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What I meant was tell her she's wasted your time!
add another few minor jobs onto the list and add a call out charge on ?
-- an emergency call out charge is standard across most industries -- she did make it sound like an emergency and did demand your prompt attention.
half way house ? -- do a few extra minor jobs and charge to over cover your time and expenses
Have charges to hand, be upfront and leave decision with client as to importance and what they want to pay.
A nice client is just that if they don't value your time or understand there is a cost associated with attending.
You/we have to start valuing our time, experience and abilities.....
I think they are not nice clients if they don't value your time as they would theirs and I think that's what you are getting at:)
I sympathise Adam - I assume you feel bad charging an elderley person that you know well ? Some people are really far removed from the real cost of running a business..
If it had been a new client I don't think there is any doubt you would charge accordingly...maybe chalk it to experience but let her know 'normally' call outs are charged more...
I think a bit of clarification over the phone would have been in order before committing yourself to a 30min drive Adam. I'm afraid as clients get older, the do change, what is a small problem to us can become large to them. I certainly wouldn't hit her with a big bill, I'd put it down to experience and think 'oh well she has put £xxxx's in my pocket over the years'. Every now and then a little sit down chat can work wonders. We had a customer last week ask one of my lads if he could run him down the garden centre so he could spend a voucher!
Well that harvested a good few views :)
I am charging her an hour.
Re qualification we had a 5 minute chat (at least) yesterday, she said I would need "tree cutting equipment" and was querying whether I wanted the wood, or could find a home for it
Now back at base you can see the photo of this branch that would require "tree cutting equipment" - and calculate for yourself how many seconds it would keep you warm for in the winter.
She is an old lonely lady, and normally a good customer - so I'm not going to ruin that relationship... but I was a bit cross when I posted this from her drive this morning
To add that's the kind of thing I'd probably do for free if it were round the corner for a regular client