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
