working close friends of family and the likes

[i=p/u]

dont you just hate when working for close friends of family, then you bill them and then makes you fee un comfortable after all hard work..... example; pat tested 60 items, changed 5 socket fronts and added new double socket beside cu. charged the guy £151.50 , have me mother and all ringing me now... wtf..

whats your views on this

 

[Swicade]

Working for close friends is a pain in the butt....working for family friends is the same and working for family is a nightmare.

They all expect 'mates rates' which often equate to next to naff all and family seem to expect it for nothing. I hate working for them but know whats expected....my normal customers (if that's the right thing to call them) always get priority which tends to cause afew arguements.

 

[malcolmsanford]

family and close friends ...............always been gratis and is affectionately known as "family rates"

Friends of a friend will get as everyone outside of the family rates, a good job reasonably priced. Just my way I guess

 

[Octopus]

The problem is where do you draw the line. I don't discount working for friends and relatives - simples!

 

[i=p/u]

on thrir head

 

[Megavolt]

Never managed to come away happy doing work for friends and family even when the job cost you they still think you have over charged them. I now do not do any work for them as a rule. just say am to busy and recommend someone.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Mates rates? Pffft there's no mates in business :devilish:

 

[RyanCheetham]

There is no right answer to this just comes down to each individuals point of view. I hate myself for charging friends and family but if the job takes a substantial amount of time i think its justifiable to charge something, for me its usually half my normal price

 

[Dan23584]

I always give materials at cost price to friends an family but my labour rate stays the same. That way I can still offer them a dedicate service a I know it's worth my while. If its a small job and doesn't eat into your normal working hours thn maybe give a little discount. Just make sure you are up front about it all before you do any work, if you manage there expectations well then there should be little upset.

 

[drew35]

Where do you find "normal customers" by the way??? I wish I had some/ one!!!

 

[trev]

I don't charge family and close friends anything except for materials but they get their work done as and when I can slot it in. The system has worked fine for many a year

 

[cogsey133]

I wouldn't feel right charging my dear old mother for doing work so i too don't charge my family except for materials

 

[trev]

There's a painter I know who still lives with his mother and charges her for work in their home. I was disgusted when I heard about it but the guy has always been a prat

 

[cogsey133]

The way i see it Trev is my mum means the world to me and i would do anything she asked me to. I was certainly no angel growing up and in all honesty was a right toe-rag but mum was always there for me so how can i charge her for the work she wants done.....quite simply i can't. However each to their own i suppose

 

[ExArmy]

parents, free labour, cost materials. everybody else, full price or get somebody else! was asked to do a consumer unit for a cousin, i gave him my normal price and he ummed and ahhed and then i never heard back. and he has a good job, earns far more than me, yet they still expect it for nothing..

 

[tigerpaul]

The way I see it, I will do someone a favour if they do me a favour.
I work for mates rates for my mates who are chippys plumbers etc an then they work on my house in return.
Mates that are car salesmen, what are they gonna do? Give me a free car?
People that haven't phoned you in years and then suddenly want you to graft all day for them for nothing?? Wtf!

 

[Amp David]

I usually tell them that they are going to be paying the going rate and I'm not doing it cheap before even quoting for anything.

 

[Lucas]

I'm 20 and last year done loads of work at my parent's. They got all material at cost value and I could only do it on weekends so charged them £40 a day, worked it out and it was about £3000 worth of work I did

 

[Ashley Williams]

75 days of work! I hope you built the house!

 

[Adam W]

Obviously people's family circumstances differ, but I don't see that it's much different to someone's parents giving them a fiver to mow the grass or wash the car.

 

[alarm man]

tight so and so's..i cant belive people charge their parents,even for materials,i mean how much has it cost to bring you up over the years...and even where your older you can always rely on ya ma for a sub....i also work free for mates if they provide or pay for the materials

 

[sparks1973]

dont you just hate when working for close friends of family, then you bill them and then makes you fee un comfortable after all hard work..... example; pat tested 60 items, changed 5 socket fronts and added new double socket beside cu. charged the guy £151.50 , have me mother and all ringing me now... wtf..

whats your views on this

i wont do it...full stop!!
its more trouble than its worth is this malarky....

 

[ashrow]

i have friends and family that run there own businesses ie pubs, painters, builders etc the way we all do business for each other is to charge our standard rates for works done
We tried years ago to "owe" each other but when i said you owe me 200 pints to one friend he nearly fainted (showed him the cost of materials then hourly rate), he now pays once done and if i need a beer i go there or local shop as i get more for my money

 

[tigerpaul]

Obviously my parents, grandparents brother and sister will get my services for free. But mates rates only works when it works both ways!
I have a mate who works for an aerospace company, what is he going to give to me at mates rates?
I know a lot of women (freinds/sisters and wifes friends etc) they hear I am an electrician and then say "oh that's handy to know" . Then they think I'm going to spend hours round their houses fixing this and that for buttons.

A favour is only a favour when the favour is returned, otherwise it's called being taken for a mug.

 

[rsp84]

Parents only pay materials at cost, and grandparents offer lil labour. Have done mates rates before and dont think it helps esp if you have to make call backs and you end up spending more on petrol than youve charger in the first place. Best ive ever done is fitted a boiler for £100 for my mate as it took only the day, and hes helped me move home 100miles away in the past.
Ive done work for family members friends ie change a set of taps at mates rates, then quoted for larger work at roughly £150 per day and have been told im too expensive to which I replied, try searching for lower, and you will be getting a rubbish job done.

 

[alarm man]

theres a theme developing here re mates rates,what can i get in return...does no one do favours anymore,if he's your mate treat him like one,favours can come in many forms,like feeding/looking after the dogs/checking your house when your on holiday,picking you up from town on a night out etc...its not all about money..i thought thats what mates do..

 

[tigerpaul]

Yeah I guess I'm cynical because I've helped people in the past and when its come around and I needed a hand people have let me down. But I know who I can count on now, the others pay just like anyone else.

 

[i=p/u]

This guy has 8 cafe's, fair enough I get odd latte and bam when working but @ 15 an hour that's cheap time you take organising stuff ,diesiel tell you what you,d make more cleaning windows and cutting grass. And tools cost a mi nute fraction of cost

 

[alarm man]

This guy has 8 cafe's, fair enough I get odd latte and bam when working but @ 15 an hour that's cheap time you take organising stuff ,diesiel tell you what you,d make more cleaning windows and cutting grass. And tools cost a mi nute fraction of cost

who is he tho,a brother in law.thats neither friends or family imo...bill him

 

[alarm man]

good name for a cafe that

 

[alarm man]

club3000

perrrickkkk

 

[i=p/u]

whats up with club 3000

 

[trev]

theres a theme developing here re mates rates,what can i get in return...does no one do favours anymore,if he's your mate treat him like one,favours can come in many forms,like feeding/looking after the dogs/checking your house when your on holiday,picking you up from town on a night out etc...its not all about money..i thought thats what mates do..

Hic...Alarm Man, Hic.....I'm at The Steamboat and Hic..I'm hammered. Hic...Any chance Hic ..of lift? Hic.. you're my best mateyou are Hic....
Oh man, I think I'm going to hurl.

 

[alarm man]

Hic...Alarm Man, Hic.....I'm at The Steamboat and Hic..I'm hammered. Hic...Any chance Hic ..of lift? Hic.. you're my best mateyou are Hic....
Oh man, I think I'm going to hurl.

any other time trev yes,but i finished me shift at 6 so i deserve a light refreshment or 10..before it all starts again 2mora