questions and answers
Customers often have a number of questions before contacting a cleaning contractor. They may have had a difficult experience with an existing or previous cleaning contractor or perhaps feel a little overwhelmed in arranging this service. We have tried to answer some of the most common questions below but we know that our potential customers may have many more questions which we would be happy to answer.
Click on any of the questions below to reveal the corresponding answer. You can also click the links here to: expand all or collapse all
Q1: What is your hourly rate?
We don't have a set hourly rate as each site has different requirements. As part of our site visits we will require to find out the level and frequency of service required. We also take into account what machinery, materials and whether any other services (eg window cleaning, carpet cleaning etc) are required as part of our costings. From this information we can provide you with a weekly rate (exclusive of VAT) which ensures that you will only pay for the level and frequency of service that you require. By not setting an hourly rate we can ensure our customers are not overcharged for something they may not need.
Typically our costs start from £10 per hour (exc VAT), however as stated above there are many factors to consider, therefore each customer receives their own individual costing based on their own site's requirements.
Q2: Can you give me a price on the phone or via email?
Unfortunately it is not possible to provide an accurate costing without first seeing the premises or job required. We would arrange to visit the premises or site so that we can gather the information we require to provide an accurate costing.
Q3: Do you supply all the cleaning materials and machinery required?
We supply all the cleaning materials and machinery required to undertake the job. Please note that 'cleaning materials' does not include consumable items such as toilet rolls, handtowels, bin liners etc. We can provide these items if required and costs can be provided.
All the equipment and machinery we provide is PAT (Portable Appliance Tested) tested regularly.
Q4: Will we always have the same cleaner(s)?
Yes, we try to keep the same staff on each site as this provides the customer with a sense of continuity and the cleaner(s) get to know the customer and the site. This can help to allay any concerns over security that our customers may have, especially where cleaning staff are required to lock the premises and set alarms.
Q5: What happens if the cleaner(s) is off sick or on holiday?
We recognise that when cleaning staff go on holiday or are off sick for any period of time this can leave a contract with either little or no cleaning cover at all. We also realise this is usually where many other companies fall down.
We ensure that where cleaning staff notify us of absence in advance, relief staff are arranged and, if necessary, are inducted to the work required on site. Where cleaning staff provide little or no notice of absence, we will provide relief cover as soon as possible but no later than the following working day. Alternatively, we will arrange for other cleaning staff on site to work additional hours to cover duties at no additional cost to the customer. We do try to ensure that cover is provided by an existing member of our staff.
Q6: Are you insured?
Yes, we have comprehensive insurance cover which includes Public Liability up to £2m, Employers Liability of up to £10m and cover for the loss of keys/replacement of locks.
Q7: Are your staff vetted?
Yes, we conduct checks on all our staff and ask for 2 references and in addition check their right to work in the UK, proof of address, bank, national insurance number and require photo ID. If required we will also arrange for a Disclosure check to be undertaken.
Q8: Do your staff receive regular training and development?
As a company, we set ourselves extremely high standards, and we expect these standards to be followed through across all areas of our work by all of our staff. Our cleaning staff are carefully selected and undergo a full training assessment when they start with the company. Ongoing training is provided as part of our 12 week induction programme and training is continuously reviewed and provided as part of our Performance Development System.
Q9: Do you have a high staff turnover?
No, we value our staff as our greatest asset. We pride ourselves on a low staff turnover, attributing this to good pay and working conditions, thorough training, on-going supervision, and reward and recognition for a job well done. Some of our staff have remained on the same site since the start of that contract.
Q10: Will it be difficult to transfer our cleaning service to you?
No, our Operations Directors are very experienced at starting new sites. They can talk to you about any concerns you may have, whether this is complying with TUPE Regulations if you have existing staff to transfer over, or taking over from a previous contractor within a tight deadline. We are always happy to assist our potential customers where we can to try to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Q11: Do we have to sign a contract?
Yes, you will need to sign a contract before cleaning services commence. This sets out our costs and our terms and conditions and is essential to protect both the customer and ourselves.
Q12: Do we have to give you a long notice period if we are not happy with the service?
We hope that all our customers are happy with our services and if there is a problem we try to resolve it quickly (usually within 24 hours). We try to nip any problems in the bud before they become a problem.
Many companies ask for a long notice period, however we realise that if a customer is truly unhappy with the service they are receiving and issues cannot be resolved, we ask for 1 months notice from either party to allow us to speak with our staff and try to find them alternative work.
Q13: How do we pay you?
Customers can pay by BACs or by cheque. We have standard 30 days payment terms from date of invoice.
Q14: Can you provide references?
We would be happy to arrange a reference from an existing customer which will give you an independent view of our services and our staff. If you are interested in obtaining a customer reference please ask us to organise this when you
call to arrange an appointment with us.