Life in the trade

When you say "wasn't offered a feckin penny", why didn't you just produce a bill, after all it wasn't your fault there was a power spike.

 

I know how you feel. I did a job the other day, at late notice, as a favour. It cost me money for materials etc. Not offered a penny.

I'll be sure to make sure I'm too busy when they ask next time.

Everyone thinks being self employed is fantastic but, there are plenty of times when it is not. We have all had those customers who just cannot be pleased.

 

Have a look at rated people, there are people on there advertising jobs for a pittance and stupid tradesmen willing to do them cheapest quote wins. I gave it a try but give it up sharpish the only ones doing well are the people running it. Kerching The qualifications required just say you are qualified to do everything and no checks carried out

 

know what ya mean unphased, its the same with our customers, you do a job for um and they think they've hired a maintenance man for a while using terms like " well it never did that before" and " since you came the weathers gone funny",
I did a tap washer for a neighbour ( old lady lives on her own) only lives a few doors away her tap was dripping, I charged her a tenner, a week later she's knocking on my door, its still dripping, i told her you'll probably need a new tap then, you choose the taps you want and i'll fit them for £30, she said, oh no i've paid you to fix it aND I WANT IT FIXING, So I handed her her tenner back and said , here luv phone British gas they'll fix it for you,

 

Thats a good idea tom, I don't blame you one little bit

 

Your not wrong there Tom, anything that goes wrong after you have done something is suddenly your fault. your lucky her roof didn't start leaking or that would have been your fault too (and I'm being serious).

 

Your not alone unphased.

 

Its true no matter what you did what happens next is down to you ...... No matter how unrelated the problem is

 

I've had similar. I fitted a kitchen a few years ago and the sink was plumbed in by a plumber (god knows why, when I'd said I would do it) About 3 months after the kitchen was fitted, the chap phoned me up saying there was a leak under the sink. Went and had a look and one of the flexi pipes hadn't been fully tightened. Managed to tighten it up.. A month ago the same chap phones up saying the tap's now leaking. Went round and it's one of the washers in the tap that's letting by. Told him to call his plumber out. His response was "You fitted the kitchen, I want it fixing." I told him, although I'd fitted the kitchen, his plumber had installed the sink, so it wasn't my problem. (he ain't phoned back up to now,, fingers crossed)

 

BL**dy plumbers.

 

Hiya me old mucker

think between you, me, Lec and a few others truly know what its like out there

I am the same, working my **** off and seeing not a lot of return in profit

Clients do seem to want everything for a very low price, last invoice sent out was everything to date on the Friday, have to go back Monday to wire the AGA in, install an outside socket and exchange a faulty downlight which they understood.

This would be sent under a separate invoice, together with changing the existing 16th edition splitloader to a 12 way RCBO board

For some reason, they get the idea they have finished paying for the job, which is still incomplete and all these extras are free *** and were not in the contract

I would stress to anyone doing this game GET A CONTRACT IN WRITING

S

 

Hi Unphased,
Sorry to read you are a down in the dumps mate.
I think its hard everywhere regardless of what game you are in at the moment. And you are right: it seems most want something for **** all!
The other slightly frustrating thing which has been created (in my opinion) by the trade generation sites is this "budget" thing where the customer is effectively telling the tradesmen what price they will pay for the job they want.
Prior to these types of sites, the customer would find a couple of tradesmen and ask them to spec and price the job up. I can understand with bigger jobs like extensions and loft conversions as sometimes this figure could be a difference between them deciding to do the job, or move to a bigger house.
Not sure if you do domestic and commercial but i know boys who say domestic is a nightmare and yet others who say commercial is worse as businesses are generally slow payers.

Hope you have a good week mate.
Cheers
Fats

 

One reason why we tend to stick to commercial and industrial work - The customers are more realistic, and understand costings! And I don't just mean working in some village shop or cafe (they are often just as unrealistic!).

We had a very difficult time a couple years ago now, and had to loose a few staff. Still not had the courage to take back on, and continue to use subbies for larger jobs, or when too busy. Luckily, we have had a very good 18 months or more with work everyday, but I can appreciate the uneasyness of it all.

Change your customer type - don't advertise in local papers or local door drop magazines. The customers you get through that method of advertising are just the type you want to avoid!

Never quote verbally. Never pander to the "how much roughly" - say you will send a quote. And do be scared to send an invoice for that alarm issue. If it was nothing more than a surge of some sort, and you are hours down, invoice it. If it was only 30 mins and a quick power down and up, and you want to keep them sweet, leave it.

How many quotes go ignored? Do you follow them up?

 

When I was in business a few months back I can honestly say that I had very little trouble or payment. I did not chase work, I let it come to me. I was very careful picking my customers, luckily most were old customers (some of which I had for 30 years) & together with recommended work that gave me enough work. I did used to spend a little longer on my quotes & estimates & customers looked favourably on this & it paid off as I could put everything down what had not been included & what had been included. I also gave a discount for prompt payment, no problem with money whatsoever.

 

How are you now Wally? I hope not too bad.

 

Hi Cheb, not a good day today but no doubt buck up in the near future. Thanks for asking, much appreciated