Just sharing the frustration. Thanks for your time!

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Arks

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Six nights/month (two 3-night weekends) a local institution rents one of my suites for an out-of-town contractor they bring in to work for them. Same guy every time. Here is the email I just sent to the "institution"...
Dear [Institution manager],
Below is the text I received from the housekeeper who cleaned the suite after [the guy] left Sunday. It’s not the first such message I’ve received about his habits, but they are mounting up.
I realize you all, like me, are working to make a difficult situation work.
------------------
[The guy] that was in [the suite] made a complete mess. He had someone there. A USED CONDOM inside of a bath towel. Gross. He is supposed to be educated.
All of the towels, hand towels, bath mats, wash cloths had horrible stains --- food, hair dye and who knows. Hair dye everywhere. I'm still working on one hand towel. I couldn't get all the dye off some places like bathroom floor and wood floor. If you will let me know when you will be there, I will show you the places.
------------------
I haven’t seen the dye damage to the tile and wood floors yet, but if solvents/cleaners/bleach can’t take it out, and I have to have flooring replaced, I’ll have to send you a bill.
I’m not complaining about the condom. That’s part of the hotel business. But damage to the towels and structure itself starts to cost me more money that it’s worth.
I’m not expecting you to fuss at [the guy]. He is what he is, and he’s not going to change. I’m just giving you a heads up that I might eventually get enough of him and have to ban him. I appreciate the 6 nights per month you are renting the suite, but that’s only 6 of 150 nights/month my 5 units are for rent, so I have to look at the big picture.
Thanks for allowing me to pass along my frustration!
[Arks]
 
OMG!!! That is ridiculous. Hair dye all over (on floors and tile) is not just doing business - one or two towels maybe, but not all of them. Your place is just too wonderful to have this. Has he been in the same unit each time or is he messing more than one (one is too many even). I applaud your letter to the company.
 
He's always in the same one, the largest one. Really, this extra work is all on the housekeepers, not me, so I'm thinking of upping the charge to this guy for the suite by $25/stay and giving that to the housekeeper (they only clean once, after he leaves on day 3).
 
try outdoor stone cleaner for the tile - my neighbour had a guest (we have a detox clinic here where it is supposed to be a 5 day program but they can leave after 4, ie 5th day is to make sure they are ok) but they are always really shakey on the release so then to throw up and its all the drugs they give them as part of the detox and is bright orange - that's what got that out of their tiles.
 
He's always in the same one, the largest one. Really, this extra work is all on the housekeepers, not me, so I'm thinking of upping the charge to this guy for the suite by $25/stay and giving that to the housekeeper (they only clean once, after he leaves on day 3)..
Why increase the price? I would have simply said that the extra costs of cleaning beyond the standard cost of business will be billed and let them realize that there is a cost.

If your standard cleaning cost is 1 hour at $15 plus supplies, ie $20. Then simply tell them that extra cleaning time beyond the standard 1 hour is being billed at $25 per hour, to compensate the housekeeper and pay for supplies.
They will likely tell him that anything beyond the standard, he's going to have to pay. And it's done. He'll likely realize the cost out of his pocket.
 
Hair dye is a little over the top. It's obvious he has no respect for your home and business. Business travelers can get jaded and entitled.
 
Hair dye? I bet it's self tanner - the spray-on stuff - or skin bronzer. It looks a treat on the beach and at clubs, but comes off on the towels and sheets and stains the tile.
I used so many things to remove it like nail polish remover with acetone, alcohol, the magic eraser, bleach - I think wd40 finally removed it and it might have been because I used all those other things as well, but you've got to open all the windows or you'll pass out!
I would say - pictures and an extra cleaning charge to whoever is paying the bill.
I wouldn't have mentioned the condom. That's just a guest with no class, rude and thoughtless. But I had chambermaids threaten to quit when they found them. We once had five in a beautifully folded up quilt. That was the lesson of the season. Shake out all folded quilts, blankets and comforters! Imagine if it had just been put on a chair or end of bed for the next guest and they had found them! Would have been given a nasty review and likely the guest would have demanded a refund.
 
Hair dye? I bet it's self tanner - the spray-on stuff - or skin bronzer. It looks a treat on the beach and at clubs, but comes off on the towels and sheets and stains the tile.
I used so many things to remove it like nail polish remover with acetone, alcohol, the magic eraser, bleach - I think wd40 finally removed it and it might have been because I used all those other things as well, but you've got to open all the windows or you'll pass out!
I would say - pictures and an extra cleaning charge to whoever is paying the bill.
I wouldn't have mentioned the condom. That's just a guest with no class, rude and thoughtless. But I had chambermaids threaten to quit when they found them. We once had five in a beautifully folded up quilt. That was the lesson of the season. Shake out all folded quilts, blankets and comforters! Imagine if it had just been put on a chair or end of bed for the next guest and they had found them! Would have been given a nasty review and likely the guest would have demanded a refund..
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
 
Damage like that gets billed to the credit card on file the day we find it. No ifs ands or buts. And after four years I only had one past guest with enough gall to challenge me on it. (He failed).
 
Did you get a response from your letter?.
Baygirl said:
Did you get a response from your letter?
So far not a word. But that's OK. I don't want a conversation. I just want them to know what's going on, so they aren't too surprised when I can this pig!
 
Hair dye? I bet it's self tanner - the spray-on stuff - or skin bronzer. It looks a treat on the beach and at clubs, but comes off on the towels and sheets and stains the tile.
I used so many things to remove it like nail polish remover with acetone, alcohol, the magic eraser, bleach - I think wd40 finally removed it and it might have been because I used all those other things as well, but you've got to open all the windows or you'll pass out!
I would say - pictures and an extra cleaning charge to whoever is paying the bill.
I wouldn't have mentioned the condom. That's just a guest with no class, rude and thoughtless. But I had chambermaids threaten to quit when they found them. We once had five in a beautifully folded up quilt. That was the lesson of the season. Shake out all folded quilts, blankets and comforters! Imagine if it had just been put on a chair or end of bed for the next guest and they had found them! Would have been given a nasty review and likely the guest would have demanded a refund..
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
.
TheBeachHouse said:
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
ha! yes. You are right.
Thank goodness no used condoms found (as far as I know)
 
Hair dye? I bet it's self tanner - the spray-on stuff - or skin bronzer. It looks a treat on the beach and at clubs, but comes off on the towels and sheets and stains the tile.
I used so many things to remove it like nail polish remover with acetone, alcohol, the magic eraser, bleach - I think wd40 finally removed it and it might have been because I used all those other things as well, but you've got to open all the windows or you'll pass out!
I would say - pictures and an extra cleaning charge to whoever is paying the bill.
I wouldn't have mentioned the condom. That's just a guest with no class, rude and thoughtless. But I had chambermaids threaten to quit when they found them. We once had five in a beautifully folded up quilt. That was the lesson of the season. Shake out all folded quilts, blankets and comforters! Imagine if it had just been put on a chair or end of bed for the next guest and they had found them! Would have been given a nasty review and likely the guest would have demanded a refund..
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
.
TheBeachHouse said:
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
ha! yes. You are right.
Thank goodness no used condoms found (as far as I know)
.
seashanty said:
TheBeachHouse said:
If a guest found used condoms in a room, they would not have time to demand a refund. I would have already offered it plus a gift certificate. :0
ha! yes. You are right.
Thank goodness no used condoms found (as far as I know)
Only by the poor, untipped, housekeeper.
 
... and by me. I was the one who found 'the five'
confused_smile.gif
I meant none found by guests, as far as I know ...
 
While I'm letting off steam...I just got a request for the next 3 nights, from the daughter of a local well-to-do couple. I know them, not good friends, but know them and have had dinner in their home, but have never met the daughter. She's in town visiting her parents but wants her own place at night. She wanted to be sure the room has a tub, and, oh, by the way...do you have a discount for local people?
Grrr. Everybody wants me to give them money.
I wrote back, yes, I can accommodate her, and quoted my regular rate. I didn't bring up the discount request. She took it and paid online. I looked up her home address on Google Maps because I wanted to know if she really might have needed a discount (not that I'm going to give one). She lives in a big 2-story brick colonial home in a very upscale neighborhood of Arlington, VA! Give me a break! That's ALWAYS the type of people who ask for a discount!
 
While I'm letting off steam...I just got a request for the next 3 nights, from the daughter of a local well-to-do couple. I know them, not good friends, but know them and have had dinner in their home, but have never met the daughter. She's in town visiting her parents but wants her own place at night. She wanted to be sure the room has a tub, and, oh, by the way...do you have a discount for local people?
Grrr. Everybody wants me to give them money.
I wrote back, yes, I can accommodate her, and quoted my regular rate. I didn't bring up the discount request. She took it and paid online. I looked up her home address on Google Maps because I wanted to know if she really might have needed a discount (not that I'm going to give one). She lives in a big 2-story brick colonial home in a very upscale neighborhood of Arlington, VA! Give me a break! That's ALWAYS the type of people who ask for a discount!.
If over the phone I'm asked for discounts and I tell them no, they typically say "well, it doesn't hurt to ask". Ummmmm, yes it does. It makes me think of them as cheap and I'll watch them more closely when they get here. More than likely they'll pull up in a very expensive car.
 
While I'm letting off steam...I just got a request for the next 3 nights, from the daughter of a local well-to-do couple. I know them, not good friends, but know them and have had dinner in their home, but have never met the daughter. She's in town visiting her parents but wants her own place at night. She wanted to be sure the room has a tub, and, oh, by the way...do you have a discount for local people?
Grrr. Everybody wants me to give them money.
I wrote back, yes, I can accommodate her, and quoted my regular rate. I didn't bring up the discount request. She took it and paid online. I looked up her home address on Google Maps because I wanted to know if she really might have needed a discount (not that I'm going to give one). She lives in a big 2-story brick colonial home in a very upscale neighborhood of Arlington, VA! Give me a break! That's ALWAYS the type of people who ask for a discount!.
If over the phone I'm asked for discounts and I tell them no, they typically say "well, it doesn't hurt to ask". Ummmmm, yes it does. It makes me think of them as cheap and I'll watch them more closely when they get here. More than likely they'll pull up in a very expensive car.
.
Only if you have a Military, Police, or Fire ID.
I did give a free upgrade this week - ONLY because I did not want to do extra laundry. The room they booked is the one used by our band flute player Tuesday nights (she drives 90 min one way through DEER country) and since the Concert is tonight, will have only 1 more night (I do not flip that room unless I need all 3). Did not make sense to flip the room for a 1-nighter, flip it again for the flute for 1 night, and flip again. Easier to just give them the ensuite room.
 
While I'm letting off steam...I just got a request for the next 3 nights, from the daughter of a local well-to-do couple. I know them, not good friends, but know them and have had dinner in their home, but have never met the daughter. She's in town visiting her parents but wants her own place at night. She wanted to be sure the room has a tub, and, oh, by the way...do you have a discount for local people?
Grrr. Everybody wants me to give them money.
I wrote back, yes, I can accommodate her, and quoted my regular rate. I didn't bring up the discount request. She took it and paid online. I looked up her home address on Google Maps because I wanted to know if she really might have needed a discount (not that I'm going to give one). She lives in a big 2-story brick colonial home in a very upscale neighborhood of Arlington, VA! Give me a break! That's ALWAYS the type of people who ask for a discount!.
Is it bad that when they ask if I have a CAA/AAA discount that I want to add on 10%. The average cost of a car per annum is $10K.... if they can afford the car and the AAA membership, they certainly don't need the discounts.
 
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