Emergency call outs - DOMESTIC - Small one man band companies

[1shortcircuit]

Being pestered by a certain advertiser at the moment and something has come up in discussion about emergency call out. Now at the moment I don't provide this service but what I would like to try and establish is... Is there much of a requirement for this service in the Domestic Sector. I've only recently started to trade as a sole trader at this moment in time and trying to get my name established in my area.

I was targeting a 20 mile radius to start with but after quoting on two jobs in the same day at 22 miles away and not winning either I have scrapped this idea and decided to focus every ounce of energy into a six mile radius. At least if I do not win the jobs I quote for in this area it has not cost me a great deal of time and money in fuel and hopefully the work I do allow good reviews in the local area.

I'm going to add a poll to see if I can obtain a better idea but I would love to hear your thoughts and know if it works for you. Also, if it's not too much to ask, what do you charge for the priviledge of being dragged from your nice comfy bed at ridiculous o'clock in the morning?

Thanks for your input

 

[davetherave1979]

not a regular customer my mate works for an alarm company if they get called out to a non regular mantaded customer they charge £150.00 plus vat and thats not christmas eve price thats all other times of the year as I allways tell customers you are paying for what I now not what I do you go to the dentist to see the hygenest to get your teeth cleaned they charge you £45.00 for say 30mins work customers forget we have to take everthing to them ie a van and tools fuel so we should all remeber that when going on call outs and small jobs at the end of the day we are a top trade if dentist charge these prices so should we i still had to do an appretership on £1.50 an hour rant over

 

[alarm man]

not a regular customer my mate works for an alarm company if they get called out to a non regular mantaded customer they charge £150.00 plus vat and thats not christmas eve price thats all other times of the year as I allways tell customers you are paying for what I now not what I do you go to the dentist to see the hygenest to get your teeth cleaned they charge you £45.00 for say 30mins work customers forget we have to take everthing to them ie a van and tools fuel so we should all remeber that when going on call outs and small jobs at the end of the day we are a top trade if dentist charge these prices so should we i still had to do an appretership on £1.50 an hour rant over

Agree mate,people want skilled labour at daft times they have to pay for it,I do,you do so they have too,the problem here is the part p and semi skilled lot,there willing to work for free to gain expirence so a £40 call out fee is decent money to them..imo

 

[1shortcircuit]

Thanks for all your replies

I did decide to place the advert with Emergency Call out included and the first month (due end of January) has already been covered. Simple callout where a Landlord had been messing with a FCU for some reason. They had terminated the PVC of the cable and not the copper so stripped back and reterminated correctly and charged 50 quid for the honour

 

[baldelectrician]

I prefer to steer clear of emergency call outs- I find that over 80% want to cancel soon after they call- once you are in the van and driving there

I now insist on the money (via debit card etc) before I go out, if they want me that much they will pay

 

[sythai]

Had an interesting one last night....

See here (post #695) : http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...forum/11384-tell-us-about-your-faults-70.html

2nd domestic call out in 2 years.

Not so bad really 17:30 - 20:30 ----> disabled customer ----> 1/2mile from my place --->£35/hr

And back next week to finish off which I've priced for them and will do quite nicely out of also.

Wasn't doing much else TBH, no beer as Jan detox, only watching rubbish on TV or sat on here. Only downside was a bit late for my dinner, oh well

 

[sythai]

Had an interesting one last night....

See here (post #695) : http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...forum/11384-tell-us-about-your-faults-70.html

2nd domestic call out in 2 years.

Not so bad really 17:30 - 20:30 ----> disabled customer ----> 1/2mile from my place --->£35/hr

And back next week to finish off which I've priced for them and will do quite nicely out of also.

Wasn't doing much else TBH, no beer as Jan detox, only watching rubbish on TV or sat on here. Only downside was a bit late for my dinner, oh well

And just had £15 TIP put through my door......... Happy Customer = Happy Me = Happy Days :charming:

 

[Groucho Mace]

Don't advertise emergency call outs but tell all customers I'm only a phone call away, should they have a problem. Like other sparkes on hear have said I can often talk them through any problems over the phone or arrange to visit at a more suitable time. I had a call just before Xmas ref: Freezer in garage not working and the elderly couple were worried, I agreed to visit on my way home about 6-ish. In the meantime i put my phone on charge in the van. When packing our tools away I received a voice mail from the Lady explaining that her husband had reset the mcb and all was ok, she thanked me for offering to come out. I thought no more and went home (kinda relieved really :goofy: )
When I came home the following eve I had a Xmas card from the Lady with a tenner in it!. I was very shocked to receive this and its nice to be appreciated. restored my faith in humanity again!
Until the next awkward customer calls :banghead: