left dangling high above the ground with severe rope burns to both hands and drifting in and out of consciousness before co-workers were able to lower him to a nearby ledge. He was rushed to hospital with severe burns, cuts and bruises but was later released and sent home. Rodriguez was back in hospital Tuesday over fears that his hands were getting infected and doctors say he needs plastic surgery to heal his skin.
He came to Canada two years ago from Mexico and has a work visa, but an apparent mix-up in his paperwork left him without Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Now his wife Brenda Gonzalez is worried about his well-being. “(He needs) plastic surgery, because his hands are bad, very bad,” she said, speaking for her husband who does not speak any English. “He wants to work. He needs to have money for us.” Premium Window Cleaning, the company that hired Rodriguez, has told him they will not cover the medical bills. Rodriguez was only on his second day at the window-washing job when he fell. See breaking news story here.


New and exclusive from the Window Cleaning Warehouse! Do you have customers who moan about leaving water on the glass once cleaned with a Water Fed Pole? Have you had comments like ‘when you did them with a squeegee they were left dry, surely you can’t leave them wet!’? Not anymore! Leaves Windows Dry (LWD for short) is the new tool which actually takes all the water off the glass once you’ve cleaned it – that means no more runs,spots and more importantly no more moans! Leave Windows Dry the final piece in the Water Fed Puzzle!!! Only from WCW.


Me and My Squeegee, a family-run business, keeps Boulder's windows clean: Anthony and Debbie Westlake (pictured) began their window-washing business in 1985 with their two sons, Michael and Adam. "I started just by handing out cards," said Anthony Westlake. "But word travels and over the years, I've done (windows for) hundreds of clients." While Me and My Squeegee is a Boulder-based company, the Westlakes' business has taken them all over the region. "We've washed Longmont, Broomfield, Firestone, and all over. We're willing to work with people in terms of driving farther," said Anthony Westlake. In addition to residential clients, Me and My Squeegee also washes windows for businesses like Five Spice, China Gourmet and Smashburger. "We like working with corporate businesses, but there's a lot more competition," said Anthony Westlake.
Window washer Bill O'Leary, owner of Window Visions LLC pointed out the benefits of hiring a personally owned window washing business. "When you hire a large company, sometimes you don't really get the company, you're getting a subcontractor," said O'Leary. "They're moving away from their own workers for tax reasons and because they don't have to take out insurance on them." Despite the personal touch with an independently owned window washing company, the economy has made it harder for these types of businesses to survive. "Window cleaning is a luxury and the economy has made that pretty tough," O'Leary said. "It's slowed down for everybody. I do a lot of new construction window cleaning, which gets me through the winter. It's really competitive, especially in Boulder."
Over the years, Me and My Squeegee has learned what customers expect. "We handle every aspect of the business. That means when clients want to give us a suggestion, we'll listen," Debbie Westlake said, as opposed to large companies, whose workers may not take the time to give a personal touch. In addition to the client-based emphasis, Me and My Squeegee also is passionate about the environment. "We use natural products on the windows ... so when the water comes down, it won't affect the flowerbeds," said Debbie Westlake. Anthony Westlake said the best part of his job is being able to go somewhere and meet someone new every day. "We would love you to join our window-washing family," he said.

A fish and chip shop has been taken over by Adventure Island boss Philip Miller, who liked it so much he bought the business. Rose and Trevor Neville owned the Pavilion chippy, next to the theme park, and when they wanted to retire, Mr Miller made an offer. The shop has been refurbished and reopened as the Fish and Chip Emporium. Mr Miller said: “I’ve been friends with the former owners for 30 years – in fact, they used to babysit my nephew, Marc Miller.
“When I heard they wanted to retire, I really wanted to help them out. “I acquired the business and also asked their son, Perry, to become my assistant catering manager. Then his mum and dad told me they wanted to keep busy, so now Trevor does all our window cleaning at Adventure Island, Sea-Life Adventure Aquarium and the Three Shells.

Building a better brain: “The Winner’s Brain” combines cognitive neuroscience and fMRI scanning (“which gives us the best look we have so far at the brain in action”) with cognitive behavioral psychology that, said Brown, has long provided specific tools with marked results for making lasting behavioral and emotional changes. (fMRI stands for functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.) With this dual understanding, Brown and Fenske navigate and identify the functions of a healthy, winning brain: memory, adaptability, emotions, self-awareness, motivation, and more.
“A New York City window washer and London cab drivers are examples of people we interfaced with to learn how they optimize the human brain,” said Brown. “In each case illustrated, we’ve identified credible fMRI research to help illuminate the stories and give firm foundation to the suggestions we make for readers.”

Empire State Building Gets Makeover, Window by Window: On the fifth floor of the Empire State Building last week, a muffled din was escaping from an unassuming office door at the end of a hallway. Inside, men in safety goggles were bent over large glass panes, scraping, washing and filling them with gas. The office space had been transformed into a processing center for the building's 6,514 windows, and the men were in the midst of meticulously removing, cleaning and reconstructing them to be more energy efficient. "No one in the world has done anything like what we're doing," Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Materials, which is outfitting the windows, told AOL News. "This is a groundbreaking energy retrofit." The window project is one of eight upgrades under way that, when complete, will cut the building's energy use an estimated 38 percent and save $4.4 million a year. The improvements will push the Empire State Building into the top 10 percent of energy-efficient buildings in the country, according to Anthony E. Malkin, president of Wien and Malkin, which manages the building. "If we don't impact energy consumption in the existing building environment, we're never going to be able to impact energy consumption in general," he said.
The windows in the 102-story building are only about 10 years old and already have a dual-pane design. To re-insulate them with a coated film and krypton gas, workers remove them at night so as not to bother the current tenants. The panes are separated and cleaned three times before the film is placed between them and resealed around the edges. They are then baked in an oven to smooth the film and filled with krypton gas, which provides one last layer of insulation. Only the panes that are damaged or can't be thoroughly cleaned are thrown out. "It probably doesn't benefit someone who builds glass, but it benefits everyone else," Surace said of the process. Progress is slow but steady. On the operation's first day last week, they produced zero windows. On the second day, they did 10. By the fourth day, they were up to 42. Their goal is 30 to 50 windows a day to get the project done by December. The entire retrofit is slated to be finished in 2013. Malkin hopes people will take notice. "If you were to achieve something in a lesser building, it wouldn't be taken seriously," he said. "But if you were to do it in a building like the Empire State Building, it could change the world."

Falling glass kills man: Large sheets of glass crashed down and killed a man at a North Shore industrial site last night. Four of his workmates were injured while trying to rescue him. The man was working inside a shipping container at the Sharpeye glass products company on Porana Rd, in the Wairau Valley industrial zone, at about 6.20pm when the accident occurred. "It appears some sheets of glass have crashed down on the man, causing fatal cuts," said Inspector Matt Rogers of the police northern communications centre. "Other people working there went to assist him after it occurred and received intensive cuts while trying to give first aid and get him out." Mr Rogers said his workmates must have heard a loud crashing noise before clambering over smashed glass inside the container to try to rescue the victim, a 42-year-old married Chinese-born man. Of the more seriously hurt workers, one had neck injuries and the other suffered head cuts, a spokesman said. A Labour Department spokeswoman said she understood the dead man had been unloading the shipping container when the glass collapsed on him.

The Last Word: Ian Taylor - Name: Ian Taylor. Company: Coodes. Job title: Managing Partner. What do you begrudge spending money on? Things I could do myself if I had more time like gardening, window cleaning and house maintenance.

In Eastern Europe, Pact With Russians Raises Old Specters: As President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and President Barack Obama prepare to arrive in Prague on Thursday to sign a landmark arms control treaty, Marcela Balounova, like many Czechs, remains haunted by her memories of 1968, when nearly one million Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia, ushering in a period of political repression. Lubos Dobrovsky, 78, a former dissident who worked as a window cleaner during the communist era before going on to become defense minister and presiding over the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, dismissed the new arms reduction treaty as “a cheap marketing trick by Washington and Moscow.”

Lossiemouth’s Scott refuses to give it a rest against Thistle: Lossiemouth centre forward Shawn Scott did not let the loss of his teeth stop him scoring twice against his former club in the League Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Scott put the bite on Buckie, less than 24 hours after surgery. He had all his teeth extracted in hospital on Friday and should have been in bed on Saturday afternoon. But after a couple of pain-killing injections on the morning of the game the window cleaner’s double sunk his old club.

Rain downs Coast profits: Window cleaners, ice-cream stalls, builders and tourism operators are among the Coast's small businesses still swamped by the prolonged wet season. Not even rainwater tank sellers have escaped, with overflowing dams banishing the drought to a distant memory for locals. I Can See Clearly Now window cleaner Matthew Brown had his quietest two months in 11 years. He was forced to share limited jobs among his five full-time staff to prevent laying them off. "I had to look at a way so we could all keep our jobs and reduce hours so we were all sharing," he said. "I would have to ask someone to sit on the bench and give the job to the guy who has kids." Wetdream Watertanks partner Celia Imeson said the constant rain had put buying water tanks out of residents' minds. "The dams are full ... there is plenty of water, gardens are growing. We will wait and see what happens when people get their water bills," she said. McCrackens Water Services retailer Phil Irwin agreed. "People forget about using water because it's falling out of sky on a regular basis," he said.

Window Cleaning News

Rogers Back as GM of Unger UK: Dave Rogers has rejoined Unger as UK general manager. Well known in the British cleaning industry, Rogers originally joined Unger in January 1997, during which time he significantly increased revenue and profitability and championed the development of several product innovations, including the Unger HiFlo CarbonTec water-fed pole system. In early 2007 he left Unger to lead the commercial activities of a company in the grounds care and landscaping sector; in 2008, he served as managing director of Avmor UK, which he still owns.

Pictured:Hornets mascot Hercules with Moggy before he set off on the walk from Rochdale to Swinton. Rochdale's ladder-toting window cleaner Steve 'Moggy' Murray raised nearly £300 for Hornets on a sponsored walk between Rochdale and Swinton. Moggy, famous for carrying his ladder on charity walks all over the country, stepped up to the plate once again as he walked to Hornets game against Swinton in the Carnegie Challenge Cup. The game brought a memorable victory for Hornets, while Moggy raised some much needed funds for the new club and did a lap of honour at the ground to top up the coffers. Moggy took up his famous ladder again on Good Friday, walking from the Tanners Arms on Whitworth Road to Spotland for Hornets derby match against Oldham to raise further funds.

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Twin Cities: SEIU Local 26 Endorses Starbucks Workers Union Campaign: SEIU Local 26 represents 5,000 janitors, security officers, and window cleaners in the Twin Cities area in collective bargaining. The International Union represents nearly a quarter million workers in building services. Many of the workers they represent work in downtown Minneapolis in building services. Union officers were excited at the prospect of being able to buy union-made coffee from Starbucks locations downtown, and throughout the area. The next time you see a union janitor, security guard, or window cleaner, let them know you are glad to stand together with them for labor rights!

Window cleaner sick of fly-tippers: A WINDOW cleaner has slammed the state of Wardleworth’s streets after becoming fed up of seeing fly-tipped waste on his rounds. David Dyson wants Rochdale Council to take tougher action against the culprits and crack down on the problem. He told the Observer he has reported a number of incidents to the environmental services department over recent months, but was disappointed at the ‘lack of response’ to his complaints. He believes that the situation has worsened since he started working in the area two years ago and decided to voice his disgust after spotting rats among the rubbish in Good Shepherd Close. He said: "I’ve reported my concerns to the council’s environmental management hotline at least half-a-dozen times, but nothing seems to have been done.
"It’s disappointing because there’s rubbish everywhere. Lots of waste has been dumped, including old mattresses, bags of household waste and old newspapers. It’s not pleasant to see vermin running about." Mr Dyson complained that fly-tippers are targeting the whole of the neighbourhood and regularly dumping waste on the streets. "I spend a lot of my time in the area and at least 10 streets seem to be affected, including Ramsay Street, Trafalgar Street and Good Shepherd Close." Peter Cunningham, the head of the council’s environmental management service, said: "When residents report fly-tipped items we investigate every single case within two days and then take action as appropriate."

Invermere local Darryl Stettler has taken gold, silver and bronze trophies at three different judo and karate championships across B.C. and Alberta. He won gold at the Vancouver International Judo Championship on Feb. 4, silver at the Calgary Kyokushin Karate Cup at the Deerfoot Casino the same month and in March, picked up a bronze medal at the Edmonton International Judo Championship. Owner of Your Private Connection, a cleaning, lawn maintenance, delivery and window washing business, Stettler trains locally on a regular basis across multiple disciplines, and said that was what gave him the edge while fighting. He currently has a yellow belt. In the past Stettler has been a participant in the Rumble in the Cage cage match on the Fight Channel in Lethbridge last October. He also won the Rumble in the Rockies held locally in 2004. He was interested in competing in the upcoming So You Wanna Fight? competition being held at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena June 13, but was told he couldn’t. “I’m pro so I can’t go in it this year,” he said.

Three librarians vying to head the Multnomah County Library fielded questions and shared their experience during a public forum Tuesday. First up was Holly Carroll, interim director of Cleveland Public Library. Carroll has worked in libraries for more than 18 years, including serving as director of the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library in Ohio and deputy director of the Cleveland system, which employs 600 people and operates 28 branches. A library advocate wanted to know how Carroll would react to a 20 percent budget cut. Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler has asked all county departments to cut their general fund budgets by 12 percent. Carroll said she had to cut the Cleveland library's budget by $5 million just last year and did so by not filling open positions, cutting the material budget and finding out what expenditures it could do without, such as eliminating window washing every other month.

For the last 14 years the Cleaning Corporation Limited in Castlebar has been providing a 100 per cent risk free guarantee for all its cleaning services. Customers enjoy peace of mind knowing that they are dealing with a first class professional service, with professional and ethical policies, practices, and procedures that ensure everyone is completely at ease and satisfied when booking a service. John and Lorraine Hall are absolutely passionate about their business and its success and of course guarantee high service standards. Value for money is their motto. It also offers domestic and commercial window cleaning services. Using purified harvested rainwater, its system cleans your glass and frames of your windows from the safety of the ground. Because the water is purified it cleans and rinses the windows to a spot free finish, as there are zero impurities in the water. This is very different to water straight from a tap as it contains natural impurities and additives.

MOSES LAKE — Joe Erickson’s window washing business opened in time to help customers start spring cleaning before Easter and subsequent house guests. “My biggest thing is, in the spring, what better than spring cleaning?” he said. There are many elements that can damage one’s windows, such as hard water, verified Erickson, owner of Emerald Services. He recommends window sealing for customers who only want their windows washed once a year. The sealing is needed due to the acid rain, hard water and bird waste in the area. Dirt is another factor when window cleaning in dusty Grant County. When Erickson’s not cleaning windows, he’s figured out related tasks to keep busy throughout the year. “I looked at a lot of different things,” he said. “How can I take and make this business a full year and make money year-round?” He also cleans awnings, gutters and screens and does window restoration and window sealing. Currently, Erickson is working to build a customer base that will keep using his services. “Everyone thinks a rag, Windex and newspapers will take care of it,” he noted. “I did quite a bit of research and learned more now when I was in school. I’m doing it because it’s my life, not because teachers told me.” After graduating from college, he wasn’t able to find work in his field upon returning to Moses Lake in 2006.
He credits family friend and Bishop Spray Service owner Dan Bishop with helping him develop his business idea. “He knew I was looking for something and he helped me come up with the whole idea of washing windows,” Erickson said. “He showed me a lot of the ropes I’m sure a lot of people would charge for.” Erickson said he subscribes to newsletters to learn more about his new endeavor. He’s also looking forward to becoming nationally certified in window washing, which is offered from ground level to high rise work.

A DAD gunned down on his doorstep was yesterday sitting up in his hospital bed chatting to his family and friends. Christopher Dean, 36, who was shot as he let his dog out for a run at his home in Paisley, was expected to be moved out of the High Dependency Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital as he continued to make a remarkable recovery. His distraught girlfriend, 36-year-old Charlene Dreghorn, was among his anxious visitors and said she was thrilled that he was on the mend. The mum-of-three added "He is in pain but sitting up chatting. He went through surgery and now has a scar on his stomach. He’s in a lot of pain. It was wonderful to see him and be able to tell him I love him."
Charlene, who lives in Paisley, added: "I think it will take a while before Christopher fully recovers. "The sooner he’s out of hospital the happier I will be. "He didn’t speak much of the shooting but I did hear him say the man with the gun wore a black hooded jumper. It all sounds terrifying to me." Christopher, a window cleaner, was targeted by a hitman who lay in wait at the side door of the family home at Brewster Avenue, in Gallowhill, Paisley, as he was letting his Rottweiler out around 12.10am on Wednesday. A single shot rang out and Christopher was hit in the stomach.

Running London Marathon for Help the Heroes – a military charity helping those wounded in Britain's current conflicts – is veteran runner Paul Ridgeway (50). It is the Nocton window cleaner's seventh London Marathon with Mr Ridgeway completing the demanding course in less than three hours – two hours and 58 minutes – in his heyday.

Choosing The Right Insurance Coverage: Building service contractors are looking for every way to save money in these lean times. From transportation and supply to labor and equipment costs, BSCs are cutting expenses to survive. However, according to industry experts, insurance is not an expense with which a BSC should look to save money. With small profit margins, a small accident or theft could push an uninsured BSC over the financial edge, not to mention what a catastrophic event would do. “Having adequate insurance coverage is important in tough economic times — if contractors reduce their level of coverage and don’t have adequate rotection, they may be faced with paying for the consequences of injury or loss out of their own pocket,” says Deb Denker, industry manager, Travelers Commercial Accounts, Hartford, Conn. “If contractors don’t have the means to pay for a claim or the high defense cost associated with a claim that may result in a civil suit, they could be forced out of business.”

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg rolled up his sleeves yesterday to clean windows at a hostel for the homeless. The MP washed two windows at the five-storey Salvation Army-run block in Bristol to see how social enterprise company Aspire provides jobs for the long- term unemployed and homeless. Mr Clegg said he was surprised to hear from window cleaner George James they were not allowed to use ladders for health and safety reasons. Instead they use a long pole brush, through which water is pumped. Mr Clegg said: "He told me that three or four years ago someone stopped them from using ladders because of health and safety - that's pretty draconian stuff." The Lib Dem leader rolled up his sleeves and washed windows with a 20ft pole during his visit. Aspire is based at the Barton Hill trading estate and has been running for 10 years. It provides employment in three areas, gardening and maintenance, painting and decorating, and window cleaning. Mr Clegg said schemes like Aspire were needed to beat the financial downturn. ...Mr. Clegg should also learn the law concerning health & safety.