Easy money.....but I just couldn't take it!

[kingeri]

Got a call late last night, old lady saying her lights had stopped working. Whilst on the phone, I asked her to check her breakers and she said they are all on. It was 11.30pm and I was contemplating passing out, but I just felt sorry for her so decided to go round (was only 15mins away). When I arrived I found her on the floor unable to get up. She had fallen and broken her hip. Called ambulance and her daughter, got her off to hospital. Her son-in-law stayed with me while I had a quick look at her lights. The breaker was off, seems that it was only a bulb that had blown and tripped it out. Replaced bulb and went home.

Anyway, gets home today and there's an envelope on my doormat. Cheque for £100 and a thank you card.

Been looking at the cheque all evening, could really do with the money, but I don't feel right taking it. What do you guys think??

 

[MNR]

I had the same sort of thing before I was employed by a company doing upgrades in council houses. We got to one at 13:00 and knocked on the door heard shouting from the back went round to see what was going on. Back door was opened wondered in poor old lady laying there helped her up made a cup of tea and called her family.

Ten mins later they are there more than thankful we carried on with our job, then the apprentice comes in with the lady following him trying to give him a £20 note as we where employed we was always told not to accept gifts.

But she would not give up even left it in our tool chest so in the end told the apprentice to go to the shop and get her some flowers a get well soon card and some nice biscuits.

The apprentice comes back gives her the card etc. then on the Monday we get a letter forwarded from the housing association singing our praises and to me and my boss that is worth a lot more than £20.

The other one was an old boy we done some work in his before. Got to the front door it was open as always shouted see if anyone was in, he shouted back come to the toilet and help me I've only gone and fallen off the toilet you could tell he was hurt but laughing his head off we picked him up made him a cup of tea. He don't have much family in the area so I used to pop in when I was round the area con a cheeky cup of tea out of him. Sad really when a man gets to that age and he enjoys it when you come round to chat to a male because his daughter once a week and a female nurse are the only people he sees .

 

[baldelectrician]

Cash the cheque then make an appointment to go back around to fit an emergency light for her free of charge so she will have light if a rcd/mcb trips again. For the cost of twenty quid and an hour or so, it will gain you extra brownie points on the word of mouth advertising.

I was about to suggest exactly the same thing, I would go down the route of you having one in the van and thought it may help out as a foc item

 

[nickblake]

Post #22

Great minds and all that nick

mine not great just very confused lol , how did i miss that ,tut beat me to it lol , i do get call outs 2 two elderly ladies infact i was at one of them today canging a light fitting , it is so sad to see them some times ,poor thing with her today was she was upset and sat in the corner sobbing her eyes out , whilst i did the job , that was before i gave her the bill , when i left she came up to me still sobbing and asked for a hug , i left the house really upset its heart breaking to see them like that so i went home and contacted her so and asked him just to call her so so sad

 

[Paul.M]

Post #22

Great minds and all that nick

Don't confuse people on here Guitarist by saying I've got a great mind the same as Nick. I may be in the same league but I'm in the bottom half of the table in comparison. (And that's been honest Nick).

 

[alarm man]

i do quite a few service calls for the older generation,not a better set of people you will meet,most are alone having lost husbands and wives,jobs that take 30 mins turn into 1 to 2 hours just chatting,if anyone gets the chance just sit and talk to them after the job is done,their stories of times gone by are worth it alone,the likes of which we have never seen,it makes their day to sit and chat,whats an hour of your time to a generation whos values we will never see again

 

[Guitarist]

Don't confuse people on here Guitarist by saying I've got a great mind the same as Nick. I may be in the same league but I'm in the bottom half of the table in comparison. (And that's been honest Nick).

I could have quoted the other one... "fools seldom differ". You choose

 

[SW1970]

kingeri, the fact you've even asked this question shows you are a top chap. Good for you. The world needs more people like you. If just one young apprentice sparky reads this thread and understands it you've done a great thing.

 

[sedgy34]

If it were me I would bank the cheque you don't want to insult them by refusing the payment and then send a card and flowers to the old dear in hospital

 

[chocca]

Kudos for a job well done! Beyond the call etc. I hope if my old dutch is ever in the same boat she gets someone like you who'll go the extra yard.

As suggested before, a GWS card and a bunch of flowers - and the em light is something I hadn't thought of but sounds great.

Then, if you're still feeling all guilt ridden, once payday comes and you're flush again, write a cheque for the balance and post it to me, I'll look after it for you...

 

[alarm man]

the older lot can be offended by gifts,why not just call round for a cuppa and a chat'how are you doing' and all that,and id bet my last pound she will still be hobbling around to get the kettle on,with a 'you just sit down son do you want milk and sugar'.... they dont make them like that anymore..thats for sure

 

[sedgy34]

Actually bank the cheque if you feel it's not deserved donate to help for heroes it's well deserved there

 

[sparks1973]

Got a call late last night, old lady saying her lights had stopped working. Whilst on the phone, I asked her to check her breakers and she said they are all on. It was 11.30pm and I was contemplating passing out, but I just felt sorry for her so decided to go round (was only 15mins away). When I arrived I found her on the floor unable to get up. She had fallen and broken her hip. Called ambulance and her daughter, got her off to hospital. Her son-in-law stayed with me while I had a quick look at her lights. The breaker was off, seems that it was only a bulb that had blown and tripped it out. Replaced bulb and went home.

Anyway, gets home today and there's an envelope on my doormat. Cheque for £100 and a thank you card.

Been looking at the cheque all evening, could really do with the money, but I don't feel right taking it. What do you guys think??

may be worth asking the old lass if its a regular occurance....the MCB letting go every time a lamp goes....may be worth dropping in a c type.....just be sure to check Zs first though wont you....

 

[Paul.M]

Here's a silly idea that just might work for everyone:-

Cash the cheque, go to the cash point and take out £100. Go to the ladies house and hand her/the family every single pound she paid you + 100 business cards. Thank them for the payment but under the circumstances you feel that it would be better to give the money back but for them to hand out your cards to their friends so you can get some more new business. I'm sure they will bring you in more work worth a lot more than a tone in your back pocket.


Ok get her some followers and a card, its only right.

 

[trev]

Thing is though Paul, if she's anything like my mother was she'll take the cards pass them out to all and sundry singing his praises and still beg and plead and arm twist and emotional blackmail till he takes the cash

 

[Paul.M]

Thing is though Paul, if she's anything like my mother was she'll take the cards pass them out to all and sundry singing his praises and still beg and plead and arm twist and emotional blackmail till he takes the cash

Hence why I said give it back in cash. If she forces it back onto him, he can post it back through the letterbox five minutes later.

Word of mouth backed by 100 business cards within the elderly community after such a nice deed after breaking an hip will go a hell of a long way.