Minimum call-out fee gripe

[sponge23]

Thanks for the comments. I was charging £60 last year for minimum, and also at £30 per hour. So maybe I'll go back to that!
As Andy78 says, some are more than happy to pay. Just think some people are still thinking of prices 20 years ago.

 

[buzzlightyear]

£95+vat includes 1st hour
£80+vat there after....

Central London

me rockets ready .

 

[123]

It depends on location and distance from my home/office. Generally I allow up to £70.00 call out fee which includes up to 2 hours travel time (there and back) and the first hour labour at the property concerned. Given that most of my work is South London based, subject to a lot of time spent at the steering wheel and subject to London Weighting I think that's reasonable. If it's a local job to me that I can attend within a few minutes then I usually drop it down to around £35.00 for the first hour and then an hourly rate after that or give them a price for whatever is required.

That to me seems shockingly cheap, for what could be up to 3 hours away from another job and diesel to pay on top. I'd be looking a lot more here in Northern Ireland, and we have the lowest rates in the UK.

 

[123]

3 rockets ready then @buzzlightyear ?

 

[telectrix]

No mate they keep telling I need my eyes tested but sod paying the prices they charge, couldn't afford any vino if I went there.

eye tests are free for us coffin dodgers.

 

[buzzlightyear]

eye tests are free for us coffin dodgers.

is that what you look like in the mirror when have had your eyes tested.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Here is an example, had a customer last week, her alarm was playing up. the tamper kept activating. She couldn't find the time in the week for me to go out and have a look due to her work, so she suggested Saturday and said she doesn't mind paying extra.
It took me around 20 minutes to get there (out of bath city centre, via quickest back road way to bradford on avon).
I charged £95 call out, for the first hour and said I would charge subsequent hours at £50. As it wasnt going to be labour intensive.
I worked on the basis of £60 x 1.5 being a saturday plus £5 diesel for the travelling there and back.
Got there, and the sounder was mounted on a uneven wall, and the spring barely touched the bricks, just tapping the box was enough to trigger it. So mounted it on some 5mm plyboard with batons, nice and high up and now fully secure. took me 45 minutes. and back home 1 and half hours after i left. £95 to the good. She has had no issues with it since.

 

[buzzlightyear]

you should charge like a taxi driver if they are out of the area that another £30 pounds .so £85.00 first hour 35.00 p/h plus £30.00.

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for the comments. I was charging £60 last year for minimum, and also at £30 per hour. So maybe I'll go back to that!
As Andy78 says, some are more than happy to pay. Just think some people are still thinking of prices 20 years ago.

I note you didn't say where you are "south east" is far too vague.

 

[sponge23]

I note you didn't say where you are "south east" is far too vague.

Maidstone if that really helps

 

[JOURNEYMAN]

That to me seems shockingly cheap, for what could be up to 3 hours away from another job and diesel to pay on top. I'd be looking a lot more here in Northern Ireland, and we have the lowest rates in the UK.[/QUOTE
That's interesting. Maybe time I put my rates up for call outs then. Out of curiosity what are others charging within the M25 area?

 

[Nigel]

We don’t charge a call out fee as such. Just an hourly based on a minimum one hour.

Rates differentiate between normal working hours (08:00-20:00), mid week out of hours (20:00-08:00) and week end call outs.

 

[Octopus]

Maidstone if that really helps

I am sure that Maidstone is like Woking ..... some can easily afford it but moan and some simply can’t afford it .....

Whereas if you were in Kensington, it would be cheap

Actual location does matter

 

[Rosco]

I am sure that Maidstone is like Woking ..... some can easily afford it but moan and some simply can’t afford it .....

Whereas if you were in Kensington, it would be cheap

Actual location does matter

Your bang on Murdoch there is a huge spectrum of people in Maidstone as in most areas, I find the ones who haven’t got much are the most grateful though.

 

[tlangdon12]

I think £70 is an ok price for south east England.

When they say "That sounds expensive", you could try saying "Well, that is the cost for me to get to your site and be there for up to an hour and I fix most problems in that time". If you want a call out, you could also try saying your price is £67 rather than £70. People will hear the sixty first and be mentally processing the price as being about £60 rather than being £70.