abusive customer

[charlie1]

Hi all, sensible opinions please.
I have been working on a job for 3 days and work has come to a halt as the tiles don't arrive for another 2 weeks so all I have been doin is prep work. Anyway customer is very unhappy, customer was responsible for ordering the tiles and relations have deteriorated between us. I have always spoken very nice to him but finally enough is enough, he physically threatened me over the phone so I'm just wondering what to do now with this situation? Do I go back in 2 weks to complete job and risk no payment? Do I pass on the job and ask for money for the 3 days Labour?

I'm not worried about the physical threat, I'm just wondering what the right thing to do is?

 

[Ian]

Why was he threatening you if ordering the tiles was his responsibility?

 

[White Room]

As above, why is he turning on you.....

 

[peteablard]

If I was having to wait 2 weeks I'd be asking for payment for the 3 days now anyway

 

[DHTiling]

IMHO at this stage and his phone call, i would walk.. ALARM bells would deffo be ringing..

 

[peteablard]

And once I'd got the money I'd run him over:lol:

Only joking........

 

[kilty55]

hi charlie,ask for payment for work done and leave never to return matey,

no idea why hes threatening you but its not acceptable regardless,is he possibly stalling tile delivery deliberately and starting a fight to get the prep wprk done foc possibly?

either way request money and if its not forthcoming take him to a small claims is my advice and dont return

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

i would ask for the three days plus the cost of days lost due to no other jobs booket in . its not your fault

 

[charlie1]

He made a coment on Sunday blaming me for delay of the job, I asked how I can tile without tiles... In my 3 days I had penciled in for the work I managed to salvage about 7 m2 of the original tiles by hacking off loose cement and reset them, he is ****ed because I can't stay and hack cement of all of them but I explained I had other comitments and most of them where just breaking! At end 3 days I explained it was no longer cost effective to pay me to salvage tiles (which was not part of original plan(just trying to save them money)) and that I had other comitments. And call me when tiles will be arriving

 

[kilty55]

hacking off addy from old tiles.....no thanks

 

[Ian]

Sounds like a nightmare to me, put a bill in for the 3 days and part company. And just for the record, if someone threatened me over the phone, I'd be in the van and have the rest of the conversation face to face. Some people like to get big and brave over the phone. If you do anymore work for this clown, you will have more grief.

 

[White Room]

I don't like that kind of attitude and would front him but it has been said it has bad vibes and would'nt continue with the job.

 

[charlie1]

Thanks for the advice lads, its all a bit complex and I'm on here on my phone. I'm doing the work for a large company and the despite is with one of the employees who is responsible for organising the project. Some of the tiles whee very easy to clean so didn't mind doing that, the tile they have sourced is the exact same btw ( obviously)

I don't want anymore work for this guy, he's a maintenance guy who walks about with about a thousand keys.... You know the type!

I will take your opinions in to consideration and sleep on it! Thing is, the actual owner is an ok guy who I have not had a problem with!

 

[kilty55]

so its the janitor thats threatening you? need to sort that out charlie cant be taking that from the jannie

 

[White Room]

So the guy is'nt even the guy who you are working for.....just an upstart.

 

[charlie1]

Ye mate the bloomin jannie lol, he has so many keys he walks to one side! He thinks keys are power though, during the argument he said.... And wait for it lol " I'm your employer"

 

[Tony73]

need a help m8 ? :lol: :80:

 

[kilty55]

lolol classical.....

 

[White Room]

I'd be having none of him....

 

[Dan]

I'd ask for the three days so far, let him assume you're going back, and then politely CALL him in a few days time (don't text that's just rude) and say you've had a huge job come up and you'll have to put him back...... or he can try somebody else. Which I would assume he would do.

 

[Ajax123]

I would not tell porkys. Just tel him that you want your three days money as you are entitled to For services rendered and tell him that verbal and physical abuse is unacceptable and he must get some one else to do the job. If he wants you to finish it for him.......cash up front please!

 

[charlie1]

I will call owner tomorrow and try to find a way forward with this one, I want to get the job done though as I have put 3 days in to it! The guy just seems out his depth managing this one and looking for someone to blame, I'm not having it!

There are some things I will put up with in life but disrespect and threats are not on regardless of who they are!

Thanks again for your opinions!

 

[DHTiling]

I agree, go above him and speak direct to the organ grinder..

 

[CJ]

Get your money...........then tell him to swivel.

 

[Pebbs]

Go right over his head, dont bother with the power crazy, stupid little man. He's a typical nasty type when things go wrong its everyone elses fault expect him. Let me at him!

Lynn

 

[Dougs Third Go]

tell the jailer,errr janitor, that if he doesn't play nicely you'll take his keys off him.

 

[Andy Allen]

difficult one this, as i agree with what everyone has said getting your money for the 3 days work could be a struggle, there just going to say they will pay you when its finished.

if you have worked for them before how do they pay, is it stright away, 2 weeks, 4weeks?

either way i wouldn't put up with abuse from anyone, and should a court case be on the horizon im sure any judge would look upon it that no one should work for an abusive customer.

 

[Daveshadowman]

I would talk to the owner to try sort it out if not then ask for the 3 days and walk away

 

[charlie1]

I briefly spoke to boss man last night and I conveyed my opinion that this guy had cost me time and money due to incompetence, I also explained he threatened to rip my heed off via phone convo, he agreed this was totally unacceptable and would have a word with the guy in the morning! After sleeping on it I feel more angry about this idiot, how date anyone threaten someone like this in a professional environment even if they clearly unable to back up what they are threatened but that's not the point! I'm ragin when I think about it!

 

[charlie1]

Update....
I spoken to the organ grinder the next day ( about a week and half ago I think) and agreed to do the job however as the time has passed I have had no call or tx from anyone re tiles arriving (they should be here by now) ! I have tx they guy I had argument with to see if tiles have arrived but all quiet!

Scenario 1: tiles have not arrived yet

Scenario 2: tiles have arrived and he has got someone else to complete job.

Some of my tools are stil on site and materials I purchased for the job, just wondering your thoughts and opinions on scenario 2 lads?