Hi guys, had quite a few people ringing me up recently and asking what my call-out fee is; to which I reply £70 (which covers one hour) plus materials.
I then get the response "oh that sounds expensive" - is it? I think it's reasonable for 2018 in the South East of England.

What are you guys charging?
 
Can't give you my call out pricing, its post code based as my city is quite divided along wealth lines, some would not think twice about £100 others would balk at £45. I call it strategic pricing

I wish my area could be divided up geographically like that, would make things easier. I charge a universal fee and find tight gits and grateful, generous customers in all areas alike.
 
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.
 
Hi guys, had quite a few people ringing me up recently and asking what my call-out fee is; to which I reply £70 (which covers one hour) plus materials.
I then get the response "oh that sounds expensive" - is it? I think it's reasonable for 2018 in the South East of England.

What are you guys charging?
I think cocering materials is a mistake, how will you know what you may need could be a killer price wise 65 quid call out and first hour.
 
i read it as £70 plus materials. Pete. you been to specsavers lately?:D:D:D.
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.
 
the ranges that you have been putting on between £70 on ward is a fair price for the first hour ,you could charge more if you put a mask on like some people.
 
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.
 
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.
 
eye tests are free for us coffin dodgers.
SammyDavisJr_1.jpg
is that what you look like in the mirror when have had your eyes tested.:rolleyes:
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.:tongueout: Out of curiosity what are others charging within the M25 area?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

So where are you based?
 
'Ratpack building Co Ltd'

Sammy Davis Junior in safety goggles...
had an argument once over who was the first to fly across the atlantic. I said Sammy Davis Jnr. he said Alcock and Brown.i said. both right then.
 
I don't charge call out fees, only the cost of my time and fuel which is based on the distance from my home. For my labour I charge £35 per hour or part of an hour, If I'm called out anywhere, I have a list of how many hours I need to do the round trip then charge that at my normal hourly rate.
 
Surely you must take traveling time into it.. if charge £70 for a call out and it takes 30/40 min to rectify but you have 1 hour there and 1 hour back thats 2.5 hours thats Only £28 PH not accounting for fuel etc.. when accreditations insurances and all costs associated are taken into it then surely a figure in the region of £45 PH is more realistic
 
And they will get the work as lots of people want to know that the work has been done by a reputable company . Like said previous post accreditations insurances and all costs associated with companies and empolyer cost £ . But £95 is above it. Bet every1 on this forum wishes they could get that type of rate. A Sunday shift would become standard @ £160ph recon i know lota who would be willing to do 14h shift if getting that
 

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