Friends and goddam family

[Benny_Boy]

One of the Dads at school was having a new kitchen, he wanted me to quote on it. Fair enough I said, so I did him an estimate with ESTIMATE all over it.

Two days into the job and his Mrs is adding things here and there and saying "Don't worry Ben just stick it on the bill"

It's a very nice house, he's well off, and I stuck in loads of lovely stufff for the barsteward like MK premium range brushed steel 8 gang grids with danlec master & slave dimmers, fancy wire track etc you get the idea.

Gave him the bill the other day........

He's made me go through every single item on every single invoice and even quibbled about how much cable was left on the drums which I billed him for.

I clearly should have kept my mouth shut, not bothered trying to make it look the business for him, and just slapped in any old cheap crap to keep the cost down.

Lesson learned

 

[Adam W]

Maybe you should have added 'consultancy charges' at the end of the job, ie going through the bill - I expect some chancers will quite happily double the length of the job due to quibbling over minor details.

 

[Benny_Boy]

Maybe you should have added 'consultancy charges' at the end of the job, ie going through the bill - I expect some chancers will quite happily double the length of the job due to quibbling over minor details.

Not to mention all the fannying around I did finding him accessories which matched his existing stuff.
I'm feeling rather jaded by the whole episode. No one wants a job doing well, they just want a cheap price. I've no doubt that the only reason he didn't wire it himself is that he needs a cert for the building inspector. (it's an extension)

 

[TPES]

I know how you feel mate, I suppose this is down to lack of communication with the bloke and his wife, or might be better to bill for any extras in stages.

I'm on a kitchen now, same fancy big kitchen for a big company director, and he's asking me for prices on all second fix items and ringing and getting his own prices also for materials, he's told me to get them and he's said he's expecting the materials to all be at cost to me...

Do people think I'm running a charity and not trying to run a business?
I know already he will want a full break down on items when my bill goes in, he can kiss my *ss

 

[rocker]

TPES I'll do you a receipt if he wants to see one.....

2 way light switch white moulded - £6.50
2 gang double pole socket outlet white moulded - £12.25
100m 2.5/1.5 twin and earth cable - £185.99

(actually that last one ain't far off)

 

[Benny_Boy]

TPES I'll do you a receipt if he wants to see one.....

2 way light switch white moulded - £6.50
2 gang double pole socket outlet white moulded - £12.25
100m 2.5/1.5 twin and earth cable - £185.99

(actually that last one ain't far off)

I might have to get me one of them there invoices rocker

 

[mayfair]

M8
Just had same problems . decided to go in do my bit get out from now on, stuff the lot a them you will get no thanks from them (excluding little old ladies) I have just been told by a family friend (worst type imo) that 3k to re wire his business inc materials is a joke his Mrs has found someone to do it for half Good luck to them.

 

[Benny_Boy]

M8
Just had same problems . decided to go in do my bit get out from now on, stuff the lot a them you will get no thanks from them (excluding little old ladies) I have just been told by a family friend (worst type imo) that 3k to re wire his business inc materials is a joke his Mrs has found someone to do it for half Good luck to them.

I'm not even changing a lightbulb for any friends of friends anymore. They're clearly the worst, your mates.......no problem, they'll understand you're not trying to rip them off, your immediate family.....no problem. It's those pesky friends of friends, who expect you to work for severely discounted rates just because they know you.

 

[Adam W]

I'm slightly unclear as to who these 'friends of friends' are - are they people you've met before? People you're likely to meet again? And if so are they people who are going to be able to look you in the eye after calling the way you run your business 'a joke' and questioning your professionalism? IMO that's not the way to speak to someone who's doing you a favour, particularly someone you share a mutual friend with.

 

[JD6400]

The trouble is you do at cost , then they think well if its that cheap why didn't he just do it for free !
Well that must be it , either that i have just not noticed the feckin great charity registration number slapped across me forehead that they must be able to see !!!!!

 

[timo1]

Had the same thing with a friend of a friend...whole job was a nightmare and when collected money said they could only afford three out of the five days I had worked!! put me in a really uncomfortable awkward position....never again....

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Friends and family, there is nothing worse.