I don't know what we're going to do

We own our own window cleaning business doing commercial work; and have some very small jobs and other much bigger jobs we do. Our biggest job is a group of care homes which is our main source of income. Today we have received a letter thanking us for our service over the years but saying they will no longer require us after this month. It came totally out of the blue, no pre warning or discussion what-so-ever. Steve phoned them straight away asking why and basically they said that due to health and safety (not by the Law but by them and their own risk assessments) they need a company which works with different equipment, not going up ladders etc. Plus they've found a new company and if we want to compete we ned to drop our price by £600 a year. So Steve said to them that they could have told us they wanted the new equipment, etc, before they went behind our backs to someone new. He also said that if he had the new equipment he would be able to do the work quicker which is why the other company have quoted cheaper because they can get it done in less time.

He explained that their jobs are our main source of income and to take that away with one weeks warning will basically leave us with no livelihood. So the woman he spoke to said she'd try to defer the senior partners from signing the contract with the other company so we can write up new risk assessments and put in new CHEAPER quotes. But the thing is that firstly they expect the new company to start in December so that doesn't leave us much time; and secondly the new equipment plus a new van which we'd need to fit the equipment into would cost anywhere between £2000-£4000. Where would we get that from? We have no savings and we couldn't afford a loan as we only just get by now.

Steve has only ever done Window Cleaning, for 17 years now; and I'm a full time mum expecting our 3rd baby. If we loose this we've got nothing and Steve can't get into another job now starting from the bottom as it wouldn't pay enough money, nor would he have the spirit to start again with anything else. Not to mention that I would have lost all the money I originally invested to do this business, which was everything I had saved for about 8 years,(we bought an existing business so Steve didn't have to work for someone else any more).

I'm so worried and even if they say "Ok you can keep the jobs" we'll still have to get the equipment with nothing, or alternatively lose the work and lose most of our income. The other jobs we have would not be enough to live off and it's not a good time to be looking for new customers. With another baby on the way especially this is the worst time to have more strain on our relationship. I can't see a way out for us. I can't believe they didn't talk to us before and ask if we could sort out the safety issues to fit in with their new policies. I feel so crap.

OH no hun!! Could you maybe get a small business loan?? I don't really have any advise to offer but I hope it works out that you guys can keep this account.

I totally feel for your situation hun, I wish I could say something more to help you 😘

Aww hun, that sounds terrible 🙁 and such bad luck. I can't believe they have ceen so mean to you. Especially if they have had years of good service. It would be just common curtesy to have informed you of their situation regarding the new risk assesments. What is wrong with some people? 🤔 I don't know much about this sort of thing but i would say go and make an appointment at the CAB they may be able to offer you some advice or tell you about the possibility of any grants you may be entitled to as a small business that could help with the cost of the new equipment? I'm so sorry i couldn't be more help hun. 😘 😘 😘 I really hope you can find a way of getting this sorted Xx

I've no good advice either hun, I'm sorry 😘

Is there any way he could try and get a little more business in a town centre, or try to see if there are any other care homes he could try? It seems a little fishy to me that they suddenly decided to change...

😘 I dont know what to say, I hope you find a solution. 😘

that sounds crap - im so sorry 🙁

could you go on a new advertising spree, get some leaflets made up and deliver them by hand to some more places

do it personally and have a freindly chat with the staff/managers introduce yourself etc etc

hopefully you can get some regular places to fill the care home gaps and then i suggest you start to save as you will one day need this new equipment

:kiss:Thats not a nice thing to happen, i hope they rethink about the situation they have put you in. I hope everything works out for you guys.xx

Thanks everyone. At the minute we're no closer to knowing either way. Steve has spoken to them again and they have said we have to produce our own Health and Safety policies and do individual Risk assessments for each home, then submit to them along with the new CHEAPER quotes, etc etc. Then they will look at ours and the other companies and see 🤔 Steve explained that if they do stay with us and we get all this equipment we'd want a contract with them as we'd be buying the equipment only for their jobs and otherwise we'd be wasting the money we haven't got. He also pointed out that after many years service to them (and having done nothing wrong) it seemed very out of order that they would terminate with us with only 1 WEEKS NOTICE and said to them surely they could have the courtesy to atleast let us work for them until the end of the year, which they have agreed to. But it doesn't sound very hopeful that they will keep us on as the other company are a big company with all the relevant policies and paper work already in place and for them it's just another job of many. As a one man band Steve doesn't have the luxury of money to throw around for this and that.

I have actually been online and there was a long paper to fill out with all details of income, children in the home etc etc and it tells you what you are intitled to in terms of financial help. I entered what our new lower income would be with only our other remaining jobs, and we would be entitled to help with SOME of our rent and council tax. Which would hopefully give us a chance to look for some other work BUT with the economy the way it is a Window Cleaner isn't a priority for some people. We really don't want to give up on the business though so if it comes to it that is what we'll have to do. Steve said from my point of view he'd be at home more so I'd get more help from him, but I said I'd rather him still have the work to go and do. He seems quite affected by it actually, normally nothing bothers him. He's very distant and seems to be isolating himself. I'm not having a go about it though because I respect this is his way to deal with it 🙁

😘 I'm so glad you guys can see atleast getting through the next month 😘

I'm sending you and your family all the positive thoughts I can right now that there will be something better in the near future that will help get and keep you guys on track. I only have 1 child and I'm stressing over finances (always) so I can't even begin to imagine what it's feeling like for you with 2 (and a half 😀 ).... Keep trying to think positive, I really feel when people do that then positive stuff happens (even with all my ups and downs, I feel blessed and I always try to keep a positive outlook on life, as hard as it gets sometimes).

Chin up babe!! And kudos to you too for letting your dh handle this in his own way, just try not to let too much quietness or distance come between the two of you, keep the communication lines always open if you can...

😘 😘 😘 😘

Oh hun....

Don't really know what to say - as you may or may not know we run our own Industrial Cleaning business - Commercial Kitchens, Hot Extract Systems, High levels, Factories, Washrooms etc.

Would it not be worth hiring the equipment for the time being? Alot of hire firms drop them off at the location you require it and pick it up - or you could hire a van for the equipment too.

It's such a hard game to play and i know it will not help you now but in the future you may want to draw up some contracts with companies such as this - especially if it is your main source of income. (ie contracts that stipulate that they are agreeing to use and pay for the service for two years and if they retract or cancel they still owe the amount set).

See if you can get your Local Business Link office to have a meeting with you - they are able to giv eyou your own persoanly advisor and can apply for grants / loans through them. Also seek out your local Federation of Small Businesses rep and arrange meeting with them - they may be able to help you with gettign loans and drawing up contracts etc etc.....

Huge hugs hunni and i hope you can get through this. xxxx

Well after this whole month of being fobbed off and not knowing where we stand, all the stress putting Steve into a depression and me having panick attacks from the worry; we finally have our answer.
We put in so much effort and hard work to battle against the big company and we did it!! The client is staying with us AND has also given us more work on top of what we had. Steve is in a really good mood and I am so relieved. But we still have to get a loan to buy the equipment so hopefully we'll be able to sort that out quickly.

well that is great news, got to keep the job and more work! 😀

Hope you can get the loan sorted for the equipment!

Thats great news hun. hope the loan comes through smoothly x

Aww that is fab news hun 😀 I hope the panic attacks are better now, believe me i know how nasty they can be! I really hope the loan is sorted quickly for you. It is so nice to hear the smaller companies don't always lose out to the bigger boys. Plus as you have some extra jobs allocated for you maybe it won't be as hard as you thought to pay the loan you are having to get back. 😀 Well done hun Xx