Xmas Rates (Self Employed)

[BluSparx]

Hi Guys

For us guys that are Self Employed and offer 24hr call out what are your rates over Christmas and New Year

Normal Call out charge or do you increase due to time of the year etc.

1st year being Self Employed and just wanted some advice on whether to increase my call out charge over Christmas / New Year period.

Although I only say get 2/3 emergency calls per month you can guarantee that I will get 1 call on Christmas Day / New Years day

 

[nickblake]

Ill be honest i dont charge any more for call outs over the xmas period , because the amount of work you can gain from standard charging way exceeds what you would get for doubling your call out , they may have to wait a while if its in the middle of xmas dinner mind ,and i will expect a brew and a mince pie when i get to the call lol

 

[BluSparx]

Ill be honest i dont charge any more for call outs over the xmas period , because the amount of work you can gain from standard charging way exceeds what you would get for doubling your call out , they may have to wait a while if its in the middle of xmas dinner mind ,and i will expect a brew and a mince pie when i get to the call lol

Fair comment I suppose I just wondered what others did

Thanks

 

[rocker]

I would avoid working on Christmas day altogether if I can, if I do get a call out I would say my usual fee + 1/2 for Christmas eve and the few days after boxing day, and at least double fee on Christmas day, Boxing day and New Years day. Mind you, I'm not a dedicated 'emergency' guy and I don't do a lot of that type of work, - I think it's more important to have the time with the missus and family, but if people are willing to pay enough to compensate me for missing out on that, then I'll go out. At the end of the day if I can help someone else have a nicer Christmas then I will, but I'm not going to ruin my own in the process.

 

[ian]

Christmas day i charge an enhanced rate, other than that it’s a standard 40 quid.

ian

 

[accordfire]

We have standard rates under contract, and non-contract for all times of the year.

For Normal hours, we charge rate x1
Out of Hours (not holidays) rate x1.5
Holidays rate x2

Our contracted customers have a much lower rate than non contract though, so on average, contract customers pay about standard non-contract for holiday call outs.

We have to work it this way, as we guarantee contract customers response times (we have to for fire & Security, so it make sense just to make it ALL contracts), but will respond as quickly as we can to noncon too.

Other thing, however, is that I do call out myself on holidays, and only look to one of the lads to offer back up if it gets stupid.

So I will say this - I'm happy to offer a rate if anyone in the SE of England needs call out cover, as I'm there for our customers anyway. Cover across fire, security, electrical.