Self employed charging to do a call out ?

[brightspark]

if I get called out during the week to do a job its 40 quid the 1st hour and 25 after that . and I fit them in to suit my other work . I wont go out specialy at fixed times as it cocks your day up . I don't go price jobs and then tell them how im going to do it as some just use your brains and do it themselves once my tools come out there on the clock . you get sick of punters just wasting your time when you could be earning elsewhere

 

[MattF]

Definitely a call-out charge. You have to cover expenses, but the main point is that it deters time-wasters. You can drop the charge at your discretion, (if it's a job for a good customer, for example), but one needs to exist. People who say they do free call-outs either won't make it pay in the long run, else add the charge on discreetly via other means.

 

[julianf]

If people know its going to cost them, then they may think to make sure its turned on, before you hauling yourself on site to flick the power button...

(etc)

As per my first post - if they need you (for whatever reason) they need you.

 

[angellonewolf]

i used to spend half my free time running round after xyz otherhalfs mates so called mates you never see or hear from unless they need there computer fixing

the last straw was being called at 9pm sunday night oh my pc is not turning on and i need it to print somethng for the morning so off i go only 10 mins walk go in to the house push the power butten nothing look round the back power plug half hanging out push it in turns on and not even a thanks or a delivery of beer

 

[brightspark]

Definitely a call-out charge. You have to cover expenses, but the main point is that it deters time-wasters. You can drop the charge at your discretion, (if it's a job for a good customer, for example), but one needs to exist. People who say they do free call-outs either won't make it pay in the long run, else add the charge on discreetly via other means.

I sometimes do daft jobs for old folk for peanuts if its just changing a bulb or a switch and its close on my way home

 

[rtbcomp]

...

the last straw was being called at 9pm sunday night oh my pc is not turning on and i need it to print somethng for the morning so off i go only 10 mins walk go in to the house push the power butten nothing look round the back power plug half hanging out push it in turns on and not even a thanks or a delivery of beer

I had something similar, he was doing his payroll on Sunday evening for the next day. Computer failed so he called me out at 7 pm. I told him I was going out at 9 O'clock, but I'd have a quick look. Couldn't get to his house due to roadworks so turned round and went out. When I got home my ansaphone was full of abusive messages. I didn't reply, but I hope his staff walked out due to not being paid.

 

[tommullin]

I had something similar, he was doing his payroll on Sunday evening for the next day. Computer failed so he called me out at 7 pm. I told him I was going out at 9 O'clock, but I'd have a quick look. Couldn't get to his house due to roadworks so turned round and went out. When I got home my ansaphone was full of abusive messages. I didn't reply, but I hope his staff walked out due to not being paid.

I drove from Liverpool to Somerset and back to wipe cheese off a sensor. 8 hour+ round trip. 1 hour getting a permit. 2 seconds to fix... our office was 15 mins away but no one could even take a look because it was 'too complicated'...

 

[ukracer]

Always charge for callout. ... and an hour on site.

Depends on the customer of course oap's or regular customers might get away with it

Would they go into work to sort the printer out for free?

Thats why i am no good at business....i would...lol

 

[ukracer]

it shouldn't make any difference if you're self employed or working for a business. time is money. no reputable business (small or large) works for free unless its under some kind of pre paid SLA. we bill the customer for travel, hotels, meals and flights all on top of a day rate (min half day). its all up front in quotations and there's never been any real agro.

This us what the Tax man had difficulty understanding.....it took him 18months and a lot of paper work to be convinced.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

to wipe cheese off a sensor

I'm not even going to ask....

 

[cumbriasteve]

I learnt my lesson the hard way regarding charging.

The public pay and in the case mentioned there would be a cover charge for distance and time.

I once did a few small jobs on 'no charge for a mate' basis, the same mate had a part time hire business for sunbeds but most of the time they took up room in his spare bedroom so I asked if I could use one for a week...daughter pestered me.

Took it back after a couple of days because she was overdoing it and would not listen to sense, mate said we'll call it a tenner.

Considering I had probably saved him a couple of hundred quid doing freebies I was so gobsmacked I just paid and walked away.

I think as you get older you can recognise people for what they are and it helps you decide which way to go, if a neighbour asked me to make a small item there would be a charge but not for the neighbour who has an allotment and supplies me with veg...swings and roundabouts.

You can have an overflowing order book and customers praising you if you work for cheap or don't charge for dead time, it does not pay the bills though.

 

[Kayos]

Call out includes first hour if I can fix it there and then, if not it’s a diagnosis fee

If you need a new boiler and you chose me to fit it then it becomes a free quote, however if you get someone else in then it’s charged at call out

It costs money to go look at jobs, why should it be free?

 

[roofman]

All depends on the location of job concerning other companys around the area..what it cost you to attend..Myself personly with my company i would rather not charge if it cost us pennies to attend as you can pretty much guarantee the customer will use you again and next time it could be a 2K job

 

[ajlelectronics]

An email received recently...

How much would you charge to supply and fit a replacement LNB to an existing dish with easy ladder access? If an engineer wants to do it on the way home or in between jobs I wouldn’t mind. I was hoping to pay around £40

I have yet to respond, keeping my powder dry!

 

[rtbcomp]

If I expect to pay a mate for something I'll say "How much do I owe you?" if I'm not expecting to pay I'll say "Do I owe you anything?" Either way I can't be accused of not offering to pay.

 

[MattF]

An email received recently...

How much would you charge to supply and fit a replacement LNB to an existing dish with easy ladder access? If an engineer wants to do it on the way home or in between jobs I wouldn’t mind. I was hoping to pay around £40

I have yet to respond, keeping my powder dry!

I'd love to see your response.

 

[Robotstar5]

When I worked for ABB in the 80's I got called to a robot fault, about 30 mins to get there and as soon as I opened the control panel I could see a switch was in the wrong position so flicked it and problem sorted. Apparently the robot was working fine at the start of shift and no one had been in the control panel they got a standard call out bill for £400+.

 

[Pete.]

If engineer attends a 'fault', and finds no fault exists, then finding out that the installation is not faulty carries some value in itself. Anyone who thinks that only fixing a fault is 'work' is just stupid. As many people are paid for what they know as get paid for what they do.

 

[Tigman]

I was called out last week to an elderly customer , she could hear water running in the kitchen but taps were off ! she was worried because she is on a meter , i was there within half an hour before entering the house i lifted the meter cover to find it still not turning at all , proceeded into the house into the kitchen and could hear the water running , turned the taps on and off then put my ear closer and closer only to find her battery radio was making the noise , she was so embarrassed , I didnt charge her but thats just me !

generally you should charge if called out !

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

All depends on the location of job concerning other companys around the area..what it cost you to attend..Myself personly with my company i would rather not charge if it cost us pennies to attend as you can pretty much guarantee the customer will use you again and next time it could be a 2K job

Went out to look at a sink replacement for a returning customer. couldnt fit him in for a few weeks but went out of my way to drill out the sink and fit a new waste as a temp repair.
he keeps calling me back for more work so im not concerned.
usually end up doing a few extra bits without charge for customers but allow for it in my prices.