The Crazy is strong with this one

[kitkat9933]

So I hired a cleaner of checkatrade post building + decorating work to carry out "post-build" cleaning. I made it clear I want quality work over a rushed job and would pay for it. I also made a special note that we just had the house re-decorated etc so anyone that wanted to take on the job should take extra care.

The cleaner came in and did a pretty good cleaning job but pretty much dented, scuffed and took chunks out of every wall and skirting board in the house (some even above head-level like how??) I mentioned this and they apologised for this and we agreed a path forward with a discount.

They kept spamming me for reviews on google, so I posted an honest review saying they were nice people, the clean was good but they damaged a lot of the house (with photo evidence). They then provided this response

Spoiler: Response

{my name and personal details removed} you are a liar. Whilst we welcome all reviews both positive and negative, we don’t welcome reviews from customers that purposefully damage their own property in an attempt to damage the reputation of a small yet growing business. I was there myself as the owner, because of what you said prior to the clean and the importance of accuracy, and I carried out the job with my most senior staff member. We thought it was quite incredible when you sent the 2 pictures relating to what you claimed was damage we had caused, but we did give you the benefit of the doubt and refunded around 20% of the cleaning invoice. For you to now post pictures on our Google page weeks after the clean has taken place, with no attempt to contact us about this supposed extensive damage, shows your real intention here.Slightly more concerning I might add {my details removed}, is that you decided to post this review literally minutes after I installed VPN security software onto both my laptop and my mobile phone and the fact you went to great lengths to tell me about your career in IT security. You did not look like 007, but have you been spying on me, {my details removed}?You’ve now changed your WhatsApp profile picture to an image of your own child, who you told me had a very serious heart condition, wearing Mickey Mouse ears. That is sick, how could you do that?{my details removed}, enjoying paying for the damage you carried out. I’m going to the police about the phone tapping and privacy breaches that you have carried out on behalf of other cleaning companies. I far more proof than I care to state here. {their name and company name removed}

So not only did they breach GPDR posting my personal details online, they make fun of our sick child, post liable and defamatory comments and then accuse me of spying for rival cleaning companies? he's then made threatening messages and calls.. Like serious nut job..

Fyi, the picture he is referring to is my child with a feeding tube (he has serious and possible terminal heart issues) but with Micky mouse ears on, because apparently sick children can't have fun or dress-up...

So I've reported him to the police, contacting my solicitor and reporting him to checkatrade when they open on Monday.

Why are people such nut jobs ??

 

[kitkat9933]

Pretty well known that people can get aggro about negative reviews. Probably wasn't worth the risk.

He sent me 40+ requests for reviews on WhatsApp and email, kept ignoring it which should have sent a message it. Then got fed up and posted it.

 

[kitkat9933]

Why would you give so much detail out to a contractor?

Name
Address
and payment method is more than enough and avoids having these kinds of issues.

That’s the details he had and my mobile number. He asked about my son when cleaning, as he was being fed via tube while they cleaned.

 

[kitkat9933]

What a psycho, good job reporting them, hope they get the book thrown at them.

Interested to hear the outcome of this, and what kind of actions your solicitor might be able to take in this scenario? (Also do people actually have solicitors on retainers? Because I don't but always curious when people talk about 'my solicitor'!)


This tbh. In the past couple of years I've noticed several negative reviews I've left on Google maps, the play store, and other places mysteriously disappear. Or in another case AirBnB agreed that a property owner could impose the terms that I not give them a negative review on then giving me a refund for a place that was clearly not as described (and I didn't stay in as a result).

Defamation and liable.

We get free legal advice via work and also via home insurance.

 

[kitkat9933]

Pics of the damage caused?

A small sample. Imagine this but all over every room on a freshly decorated hose.

It’s the number of them. An odd thing wouldn’t be an issue as stuff happens. They even admitted fault in writing originally.

imgur.com

Discover the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more from users.

imgur.com

 

[kitkat9933]

What was they using to clean the place...A road sweeper and Wolverine's UK cousin

I think it’s them rushing with the carpet cleaner and hoover and lifting things about

 

[kitkat9933]

Did you pay a hefty sum for the clean? Hope you did some BEFORE and after photos

Like £250 for 2 people for a day.

I have before and after as it just had been decorated and had recorded the steps.

 

[kitkat9933]

Which words specifically?

Calling me a liar? A spy who phone taps and hacks his laptop are my favourite call outs.

 

[kitkat9933]

Call you A liar isn't libel nor Defamation, nor can it be proven either way surely? They didn't say that they know you did, did they? I thought they said they suspect it.

What's libel about that?

Are you blind ?

I’m going to the police about the phone tapping and privacy breaches that you have carried out on behalf of other cleaning companies. I far more proof than I care to state here.

 

[kitkat9933]

But without proof, you've just defamed this company. If it went to court, you think that you just saying "I think" will be enough to avoid libel on your part?

Well the fact they admitted to doing it in both writing and in person and compensated me part of the amount?

 

[kitkat9933]

From what I read they said as a gesture of good will. I am curious what they said by email.

Did they say "yes it was us, sorry"

They said in person it was us sorry while cleaning (not specifying how) and they would think of a plan when home.

Then in WhatsApp said as per the damaged caused by us earlier, I have revised the invoice.

they also after I posted my review offered in WhatsApp “we will refund you in full for the damage caused” but I had not had chance to respond before they posted their resource for a few days as we ended up in hospital with for our son.

 

[kitkat9933]

Sounds like you've got them bang to rights there.

Very foolish of this company. The mind wonders how anyone can cause that damage, but they did it once, then to do it again many times.

And then to pester you for a review. Perhaps they were hoping you would say "they damaged the property, but owned up and refunded some of the invoice. Thanks"

I can see from their view being miffed at the negative review and losing their cool (though not to go that crazy as it's beyond anything sensible), as they may as well have hid away from the situation and claimed it can't have been them, and then had more money in their pocket. They did the right thing by refunding something.

Would you be able to share your reciew? Though Perhaps not a great idea as they could find this page from it.

Tbh I think the review was an automated system as not from their usual contact email or phone number.

 

[kitkat9933]

Perhaps this explains their response (excluding the ridiculous nut job parts) , as I get why they are annoyed when they figured refunding would result in a positive experience for you. Clean good, price is good, especially £250 for 2 people for a full day and you even mentioned carpet cleaning, you've robbed them at that price, they owned up to damage and credited an amount I guess they thought you felt was fair? And then you leave a review, with pics, which could ruin a company, because of a system that auto bugged you for feedback. Your review they felt so bad from it that they offered to refund you even more? Poor cleaners.

(not excusing the ridiculous parts of the cleaners response, no words for that nonsense)

Another note to add, kind of adds weight to that saying "pay peanuts and you'll get monkeys"

Sorry it was £330 as I had paid a deposit upfront my

 

[kitkat9933]

I'd report it to Google and have it removed within 3 seconds whole they review it

Can’t seem
How to report a response to a review. Only a review itself .

 

[kitkat9933]

That kind of damage is not easy to remove, completely inexcusable what they did. Even if you patch it up it'll still be somewhat visible until the day the house gets redecorated.

OP what were you thinking though? I would never let any kind of tradesperson near a freshly decorated house.

We have a very ill 4 month old baby who need constant attention while at home and is often in hospital. Any second we get is sleeping really and finally wanted to get a deep clean done so we can start relaxing in the house etc

 

[kitkat9933]

I don't think traders tidy up after themselves in the current market.

In the project we’ve had including decorators, only 2/~40 contractors tidied up after themselves.

 

[kitkat9933]

Interesting update (not). He updated his post this morning with slightly cleaner grammar.

Looking forward now as got primed over the weekend to teach this idiot a lesson.

Found his Facebook posts talking about the damage of 5G and support for farage lol

 

[kitkat9933]

£20 an hour is good money for a cleaner.

If thats the going rate I might pack up my job and go do that.

£20 an hour based on a 37.5 hour week is £38,480 a year, thats about what I earn.

don’t forget it in includes travel but also materials. Proper industrial professional use oven cleaner isn’t cheap. Prob £17~ per hour post materials.

 

[kitkat9933]

£38k a year is more than most Nurses, Teachers and Police

Seems to be the going rate for cleaners in our area but when you scale it up does seem a lot.

But include travel and the fact you lose a lot of time travelling between jobs and more fuel etc

I’d like to think after this incident I’m pretty unbiased