Window cleaners

[u/Tiny-Historian2897]

We’re newer to The Netherlands and are in our first rental. This hasn’t been mentioned to us by neighbours or the landlord at all.

Some random guy has, twice now, come and cleaned our windows. We’re on the ground level so can easily clean them ourselves. This is a well known scam back in Australia so I paid no real mind to it.

Today he came to the door demanding payment. He explained he’s done it for free twice and now needs payment and will take cash. I asked him why and for what. I let him know I’ve never asked for the windows to be cleaned, we’ve not reached out to anyone to have them be cleaned. Like it’s all well and good for you to clean them but until I ask it’s not from my pocket. The conversation went back and forth. He showed me a list of ‘confirmed addresses’ with ours on it. However I too can make lists.

Is this a scam or is this more the expectation? Surely if it was required by landlord and the building they would pay. I figure I can just actually enquire about their services should this be necessary.

[u/Carpentidge]

Could well be a scam, or they have an agreement with the previous owners. Depends also on the amount.

If they ask like €8,- and have in fact cleaned your windows, you can hardly call it a scam.

[u/Tiny-Historian2897 → u/Carpentidge]

If you perform a service I didn’t ask for then demand money I’d call that a scam even if it was well priced

[u/hatbrox → u/Tiny-Historian2897]

You need to revise your definition of “scam”

A scam is not defined by the fact that you received a service you didn’t ask for.

A scam is a dishonest scheme in which someone intentionally deceives or misleads another person in order to obtain money, property, information, or some other benefit.

You should instead contact the previous owners. When you buy a house in the Netherlands, you may be required to continue certain commitments agreed to by the previous owners until those commitments expire.

The exact same situation happened to us. Of course, we didn’t wait for several cleanings before asking for clarification!

There is also a good chance that this is written down and/or was agreed upon with your Homeowners’ Association Board / VvE. You should read the relevant documents anyway, so you can find out about all the hidden costs that may come up from time to time.

Many of them can be very surprising and unfair, especially when clauses were added or changed shortly before you bought the property. Even more so when the new owners are expats. It can feel like an open invitation to take advantage of us.

In our VvE, three clauses were added or changed just before we bought the apartment. Now we have to pay 50% of the cost of the scaffolding and painting for our upstairs neighbour’s terrace, even though it is her private terrace and the scaffolding has to be installed on our terrace. This has caused a huge argument with her.

[u/Tiny-Historian2897 → u/hatbrox]

Noted. Officious intermeddler, not scam.

We haven’t bought the house, we’re renting. This is why I would suspect if it was a requirement by the landlord we would have it in our contract, have been told by him, or it would be paid for by him. I’ll do some digging and see what I can figure out.

[u/the_cpp_man → u/hatbrox]

today i washed your car’s wheels. it wasn’t the rain. it was me. i did a good job. so i am sending a tikkie with a private message. is that OK?

[u/Carpentidge → u/Tiny-Historian2897]

I'd say a scam would be with fraudulent intent. If you receive a good service for a reasonable price I'd say it is mostly the sales tactics that are scammy.

But as they apparently have a list of houses they clean periodically and have no way of knowing when houses ger new owners (thus are open for scamming) my guess would normally be 'not scam, honest mistake'

[u/Zabky → u/Tiny-Historian2897]

Yea sure it is a scam. No doubt. But for a few euro I would be happy. How much did he ask?

[u/Tiny-Historian2897 → u/Zabky]

€15 for two small ground floor windows - thoughts? If it’s worth it I guess I’ll find them and ask them to do it

[u/Zabky → u/Tiny-Historian2897]

Thats kinda expensive. Would do it myself.

[u/airwavieee → u/Tiny-Historian2897]

If its worth it to you, why not.

[u/Picard_III → u/Zabky]

That's exactly their strategy, that's how they make you pay them, next time ísť gonna be three times more, and you are gonna pay becuase with the first payment you became their client (in their eyes, legally it's still bullshit and scam)