Windscreen Cleaners, Northbourne Ave and the meaning of NO

I’ve never had trouble with Mr Hindmarsh/Melrose, I went through that intersection every weekday for over a year. But I was usually going through it at about 4.30pm when there were plenty of other people there for him to harrass. He did clean my windscreen once after I said no, but he did such a fantastic job (and it was pretty filthy) that I gave him all the cash I had – $2. He was so grateful it was kinda embarrassing, not to mention depressing.

Mr Northbourne/Antill is the one that really gets to me though. I try to avoid that intersection as much as possible because everytime I’m stopped he washes my windscreen, no matter what I say. Even with my boyfriend in the car. I’ve never paid him because he doesn’t do a good job, but he’s never abused me either… he just kinda stares long enough for me to get uncomfortable before walking away. I do feel I have my death stare down pat though (enough for the Civic junk-ette in the check coat to leave me alone) so maybe I turn that on him without realising…

Mr Hindmarsh/Melrose has always stayed away when I shake my head.

About 10d ago he was working at 2pm on one of those days it was a gazillion degrees. He must be frigging crazy! It was about the only time I’ve felt inclined to give him money, wouldn’t have wanted the window washed tho.

I always say no, and occasionally one will wash my windscreen anyway. I say thanks but don’t give them money.

Frankly, they’re a public nuisance and sneed to be removed. The fact that they pick on women and the elderly makes it worse.

Maybe next time someone should stop at the lights while they’re up the other end and deliberatly knock their bucket of water over. Small and petty, but maybe they’ll get the message that they’re not wanted.

I was unfortunate enough to be the first and only car to pull up at the Hindmarsh/Melrose intersection recently, and to have my window down. After refusing the window wash, the guy started chatting to me about my car. For ages. Oh and he called me “babe”. I was praying for the lights to change QUICKLY lol

The ones on Northbourne and at Dickson always wash my window when I say no, but I’ve never paid them and they’ve never been rude about it. Seems like there’s a lot of mixed stories about their attitudes though!

Thought I’d run a search on RA to see if anyone had had any negative experiences with our mate in the blue wife-beater who makes a living at the Hindmarsh/Melrose interesection. And I’m not surprised to see they have.

My frail old dad (who is recovering from a recent heart attack) was sitting at the lights there earlier today with his window down. When he politely said “no thanks” to this grub, to his astonishment he was called a f**king c**t. I really had to hold myself back from going straight down there and dropping this tool like a bad habit. But revenge is a dish best served cold they say…

The thin guy at Northbourne/Barry Drive had Woolies no-name dishwashing detergent last time I looked, which does wonders for your duco. Always seems to go for the women alone in their cars. He tried to wash my window once, but after yelling no I took off my seatbelt and made to open the car door. He backed off in a hurry. Better memory than a goldfish, never been harassed since.

Hey rob_phill: Next time you’re in touch with him tell him to put some fcking SOAP in the water he’s using to ‘clean’ windscreens.

+1

I complained about this guy early on, purely for the fact he has cleaned my window at least a dozen times and not ONCE could I see out my window when he was finished…

Davo111 said :

Special G said :

If they approach my car I wind the window down and tell them I will get out punch the shit out of them should they touch it. Works every time.

How about spraying them with a can of that wasp killer – you know, the stuff you can pick up from Bunnings that has a range of about 10m?

I wouldn’t let them anywhere near my car (if I had one!) because most of the time they use sh1t like Black and Gold dishwashing detergent in their bucket, and a $2 squeegie from the Warehouse.

PigsFly said :

el said :

On a positive note, the window washer that hangs out near the Ford dealer (Hindmarsh/Melrose) seems really good, always asks,

Untrue.

Ditto. Never a nice word or action from this jerk.

TP 3000 said :

Back in January ’09 I saw an incident at the Hindmarsh Drive/Melrose Drive lights where the person said no to the guy. But they didn’t pay & he squirted the washing liquid all over the windscreen & the lady had the use the windscreen wipers.

EXACTLY what happened to me but in late March. I felt like keeping a water pistol in the car solely to squirt at him should he dare to hurl abuse at me again.

fill it with citric acid. that’ll learn him.

To quote Mr T…

“GET SOME NUTS”

I’ve always told them ‘no’ and never had a problem. You’re well within your rights to be rude and abusive if they don’t get the message.

Most of them are pretty withered and frail from their various addictions and quite easy to take if the situation escalates.

Having said that the guy at the lights on Northbourne near Dickson is a decent enough fella.

Wow – I wasn’t expecting this much of a response, but in a way it is comforting to know I’m not the only one who’s getting frustrated and to a point being harrassed.

The unfortunate thing is from my point of view it seems to be the minority of washers with bad behaviour (aka Mr Dirty Beard on cnr of Northbourne and Barry Dr) which are affecting, for lack of a better word, the livelihood of others.

I know these guys (and girls) are doing it tough, otherwise they wouldn’t be washing windscreens at traffic lights, but to be perfectly honest, you’re not going to get any sympathy or support out of me when you continue to be rude and abusive to me!

el said :

On a positive note, the window washer that hangs out near the Ford dealer (Hindmarsh/Melrose) seems really good, always asks,

Untrue.

Ditto. Never a nice word or action from this jerk.

TP 3000 said :

Back in January ’09 I saw an incident at the Hindmarsh Drive/Melrose Drive lights where the person said no to the guy. But they didn’t pay & he squirted the washing liquid all over the windscreen & the lady had the use the windscreen wipers.

EXACTLY what happened to me but in late March. I felt like keeping a water pistol in the car solely to squirt at him should he dare to hurl abuse at me again.

byt2007 said :

Another tale of harassment here: finally sick of multiple incidences of having my windscreen washed after clearly indicating no, I turned on my windscreen wipers and was abused as a “f—— c—” and was given the finger. It was an older, thin guy.

I always feel nervous approaching those intersections in my car, and unfortunately I live only a couple of blocks away from the Barry Drive/Northbourne intersection. The anxiety is much worse as a (female) pedestrian however, and I have to walk past them a dozen or so times a week.

I have sympathy for your plight – it is simply unacceptable to feel harrassed each day on your way to wherever you are going – by foot or road. Unacceptable. Rob Phil – if this is your mate, could you please, please ask him to cease and desist?

Another tale of harassment here: finally sick of multiple incidences of having my windscreen washed after clearly indicating no, I turned on my windscreen wipers and was abused as a “f—— c—” and was given the finger. It was an older, thin guy.

I always feel nervous approaching those intersections in my car, and unfortunately I live only a couple of blocks away from the Barry Drive/Northbourne intersection. The anxiety is much worse as a (female) pedestrian however, and I have to walk past them a dozen or so times a week.

Danman said :

Or this guy maybe (Stuffed html tag)

I definately look alot like that guy except can dance the exploding chicken like Bruce Lee.
Yo yo yo fo shizzle.

rob_phill said :

For those who were interested I can actually confirm that the window washer from the lights of Northbourne and Antill (Dickson side) does declare his total income.

I just felt I needed to set the record straight as I don’t believe he has access to an internet connection to defend himself

does he also carry professional indemnity insurance? Public liability insurance? What happens if he damages my vehicle ???????

Special G said :

If they approach my car I wind the window down and tell them I will get out punch the shit out of them should they touch it. Works every time.

I think i love you…. 😛

Back in January ’09 I saw an incident at the Hindmarsh Drive/Melrose Drive lights where the person said no to the guy. But they didn’t pay & he squirted the washing liquid all over the windscreen & the lady had the use the windscreen wipers.

I always say no & if they do it, I never pay. In fact if I see them at my intersection I’ll be naughty & race the lights or turn left just to avoid them. But if I am stuck & say no, they go past me. It must have to do with my ACT Rural Fire Service stickers on the front & rear windscreens.

On a positive note, the window washer that hangs out near the Ford dealer (Hindmarsh/Melrose) seems really good, always asks,

Untrue.

Hey rob_phill: Next time you’re in touch with him tell him to put some fcking SOAP in the water he’s using to ‘clean’ windscreens.

Also – for ages he had a sign up saying ‘seeking work’, so maybe window washing isn’t his best option.

I do sometimes avoid northbourne to avoid the window washers tho.

For those who were interested I can actually confirm that the window washer from the lights of Northbourne and Antill (Dickson side) does declare his total income.

I just felt I needed to set the record straight as I don’t believe he has access to an internet connection to defend himself

Someone create a petition – http://www.petitiononline.com – After it gets quite a few signatures we can send it to the politicians to get some action on this.

– Mark

Is this bearded bent over guy, who will wish you a good day and wash your windscreen for nothing, or one of the hordes of younger washies that also pick out all the ciggy butts from the bins around that area?

Maybe it’s just because I’m an ugly lookin guy, but my shake of the head to indicate no always works for me. I have seen they wash the windscreen of other cars unwanted and haven’t been paid, they haven’t said much to it though. I wouldn’t pay them if they did it against my wishes and if you had a really bad time with them a quick call to the police may help. I have seen them leading one away from an intersection a while back.

I was driving from UC to Queanbeyan to get a chip in my windscreen fixed when one of the guys came up, i declined and he washed my windscreen anyway which meant I couldn’t get my windscreen fixed because of the water in the chip. So I had to drive all the way back out again a few days later. I was seriously pissed off. The windscreen glass guy recommended the putting on the windscreen wipers method too.

Or this guy maybe (Stuffed html tag)

If they approach my car I wind the window down and tell them I will get out punch the shit out of them should they touch it. Works every time.

I bet you don’t

I bet you’re more like this guy

I actually avoid that intersection because I hate feeling harrassed. He definitely picks on unaccompanied ladies, as this has never happened with my husband in the car.

If they approach my car I wind the window down and tell them I will get out punch the shit out of them should they touch it. Works every time.

My taxes pay for them to use the roads, they should all be registered!!!!.

Never pay him, they will learn.

Otherwise call the police and say there is a bloke running on the road harassing motorists.

The guy who washes windscreens at the Northbourne/Barry Drive intersection has been interviewed by the Canberra Times a few times. He says he has a chequered past which would make it difficult to gain other employment, so he washes windscreens to top up the dole money he receives! And I believe he has serious health problems, as he was gone for a while and some young guys were in his spot, I queried it and they said he was in hospital and they were minding his spot for him. This was a while ago, and he did look more stooped over when he got back.
Interesting that he admitted to claiming the dole along with his earnings from window washing!

The guy at Northbourne/Antill(Mouat) didn’t seem to care that I was shaking my head and proceeded to wash my windscreen on Saturday morning. I kept the window wound up and kept looking forward with a filthy look on my face and he didn’t even ask for money.

However, the job done was OK, unlike others above with less worthwhile experiences from the same intersection.

IMHO they need to reprogram the traffic lights to ultra-short change time to move these guys along.

Having said that, I’d like to see someone start selling transparent stickers to stick across the bottom of my windscreen near the wipers that say “DO NOT WASH THIS WINDOW”

grunge_hippy said :

Very Busy said :

fabforty said :

that wasnt what happened at all. i was friends with the victim and that is an urban myth for want of a better explanation.

Thanks, I always wondered if the story was true. I suspected that someone on here would be in the know.

On a positive note, the window washer that hangs out near the Ford dealer (Hindmarsh/Melrose) seems really good, always asks, cleans the windscreen ok and doesn’t look like his other occupation is ‘robbing your house’.

Turn your windscreen wipers (and water) on. I think he’ll get the idea.

Very Busy said :

fabforty said :

As Mimiboo points out, the ACT still makes allowances in its road rules to allow window washers. I’m sure they will only re-think it when someone is hurt or worse.

I recall a few years back there was a fatal accident at the intersection of Dalrymple St and Hindmarsh Drive. The story at the time was that a lady waiting at the lights in Dalrymple Street was having her windscreen cleaned by one of these guys. When he finished the job she proceeded to go but the distraction caused her to proceed through a red light and she collided with a truck coming down Hindmarsh Drive.

I do not know as fact if this is all true but there is no longer a windscreen washer at that intersection. This would be reason enough though to ban them completely. I don’t think there could be any doubt that there is an element of danger to the practice.

that wasnt what happened at all. i was friends with the victim and that is an urban myth for want of a better explanation.

It is really funny i have never had any experience like the on in the story.
Actually most of the people i have encountered have been quite friendly. Usually if i don’t have any change when they ask i just say so, and quite a few times the guy has said something along the lines of no probs this one is on the house.

Sure most of them don’t look like the most likable characters but you know the olds saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

I think some of the time they will give you a free clean if they have had no takers in that set of lights so that they look busy to the rest of the traffic in the next round. As somebody who has done a bit of street performing this makes perfect sense and usually they don’t expect any money when that happens.

I hear you loud and clear C-Biz. Those people just make me dizzy.
My sisters and I had a similar experience, though not quite as extreme. He didn’t get angry that we hadn’t given him much but it was extremely obvious that we were not interested in the first place.
I’m just so torn because .. well if I was in that situation I’d probably be doing the same thing.

It’s triccckkky

Not to say this in defense of the windscreen cleaners but just for my 2c. Since I have had my own car I’ve only encountered one fellow at the intersection of Northbourne avenue, between Dickson and Lyneham and heading towards EPIC. I clearly refused and the guy gave me some sign that indicated “I’m happy to do it anyway”. He then moved on to the next car.

I’m not a woman but I’m not an intimidating looking guy either.

I encounter the one on the corner of Northbourne Ave and London circuit on the way home every day. Each time I say no. He has cleaned it twice even after I have said no and I refuse to pay. Why? Not because I am a cheap arse, but because I keep my car clean and they don’t need cleaning. I will not pay someone for something I did not ask for. I’m hoping that he eventually recognises my car and realises that he is not going to get any money from me. They are pests. Why doesn’t the Government do something about them?

junkie is the word.

I always wave them away, but occasionally one of them washes my windscreen anyway. I generally wind down the window and say thanks, but pay them nothing.

I’m surprised they are still allowed to operate. The trouble is that they are a small pain in the bum, not enough to warrant going to the effort of actaully complaining, but few people like them. If everyone who disliked them whinged officially, they’d soon move along.

Does anyone know of an email address or website where we can register a complaint? If we’re prepared to whinge on here, we might as well copy and paste it to there as well.

Genie said :

OMG ! Someone beat me to it…

That damn windscreen washer at Northbourne and Antil St at Dickson absolutely shits me. It doesn’t matter how many times I say no, the bugger always washes my window. To the point THAT BADLY, that once he walks away I cannot even see out of the windscreen and have to put the washers on. Not just once, but everytime. I’m talking about a weekly basis here.
I have never paid him, and he even got abused the day I had literally just come out of the carwash and he insisted on still washing the window.

I think this guy needs to learn that no means no, and just coz I’m female doesn’t mean I’m going to have any sympathy for it and hand over some money.

Tell me about him! I ended up blaring my horn and swearing at him,(I’m a bloke) if he get run over bloody good job! Ban them I say. Tax free? most likely insured? I doubt it. What if he damages my vehicle? Also note the similarity of their squeegies to the ones on the servo forecourts! Business expenses? I doubt that too!

– “I sometimes wonder how much of the income they generate is declared”.

That’s the funniest thing I’ve read on this post.

I’ve always liked the guy, he’s the hardest working junkie I ever met. He’s washed mine a few times not so well but I don’t care, let the man earn a quid.

Life is good and it’s gotta be pretty hard for him

I would have thought that there would be laws along the lines of interfering with property would be enough to stop these types enforcing their own version of an opt-out agreement. I support the call for more complaints possible prompting some action.

I have shared the experience of having the screen washed after having said no then being questioned as to why I was not paying. Julz method of wipers on has been found to be most effective.

I can’t see physical intervention working as they would undoutably be the type of rats who know the legal loopholes and it would come back to bite you.

I sometimes wonder how much of the income they generate is declared

gun street girl said :

el said :

The most effective approach I’ve seen was a larger guy getting out of his car ready to beat the absolute snot out of the squeegee man at the Melrose/Hindmarsh lights.

I saw a similar approach on Northbourne, wherein a big burly chap slowly but pointedly got out of his car when he saw a female driver being harassed. Worked like a charm.

I wish either of those men were around at Melrose/Hindmarsh the other day when I copped a mouthful all because I said no. The jerk even had the audacity to squirt some of his (debatable) cleaning fluid all over my windscreen as he was yelling at me.

In the past I have simply turned on the wipers and squirted water whenever any of these jerks ignore my refusal. But on this particular occasion I was dumbfounded at the level of language he hurled at me while I had my young daughter in the car – yes, even with all windows up I could still clearly hear everything he said. And so did the other motorists on either side of me who were also stunned by his behaviour.

For some reason, my car was the only one he targeted though ……… (and no, it wasn’t dirty as I, too, had just had it cleaned along with the rest of the car).

Quite simply, the sooner they are banned the better. I hate them all.

The most effective approach I’ve seen was a larger guy getting out of his car ready to beat the absolute snot out of the squeegee man at the Melrose/Hindmarsh lights.

I saw a similar approach on Northbourne, wherein a big burly chap slowly but pointedly got out of his car when he saw a female driver being harassed. Worked like a charm.

Good to hear 🙂

I find a beeping horn, turned on wipers and a loudly yelled “F..OFF” work for me.

Happens to my wife all the time, but never to me.
I’d run them over if they kept doing it while I was driving.
My wife is much more forgiving though…

I think next time I see a girl getting a ‘harrasment wash’, I’ll step out and beat the guy with his squeegy.

el said :

The most effective approach I’ve seen was a larger guy getting out of his car ready to beat the absolute snot out of the squeegee man at the Melrose/Hindmarsh lights.

I saw a similar approach on Northbourne, wherein a big burly chap slowly but pointedly got out of his car when he saw a female driver being harassed. Worked like a charm.

Genie said :

OMG ! Someone beat me to it…

That damn windscreen washer at Northbourne and Antil St at Dickson absolutely shits me. It doesn’t matter how many times I say no, the bugger always washes my window. To the point THAT BADLY, that once he walks away I cannot even see out of the windscreen and have to put the washers on. Not just once, but everytime. I’m talking about a weekly basis here.
I have never paid him, and he even got abused the day I had literally just come out of the carwash and he insisted on still washing the window.

I think this guy needs to learn that no means no, and just coz I’m female doesn’t mean I’m going to have any sympathy for it and hand over some money.

I like this bloke he is the only one around I do like.He Has a chat does a good job does the odd free job.

But some of the others are shockers the one in town with the overalls appears wasted most of the time, to the point That i have seen him colaspe. ‘

fabforty said :

As Mimiboo points out, the ACT still makes allowances in its road rules to allow window washers. I’m sure they will only re-think it when someone is hurt or worse.

I recall a few years back there was a fatal accident at the intersection of Dalrymple St and Hindmarsh Drive. The story at the time was that a lady waiting at the lights in Dalrymple Street was having her windscreen cleaned by one of these guys. When he finished the job she proceeded to go but the distraction caused her to proceed through a red light and she collided with a truck coming down Hindmarsh Drive.

I do not know as fact if this is all true but there is no longer a windscreen washer at that intersection. This would be reason enough though to ban them completely. I don’t think there could be any doubt that there is an element of danger to the practice.

Do these guys ever wash the windscreens of men drivers, when they say no?

Yep. Same guy folks are whinging about here – Antill and Northbourne. Looked like drainwater mixed with cooking oil. Thankfully it proceeded to piss down with rain shortly after and wash the crap off.

The most effective approach I’ve seen was a larger guy getting out of his car ready to beat the absolute snot out of the squeegee man at the Melrose/Hindmarsh lights.

OMG ! Someone beat me to it…

That damn windscreen washer at Northbourne and Antil St at Dickson absolutely shits me. It doesn’t matter how many times I say no, the bugger always washes my window. To the point THAT BADLY, that once he walks away I cannot even see out of the windscreen and have to put the washers on. Not just once, but everytime. I’m talking about a weekly basis here.
I have never paid him, and he even got abused the day I had literally just come out of the carwash and he insisted on still washing the window.

I think this guy needs to learn that no means no, and just coz I’m female doesn’t mean I’m going to have any sympathy for it and hand over some money.

blub said :

Do these guys ever wash the windscreens of men drivers, when they say no?

yes, I gave him a dirty look, kept the window up and drove off when the light changed.

While on my way to a site inspection (for my tax paying job), at the same intersection but heading South on Northbourne, the washer was pressing the pedestrian crossing button. This increases his “opening hours” as the light controller waits for a non existent slow walking pedestrian to cross. Sitting at that red light for the additional and pointless time gave me a great opportunity to think and decide that I hate this guy very much.

It happened to me once. I said no, he went and did it anyway saying it keeps him busy and walked away without asking for any money.

That was quite a long time ago so he may have moved on.

Julz idea works – tried it myself in the past and gets you a dirty look but that’s all

Do these guys ever wash the windscreens of men drivers, when they say no? Or do they only do this to women drivers?
I ask because I’ve never seen them do it to men, and only women – and only particularly attractive women too.

It’s interesting about the rudeness though, it’s as thought the newer breed of window-washers has this higher expectation and if you don’t meet it they get rude.

He still washed your windscreen when you said “no” because, as we have just learnt, most people still pay him anyway (including myself in my younger days). So why would he stop ? This is how he has learnt that he can intimidate money out of people.

If you say no thanks – mean it ! Keep your windows wound up and stick to your guns. Its crap, though, that we should have to be made to feel this way.

I like Julz idea, though.

I think each person who is intimidated by that man should report it to the police. If they get enough reports, he will be moved on.

As Mimiboo points out, the ACT still makes allowances in its road rules to allow window washers. I’m sure they will only re-think it when someone is hurt or worse.

We are anticipating that these people do not claim benefits, any evidence?

Had precisely the same scenario at Northbourne and Antill some years ago, he decided to do me a favour and give me a freebie after a very clear refusal of his service. I was driving to Melbourne and had cleaned the windscreen thoroughly in preparation. I ended up buying a squeegee and some windscreen cleaner in Gundagai in order to remove the oiley smears directly blocking my view after it started to rain. Now I will never let any of them near my car, where previously I had often given them a dollar or two for their enterprise, not too fussed about the clean.

I haven’t tried it but julz solution looks promising. Mostly they take my very clear no as no, if not I make it louder and clearer. Probably not as effective if you aren’t a hairy boofhead.

On three occasions, I’ve gestured no to the same window washer and he still goes ahead and washes it. The first time I paid, the 2nd & 3rd I didn’t (plus he did a crap job at it), hoping that he’ll get the message that no means no. And yes, I’m all for people not sitting at home doing nothing and getting out there doing work, but it’s a dangerous job (the no. of times those window washers have nearly been run over is many) and most states have banned them for good reason – why can’t ACT do the same?

The same thing happens to me occasionally. Simple solution – turn your windscreen wipers on when he starts to clean.

johnboy said :

And I suspect some of them get more aggressive with women as well.

I would agree.

And I suspect some of them get more aggressive with women as well.

People are probably going to reply “maybe if you didn’t pay him…..” but I see where you’re coming from here. I appreciate the fact that they are out there in the cold trying to earn some money instead of breaking into my house or bludging off the dole, but if you are clearly indicating that you don’t want your windscreen washed then they should still respect that and move on.