Complaint

[rocketmanbkk]

Yeah, wish I could,

March - Oct gardens

Nov - March/April plumb & other

Just want to build knowledge & confidence with plumb.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Here's a trick I have used a few times in the past. I haven't had to do it for a few years now (since we went trade only), so I can't guarantee that trading standards still work the same way.

If we got someone being unreasonable and threatening to report us, I would call trading standards myself, and explain that I was a trader involved in a dispute with a member of the public, and looking to them for guidance. This doesn't happen to them very often, and automatically puts you in their good books.

All they will do is quote the law (which I usually knew anyway, but its always useful to have it confirmed) but I would then ask them for a name and a reference number, in case I needed to come back to them for further advice. Thank them nicely, and hang up.

Then phone back the customer and say, ever-so-politely:

"Since it is apparent that we are not going to agree on this, I have taken the precaution of speaking to trading standards. They have opened case-file reference number 12345, and the matter is being dealt with by Mr Smith. His number is 01234 567890, extension 123. Perhaps you would like to give him a call?"

None of those matters ever went any further.

 

[rpm]

Here's a trick I have used a few times in the past. I haven't had to do it for a few years now (since we went trade only), so I can't guarantee that trading standards still work the same way.

If we got someone being unreasonable and threatening to report us, I would call trading standards myself, and explain that I was a trader involved in a dispute with a member of the public, and looking to them for guidance. This doesn't happen to them very often, and automatically puts you in their good books.

All they will do is quote the law (which I usually knew anyway, but its always useful to have it confirmed) but I would then ask them for a name and a reference number, in case I needed to come back to them for further advice. Thank them nicely, and hang up.

Then phone back the customer and say, ever-so-politely:

"Since it is apparent that we are not going to agree on this, I have taken the precaution of speaking to trading standards. They have opened case-file reference number 12345, and the matter is being dealt with by Mr Smith. His number is 01234 567890, extension 123. Perhaps you would like to give him a call?"

None of those matters ever went any further.

Wicked.

 

[Keefy]

Be funny back to him by asking why he thought getting a plumber to do his garden was a good idea in the first place. You can imagine his friends' reaction should he ever say to them; "That bloody plumber I got to do the garden the other month... "

 

[hammers4spanner]

I'm confused what have h r m c got to do with it ? He paid you cash and you will declare it what's the problem ? Why do customers tend to think being paid in cash is an avoidance ? I know lots of sole traders that will only take cash as they have had to many rubber cheques and don't have a card machine, bloke sounds like a right bell end

tescos take loads of cash ,
they must be avoiding all the time

 

[AWheating]

You mean for £80 you could not stop Mother Nature from growing stuff in his garden. You have ripped him off, for that money I would have spoken to her and turned his grass into gold 🙂

 

[Masood]

tescos take loads of cash ,
they must be avoiding all the time

Now that you mention it...

 

[Masood]

Here's a trick I have used a few times in the past. I haven't had to do it for a few years now (since we went trade only), so I can't guarantee that trading standards still work the same way.

If we got someone being unreasonable and threatening to report us, I would call trading standards myself, and explain that I was a trader involved in a dispute with a member of the public, and looking to them for guidance. This doesn't happen to them very often, and automatically puts you in their good books.

All they will do is quote the law (which I usually knew anyway, but its always useful to have it confirmed) but I would then ask them for a name and a reference number, in case I needed to come back to them for further advice. Thank them nicely, and hang up.

Then phone back the customer and say, ever-so-politely:

"Since it is apparent that we are not going to agree on this, I have taken the precaution of speaking to trading standards. They have opened case-file reference number 12345, and the matter is being dealt with by Mr Smith. His number is 01234 567890, extension 123. Perhaps you would like to give him a call?"

None of those matters ever went any further.

Do you have a fluffy white cat that you stroke menacingly whilst sitting at your desk Ray? That is pure evil genius! <doffs cap in admiration>

 

[Best]

Always fight back at someone like that. Obviously he is a nut, but I am guessing he is not all that stupid and knows you are soft and thinks he can walk over you.
Turn the tables, - send him a recorded delivery letter, with a very firm & polite notification that "I regret to inform you I am now considering these absurd & false allegations made against myself, together with threats that have no bearing on my unblemished record. I have now contacted Trading Standards and they will confirm the actual law to you if you contact them. I am shocked that you have retrospectively decided 3 months after I cut your garden that I should have not been paid any money for it and that I should AGAIN come back and cut it all again! Sadly I cannot be responsible for the fact that your garden tends to get overgrown because YOU have failed for reasons known only to you to either trim your garden, or pay someone else to do so in the following 3 months."

 

[REDSAW]

good sprinkling of bush killer all over garden stop him moaning.lol

 

[Best]

good sprinkling of bush killer all over garden stop him moaning.lol

No! No! - You never do that with someone who is complaining about their garden being overgrown. Especially if they are a lazy b*****!
Just buy a large bag of fertiliser of a farmer and throw it all over his garden. That stuff the farmers use is just the job for a nice tall thick foliage. Needs a tractor in to cut it every week.

 

[REDSAW]

little clump of jap knot weed bunged overr fence then.lol