Last night I could have made £90!!

[HappyHippyDad]

I had a phone call last night (7pm) from a local resident who left a messsage saying all her electrics had gone off.

A pair of elderly sisters live there, one if them does get a bit worried about anything electrical (and the other one always gets cross with her ), for example I have been called out for a buzzing noise on a dimmer and a beeping noise from a flat battery indicator etc etc.

They live a 1min drive away so rather than the standard higher fee for the first hour I charge them less, usually less than even my hourly rate as its a beeping battery for heavens sake, plus they really are just a nice pair of elderly lady's, they always insist on paying even if I say no.

However..... 7pm on a saturday evening is another matter. I was settling down to The walking Dead series 8, a few biscuits and a cup of tea after a hard week. So, I check the net and decide I will be harder this time. £90 first hour then £50 thereafter!!! (Never done that before, but I thought fair).

I ring back, questioning my conscience but also a little excited at the prospect of a 'nice little earner'.

'Hello Stephen how are you', says the polite friendly voice. Im already down to £60 in my mind!!

'I pressed a button and all my electrics went off'.

10 mins later after very slowly going through every trip switch and making sure it was in the correct position.... as if by magic the electrics all come back on! (It was the RCD test button)

'How much do we owe you Stephen', says the polite, friendly, genuine voice!!

I hear the words coming out of my mouth... 'No honestly, dont worry about it', I say.

Back to my tea and biscuits with a wry smile.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I reckon one of them old sisters has a thing for you and is looking for a reason to call you round, give it time and it will be a case of one of them being there on her own!

 

[Loki]

lol & if you had of charged them you could of ended up in the newspapers like these did.

Company charges elderly woman £108 for changing her lightbulb - http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/local-news/company-charges-elderly-woman-more-1058923

 

[rapparee]

In fairness you would have had a brass neck on you to charge for taking a phone call from two old dolls who are repeat customers

 

[Deleted member 26818]

lol & if you had of charged them you could of ended up in the newspapers like these did.

Company charges elderly woman £108 for changing her lightbulb - http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/local-news/company-charges-elderly-woman-more-1058923

I wonder just how much would have been considered fair to charge?

 

[South Spark]

I think we've all done a bit of over the phone free advice haven't we?

I think you've got to change out of your slippers to justify a call out fee!

 

[steunited]

I reckon one of them old sisters has a thing for you and is looking for a reason to call you round, give it time and it will be a case of one of them being there on her own!

like this

 

[ruston]

In fairness you would have had a brass neck on you to charge for taking a phone call from two old dolls who are repeat customers

I used to do my old people regulars on the way home - for a cup of tea.
Now I am one of them lol.

 

[buzzlightyear]

In fairness you would have had a brass neck on you to charge for taking a phone call from two old dolls who are repeat customers

yeah ,but in fairness he runs a business not a charity. just think repeat business or not ,I bet baby Jane &sister are thinking to them selves mug!

 

[Squid]

So HappyHippyDad has now gone the male sex chat line route to supplement his income...........

If they are elderly spinsters just think about the millions in inheritance you'll get ;o))))) If you want it sooner then we can cut a deal.

 

[buzzlightyear]

So HappyHippyDad has now gone the male sex chat line route to supplement his income...........

If they are elderly spinsters just think about the millions in inheritance you'll get ;o))))) If you want it sooner then we can cut a deal

and pimp you out!

 

[Squid]

and pimp me out!

Every £ is a prisoner.......... ;o))))

 

[HandySparks]

I wonder just how much would have been considered fair to charge?

I think that for an out of hours callout on Christmas Eve, £90 (plus vat) is pretty reasonable.

However, as in this case, if I was already working in the vicinity and it was an existing customer and it was a trivial job, I would have chopped the invoice price in half.

 

[rapparee]

yeah ,but in fairness he runs a business not a charity. just think repeat business or not ,I bet baby Jane &sister are thinking to them selves mug!

He'll be the first person they call when they need work doing. They'll also recommend him to the other old Biddy's, he has to appear friendly to the public.

If he doesn't want to take the call his work phone should be turned off.

 

[buzzlightyear]

He'll be the first person they call when they need work doing. They'll also recommend him to the other old Biddy's, he has to appear friendly to the public.

some times it is nice to do a freebie from time to time ,but we all have to run a business tax, van,, insurance etc..
I was called out to a job ,no heating form a faulty boiler rang the heating engineer that serviced the boiler, 2 weeks till he could come round .rang boxy boilers asked them ring them on behalf of the customer they could not get one of their engineers out , gave me a number and engineer was out the same day ,spent 3hrs on the same job and making calls

 

[Dave OCD]

Just had a call from an elderly lady who I've done numerous small jobs for over the years, worried because after her shower the handset is dripping, 8 minutes of reassuring. You can't charge for that !

 

[telectrix]

a favorite saying of my dad was "what goes around, comes around".

he said this to me when i was 9 and the roundabout smacked me in the head.

 

[Dave OCD]

You don't see that sort of playground stuff any more Tel, probably banned by HSE . I can remember some parks had really tall slides when I was a kid, great fun !

 

[Des 56]

The H+s fanatics would have their hearts attacked if they set eyes on the Rocking horse or the sand pit

Twas many a broken leg and teeth smothered in Dog ---- was to be the price of fun

 

[telectrix]

yeah and we didn't have chewed up scrap tyres to fall on to protect our delicate knees from getting scraped; nobody to wipe our snotty noses. we has sleeves on our jumpers for that; and if the local copper had smacked us round the earhole, we'd get another smack from parent for annoying the scuffers.

 

[bigspark17]

1 - i cant belive any1 will charge for advice over the phone for an existing customer.
2- £90 call out for a sole trader is astrinomical.
What is your normal hourly rate not out of hours?

 

[telectrix]

my out of hours, evenings is normally £50, but if 'er indoors has got soaps on the TV, it drops to £30, just to get out of the house.

 

[buzzlightyear]

What is your normal hourly rate not out of hours?

my charges are for the first hour a packet of smokes and after that a bottle of finest scotch whisky.

 

[Dave OCD]

Went out to relative of existing customer 4pm on Xmas eve, replaced knackered 30a Wylex cartridge fuse with B32 plug in MCB from 'stock', even cut the front cover just enough for the MCB width, £35.

 

[rapparee]

Went out to relative of existing customer 4pm on Xmas eve, replaced knackered 30a Wylex cartridge fuse with B32 plug in MCB from 'stock', even cut the front cover just enough for the MCB width, £35.

And I'd like to think the customer rounded it up to £50

 

[Dave OCD]

Not quite -£40.

 

[ruston]

Probably cos their smallest denomination was a 20. Tight gits.

 

[SparkyChick]

I think every now again the odd little freebie is a good move. It does keep karma balanced in your favour in my opinion and it also demonstrates you're not a rip off merchant which helps build trust between you and your customers (and potential customers).

 

[Devonchris]

Once fitted one of these for any old lady, as a favour.

http://www.castinstyle.co.uk/shopimages/products/normal/Airer.jpg

When I'd finished I said "right you can get your clothes up now. She said "ooh I thought you'd be happy with a packet of cigs.

 

[Squid]

I just had a call from a regular punter needing a service, told her to leave me alone as I am busy watching Die Hard 357 and still have bear to drink and that I'll be up in bed in 20 mins. Bloody liberty, should turn my phone off........

 

[dmxtothemax]

Happy customers tell other people = more business !
good strategy !

 

[South Spark]

Surely it's got a certain amount to do with what they can afford?

Five bed house with two Beamers in the driveway is getting charged the full whack. Little old dear or struggling Mum in a flat , use your discretion.

 

[Squid]

Surely it's got a certain amount to do with what they can afford?

Five bed house with two Beamers in the driveway is getting charged the full whack. Little old dear or struggling Mum in a flat , use your discretion.

What goes around hopefully comes around, kindness doesn't cost anything.

 

[Percyprod]

Be very careful, I've done little jobs for elderly people over the years, looked in the mirror this morning, and one of them has taken over my body! I know I'm still a youthful handsome fella, but there's this old bloke looking back a me.

 

[Squid]

Be very careful, I've done little jobs for elderly people over the years, looked in the mirror this morning, and one of them has taken over my body! I know I'm still a youthful handsome fella, but there's this old bloke looking back a me.

You work for Prince Phillip?

 

[Percyprod]

Bloody hell, not that old!

 

[David M]

What goes around hopefully comes around, kindness doesn't cost anything.

And it works both ways... I went out to a job once where the RCD had tripped. After an hour of searching I found it to be an outside light fitting faulty. After disconnecting it and making safe, as I was just packing my kit up and the customer mentioned a problem with their intruder alarm, I offered to take a quick look. It was a door contact not making, so I had a rummage in my van, found one and installed it. At the end of the job the customer asked what was owed, I said, "call it £50" He then replied, "Christ.. that's a bit steep, more expensive than a solicitor! Ever likely the country is in such a state charging those prices!" Needless to say the next time he called me, which surprisingly he did, I explained that I was rather busy but if it was urgent I would get there sometime that day, but it would be £100.

 

[telectrix]

Be very careful, I've done little jobs for elderly people over the years, looked in the mirror this morning, and one of them has taken over my body! I know I'm still a youthful handsome fella, but there's this old bloke looking back a me.

age is just a

And it works both ways... I went out to a job once where the RCD had tripped. After an hour of searching I found it to be an outside light fitting faulty. After disconnecting it and making safe, as I was just packing my kit up and the customer mentioned a problem with their intruder alarm, I offered to take a quick look. It was a door contact not making, so I had a rummage in my van, found one and installed it. At the end of the job the customer asked what was owed, I said, "call it £50" He then replied, "Christ.. that's a bit steep, more expensive than a solicitor! Ever likely the country is in such a state charging those prices!" Needless to say the next time he called me, which surprisingly he did, I explained that I was rather busy but if it was urgent I would get there sometime that day, but it would be £100.

you sure he said a bit steep, and not a bit cheap? he's obviouslynot engaged the services of a solicitor since WW2. £200/hour today's rate.

 

[Squid]

age is just a

you sure he said a bit steep, and not a bit cheap? he's obviouslynot engaged the services of a solicitor since WW2. £200/hour today's rate.

Add VAT as well to that figure.......

 

[Squid]

And it works both ways... I went out to a job once where the RCD had tripped. After an hour of searching I found it to be an outside light fitting faulty. After disconnecting it and making safe, as I was just packing my kit up and the customer mentioned a problem with their intruder alarm, I offered to take a quick look. It was a door contact not making, so I had a rummage in my van, found one and installed it. At the end of the job the customer asked what was owed, I said, "call it £50" He then replied, "Christ.. that's a bit steep, more expensive than a solicitor! Ever likely the country is in such a state charging those prices!" Needless to say the next time he called me, which surprisingly he did, I explained that I was rather busy but if it was urgent I would get there sometime that day, but it would be £100.

You should have added "plus parts"