Been blamed for scratched window, how do i handle this?

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Bloke is trying it on imo ;)

cleaning a window with the correct equipment . You never made the scratches . Is the bloke a tenant ???

Multi million pound rich kid. Inherited money. This is his rental property
 
Is there a time line?

Meaning, when did you last clean the windows? and when did the complaint arise, as an aside there will be a time stamp on the digital images obtained by the complainant

As for the Tennant, what is their situation? children loads of parties? dogs any other possibility of damage by them??

As you see fit, by all means go around and see this guy, BUT??? take a witness of your own, if possible agree that you can make a digital recording of the entire visit as for you say as little as possible get the complainant to [hopefully] dig a hole for himself??
Well I can't take a witness. Do I have to tell him if I have a recorder in my pocket

Surely the only way he can pin this on me is if he has time registered photos just before I did them. I doubt he has these.
 
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My final suggestion to you is to tell him that you have never had any complaints in the past, you don't consider, in your professional opinion, that you could have created the damage and he can go to the Police. I do realize it's very easy to make a comment like that when it's not me involved. Good luck.
 
There's no way you could have scratched windows like that without hearing it, I suspect he wants new windows and you to pay for them !!!

Say it wasn't you and deny it completely. He can't prove it was you, be prepared for solicitors letters trying it on. Stand firm don't buckle even if they threaten you with court they can't prove it was you.

Soft window cleaning equipment doest allow you to put pressure on glass to scratch it like that even if you'd got a small stone stuck in your equipment. You've only got to think of the pressure you put on a glass cutter to work to score it.

It's odd how he's noticed it after you've cleaned the windows ........what made him look ?

Do I ever look at my windows after they've been cleaned ? No !
Have tenants done it before moving out .......
 
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You didn't mention if this was the first window that got cleaned, or where in the sequence it was. But if it was grit on the cleaning pad, then unless you're lifting the pad off the glass as you go, then there'd still be a continuous line in the scratches. What you need to think about, is are those scratches consistent with how you'd move the cleaning pad, or any of you're cleaning instruments.
 
i didn’t read all the responses but here are a few facts about the claims process.

1 offering settlement doesn’t have to be admission of guilt. it can be a good will gesture without admitting liability and could be without prejudice- it must then be ignored by a judge if a claim was made.

2. if he’s going to succeed he needs to prove you damaged the window

3. if the cost is a replacement window, then take account of the age and deduct an amount for betterment. i.e he has old and now has new.

Is it not possible to polish out the scratches?
 
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There's no way you could have scratched windows like that without hearing it, I suspect he wants new windows and you to pay for them !!!

Say it wasn't you and deny it completely. He can't prove it was you, be prepared for solicitors letters trying it on. Stand firm don't buckle even if they threaten you with court they can't prove it was you.

Soft window cleaning equipment doest allow you to put pressure on glass to scratch it like that even if you'd got a small stone stuck in your equipment. You've only got to think of the pressure you put on a glass cutter to work to score it.

It's odd how he's noticed it after you've cleaned the windows ........what made him look ?

Do I ever look at my windows after they've been cleaned ? No !
Have tenants done it before moving out .......


It came up on the inventory, which is done before a new tenant moves in. Again, he would need photographic evidence to get me I think. Maybe go and see him and to 'clean his windows' do them for free if that's the reason he wants to see me. Deny everything and give him glass fitters numbers and offer to clean his windows for free. Don't work for him again as it will be too awkward and he may have photographed his own windows. I guess this is all I can do. Still haven't decided whether to offer half the payment. Maybe offer in cash.

These were one of the last windows to clean at the flat
 
Still haven't decided whether to offer half the payment. Maybe offer in cash.

..would be the stupidist thing a stupid person would do, who was having a particularly stupid moment on a very stupid day.

Any payment would be offered and require a receipt. Otherwise he can pocket the cash and still make a claim against you.

If you decide to offer settlement - you need it to be traceable and a receipt stating it is in full and final settlement.
 
To be fair to the client, my builder had a window cleaner, clean my new windows, which were covered in cement blobs from rendering and he did similar damage, but he was using a scraper. But the scratches were much smaller.

However, just to correct one of the earlier posts.. If a client takes you to the small claims court and wins, you've no chance of your insurance paying out as you defended yourself and as such they would argue, you didn't follow their claim process.

Yes you can covertly record a conversation - A judge might not allow it as evidence. But if it corroborates a fact relevant to a claim, that is being denied then he/she might.
 
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If I go round, should I give him all my personal details- name, address etc or be evasive?
 
Give him the same details that someone like the HMRC or your business bank would send a letter to.

Nozzle
 
or email contact if he wants to send you a letter.

if he sends you a claim then you dispute up until the point you get a letter before action, refuting his claim and putting him to strict proof. Mark any offers without prejudice or admission of liability.
 
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