Rant: Nightmare client in Chicago refused to pay $450 for deep clean after I scrubbed their hoarder mess

Just finished a 6-hour deep clean on this absolute disaster of a house in Chicago, quoted them $450 flat rate for the whole thing since it was residential with years of built-up grime and pet hair everywhere. I used my Hoover commercial vac and Simple Green to get every corner, even the baseboards that hadn't been touched since who knows when, but the client starts nitpicking about a 'missed spot' on the fridge and now they're holding back payment. FML, been in cleaning 8 years and this is why I hate one-off jobs like this. Anyone else dealing with cheapskates in the Windy City?

god, i hate when they do that after you bust your ass on a hoarder job. had one last week that cost me $200 in supplies alone.

document everything with before/after pics next time. i use my phone to snap quick shots and it saved my butt on a similar dispute.

finally got paid on a $500 post-construction clean after threatening a lien. felt like a boss walking away with that check.

fuck these entitled homeowners, they think cleaning is free labor. insurance companies should cover our lost time on this crap.

same, the whole industry is getting screwed by clients who watch one tiktok and think they know better than pros.

lol, next time charge them double and tell em it's for the therapy of dealing with their mess. worked for me on a stained carpet job.

man, that sucks. i've been there with a $400 refusal after a full kitchen overhaul clean, knees still hurt from scrubbing.

clients like that are why everyone's rates are spiking, PE firms buying up cleaning companies won't fix the BS either.

how'd you even quote $450 for that? in chicago i'd bump it to 600 easy for the headache factor.