Mr Clean Windows

I wish I would have read these reviews about Mr. Clean Window Cleaning, owned by Jim Crain, before hiring his company to clean our windows. Dealing with Jim Crain has been the worst experience of our 20+ years of home ownership. Around the same time we hired Crain?s company, we hired companies to paint the interior, clean the roof and walls, clean carpets, and clean and seal tile and grout. All contractors honored their agreements, addressed any issues, and were paid. The following summarizes what we have had to endure to date by hiring Jim Crain?s company.

We agreed to pay Crain?s company $299 to clean glass inside and out, clean window frames, clean screens, and clean sliding door tracks. In addition, we were to get a special coating put on the windows, a $75 value ?for free?. Their estimate was five hours. We thought the price was high, but decided to move forwarded since he listed an ?A? rating on Angie?s List and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on his website. When the workers arrived, we confirmed the work and asked about the special coating. We were told it was in the cleaning solution. So much for the special coating. The two workers were done in 1.5 hours. I guess Crain thinks $100 per man hour to clean windows is appropriate. My wife was asked to sign their Customer Satisfaction form stating that she had inspected all work, we were totally satisfied, all work was finished and there was no property damage. That turned out to be a huge mistake and continues to be used against us. I guess my wife should have left the two workers in the kitchen while she checked the 20+ windows, frames, screens and doors inside and out, including getting a ladder out to check the second floor windows. Instead, she trusted Crain?s worker when he told her not to worry about it and sign the form because Mr. Clean would come out and take care of any issues. When I came home and we inspected the work Crain?s company did, we found that much of the work had not been done. Numerous pictures of the results of Crain?s work are available upon request by sending an email to [email protected]. We called Crain?s office twice and were told someone would get back to us, but no one ever did, so we cancelled the check a few days later. We finally heard from Crain when he found out the check was cancelled and that?s when the ?fun? started. Not once through this entire process has Crain come out to inspect the work his company did. Instead, he uses the fact that we signed the form and the Florida laws that unintentionally protect companies like his to come after us. We even sent him payment for the ?discounted? 50% price he requested in a letter full of misstatements and contradictions just to get rid of him. We sent the payment certified and restricted delivery to make sure Crain got it and couldn?t claim we didn?t pay. Well, it?s been a month and it is still sitting at the Post Office. We are now receiving letters from a debt collection company that includes Crain?s last name in the company name for the entire amount plus fees, with Florida?s felony statutes attached. We have had to file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Florida State Attorney Office, and the Better Business Bureau. Sadly I expect this to end up in civil or criminal court and need to take steps and incur costs to protect our family and property.

All of this instead of Crain coming out to inspect his work and honor his 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you still want to consider using Crain?s company after reading this and other reviews, I would suggest consulting with an attorney to understand the Florida statutes, your rights, and the information you should collect from him to protect yourself before allowing him to do the work. And whatever you do, Do not sign his Customer Satisfaction form until you have thoroughly inspected all work. Or, save yourself the potential aggravation, stress, worry, and cost and just use another company. I expect that I will be attacked in a response like other reviewers have for posting this review. Hopefully that will be the extent of it. It seems like Crain would rather operate this way than actually do the work he was paid to do.

Crain: Since you have never come out to see the results of your work or picked up the letter that included pictures, I?m happy to send you the pictures as well. Also, as you responded to another reviewer who wasn?t 100% satisfied, please feel free to take us you customer list.

Several months ago I gave this company a bad review.  After hearing from the owner, and assuring me he had fired the previous people who had come to my house, I decided I would give them one last try.  I am happy to report that the gentleman who came to clean today was most professional and did an excellent job.  I would welcome him back into my home to clean again.

My only wish was that two guys would come so the job could be completed quicker.

This provider totally ruined our aquarium window.  Unfortunately, we noticed it late because we left for a trip soon after the windows were cleaned.  There is about a 1 1/2 hour time when the sun hits this window just right and the scratches are extremely visible.  I called the company and was reassured that they would take care of it, they were insured.  The gentleman set up an appointment for the cleaner to come out at 5 pm that evening to take a look at it.  He did not show up.  I called the next day.  Said the cleaner would call me.  Nope.  Sent a message the next day - nothing.  Finally on the fourth day, I was able to reach the owner who put the cleaner on the phone who said there was no way that he had caused the damage.  He did agree to come out and look but again, denied responsibility.  This is TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS worth of  damage that we completely believe this company caused.  If you let this company clean your windows (which would be insane), do not let them anywhere near your aquarium window. ( Please note that there was another complaint about damage to aquarium window). The cleaner kept saying that there should be damage to the other windows if his tools were to blame.  We  were told by the glass replacement company  that the aquarium windows are softer than other windows and are more prone to damage.  We will have this window restored and file a claim with the BBB as well as investigate small claims court action.  While they will tell you they are insured, they will not admit culpability which leaves you with NOTHING!  As can be seen from their response, the fall-back position is to accuse the customer of dishonesty by trying to have previous damage fixed at their expense.  We believe as strongly that they caused the damage as they contend they didn't.  We have no intention of ruining this company's reputation but believe that there is value in sharing experiences to prevent others from experiencing same.  If the only thing that comes out of this is that people understand the vulnerability of the aquarium window, then so be it.  No window glass cleaner will ever touch our aquarium window again.

The Provider came out on March 10th to do a window cleaning and while here he had difficulty removing a few screens (new and a little tight).  Right after he started he bend and broke one of the screens and could not get another off.  I instructed him to go ahead and leave and I would have the builder come out and try to remove the remaining screens and call him.  He took the broken screen and stated since he did damage it he would have it fixed and bring back when he came back.  He was to fix and call back to reschedule.  We did not hear form him so we called the company on April 28th and they rescheduled for May 1st.  We mentioned the young man and the screen repair and they stated they would make sure he has it with him.

May 1st the same cleaner showed up and had the still damaged screen with him stating that he forgot to get it repaired, but would take the repair cost off the bill ($25.00) and we could get it fixed, we agreed.  Although now we have to take the time to have the screen repaired or replaced as when I called ACE Hardware they stated due to the broken and split side they most likely have to replace not repair.

He then started to clean the windows but never opened the windows to clean the tracks, we mentioned this to him and he did a very poor job at cleaning the tracks.

He was getting ready to leave and we informed him he had not replaced the screen on the windows and he said we could do that as he was afraid of damaging again.  I asked him to at least put the 2nd floor up as I do not have a ladder to do this.  HE did and left the 1st floor for me to do...  UGH...  

All and all a very mediocre job.