Missed appointment fees?

[rocker]

Okay so I'm on my second day of a customer not being there when I'm supposed to be working... I managed yesterday to do a load of little faffy jobs all around the place but I'm now on my arse all day.... I've been to his house, rang him up, not getting anything. He's booked for tomorrow AND a day next week as well, and I reckon it's going to be the same story then.

SO I'm thinking of putting a 'missed appointment' bill through his letterbox. I'm thinking £35 per full day missed is a reasonable amount, obviously nothing like the amount I would have earned but I think it's fair, after all I've bought materials, put off other work that I could have been doing, driven over there, waited around in the rain etc. just for him to sod off without so much as an explaination.... no doubt he's had a more favourable quote since I last saw him, but why not ring up and cancel?

Where do you folks reckon I stand with this? I know I'll probably never get anything out of him, but just something to say 'this is costing me money, you can't get away with swanning through life, treating people like this'. I think a bill would be a bit more hard-hitting than the notes I've posted though his door so far, which he's obviously just screwing up and putting in the bin.

I suppose what I want to know is, could I get done in some way for this? Harrassment or whatever. I don't see how asking to be compensated for your wasted time is harrassment but you know how the law works in this country.

 

[High Tower]

No harrasmenty there mate! its a reasonable request, without it being in your T&C's and a signed copy in your possesion i doubt you would be able to enforce it, but its worth a try if nothing else just to rattle his cage and prevoke a reaction.

 

[Paul.M]

I think on the legal side of things your stuck without a contract. If at the quotation stage the customer signed up for the work and in the t&c you have "any missed appointment/s or cancellation of any work will be subject to £--- per day plus the price of materials purchased". Even with thus I bet most people wouldn't pay up and you'd have to go to court to get your money. Let's see what Bill says, this is one of his many areas of expertise. On a personal note I would still chase him for the money or at least inform the spark that's taken your work, sounds like he could have been a bad payer.

 

[rocker]

Cheers guys. I doubt there will be a proper spark to inform. He's the type of guy who will have a cousin who can do it, if you catch my drift.

 

[High Tower]

Cusin brodah!

 

[Anonomoose]

It has happened to me before, I just added it to end of the bill and mixed it in with everything else. therfore you are being paid for your time without them thinking you're rude.

 

[telectrix]

stick it to him rocker. also inform him that all contractors in the area ( including plumbers) have a "blacklist of rogue customers" a bit like pubwatch. and, if he doesn't cough up your £35, he'll go on the list.

 

[mogga]

I Like your thinkin there TEL "Put his name up in nthe shop window" theres a new idea for Dom Littlewood n melinda to get payed for while cowboy builders is off screen

 

[rocker]

So I drove past this guy's house last night and all his lights are on, so I give him a knock. His missus answers and asks me in, he's in the bathroom. After about 10 minutes he emerges with his toddler so I won't kick off (I wasn't goiing to) and it's all 'oh sorry about yesterday I had to go to a roadshow I must have just missed you'. I said 'you work for a mobile phone company, don't you? Do you get any free calls?'
'Anyway' he says, changing the subject 'come in the morning and we'll get started'.
No explaination about the second day he was absent, by the way.
So I double check he's OK for today. Yes, definitely. And obviously we'll have to re schedule the rest of the work for a weeks time. Sure, no problem.

OK problem solved.

So, quarter to nine this morning, just as I'm starting the motor. 'Sorry, been called to work I'll call you later' comes in a text.

What a load of chint. I don't know if this guy is getting some kind of thrill in winding me up, but that's three fifths of my income for this week down the drain, and unfortunately I'm the sort of person to hold a grudge. If he does ring, which I doubt he will, I don't know whether to tell him to f off or not. The thing is, some of this work is fault finding, which I have an hourly charge for, and all of a sudden I have the feeling it's going to take me bloody ages.....

 

[Paul.M]

This guy really is taking the mick. Put a bill through his door for a full 3 days work giving 7 days to pay up. Let's see how fast he calls you then.

 

[BigBreakfast]

If you do eventually get to do work for him given this poor show regarding your time, is he going to be a safe bet for getting payed?

These types are just what we don't need, especially when you have set aside time for him and losing your weekly total due to his ignorance.

I would try as Paul suggests and if you get a favourable response then he may be a safe bet after all and if not then you know exactly where you stand.

Best of luck mate.

 

[ian]

Something similar happened to me on Wednesday. Got to a job just after 8hen I was told they were sorry but they didn’t want the work done. I just took it on the chin, but will change my T&Cs this weekend to indicate that a invoiced will be raised if there are late cancellations etc. I called trading standards earlier to enquire about the legality of it all, still waiting for them to call back. I can’t see to many problems, other organisations charge.

ian

 

[rocker]

Nice one Ian, would appreciate you posting here what they say if they do get back to you.

That's what I'm doing from now on, normally my contract (which I've been a bit slack with lately) I give on the day when I start work, but of course we don't have the Ts and Cs beforehand, and also people aren't always there on the day you start. So from now on, my quote and full contract will be given and expected to be signed at the same time, and it's going to include clauses about missed appointments, with a 48hr deadline for cancelling or changing appointments. I have my elecsa renewal at the end of the month, and got their paperwork through today. If I cancel within TEN days I get charged 250 quid! And within 48 hrs I have to pay the full 450 again!!! again, if the person who's work I am showing is not at home for whatever reason, it's another 300 for them to come out and look at it again! What a rip!!!! So I can't see mch of a problem having a £35 charge for a cancelled appomintment.

 

[Anonomoose]

Simelar thing. I got to my job this morning which has been arranged for a couple of weeks as I have been really busy only to find another electricians van in the driveway. I had a quick smoke and finished my tea as I was early debating how akward this was going to be, got out the van only to realise I was at the wrong house! Mine was about 2 doors down!