Can't work as no hotels avail near client office

[ratewhore]

work from home.

next!

[expat]

If it's Frankfurt (and prob even if it isn't), rent a car at the airport and then you can reach loads of hotels out in the country (use the www.hotel.de map option). You do have extra cost, and prob 1h drive, but that compares well to the available hotels.

[expat]

Has anyone faced this before - how can a contract be worded to protect against this?

Protect against it? It happens, learn to handle it.

1. travel far enough by train to find hotels.
2. use a car to stay well out of the way.
3. work from home.
4. look where other people don't (e.g. Geneva, stay just across the border in France).
5. rent a camper.
6. work from another office of the client's
7. check out conferences in your destination, and plan time off then!

Oppotunism, flexibility, and planning are all part of being a contractor. Oh, and learning by yous mistakes

[Bluebird]

what eactly do you want in the contract?

"in the event that the service supply cannot supply services due to the unavailability of accomodation for the named service provider, the client shall be liable to pay for services that would have been provided, had said accomodation been in place"

I doubt you'd get anybody to agree to that, however you could try billing the client for 1 day under the terms of the contract by saying that was the time covered trying to find accomodation.

Oh, and don't forget the if the client can't get you a hotel, then under MOO he's within his rights - I guess if you don't get paid then this is a good pointer for Outside IR35

[downsouth]

but why cant you work at home???

spare bedroom not avail due to conference people stopping over

[original PM]

find a dating agency and hook up with a desperate women/man for duration of contract

job done!

[NotAllThere]

Buy the client company and relocate it somewhere more convenient.

[MPwannadecentincome]

work from home.

next!

yes that is what I'm doing this week now I'm at the stage where I need face to face discussions, one or two conference calls is not going to cut it especially with language differences!

[MPwannadecentincome]

Find a contractor in the area.

Frankly I doubt you'd get anything to protect you in the contract. It's unlucky, but something that you should have got sorted out in advance. On the plus side, if you don't deliver, it lessens the chance of a successful action against you for breach.

I did try to sort out in advance, but my contract has the responsibility with the client for booking and paying for my accommodation - it was them who didn't realise there was a big conference going on.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Thanks all for you comments, very valuable and yes I will learn from this!

To whoever suggested lacking in flexibility I have investigated other avenues but the client was adamant that the meetings be postponed so even if I found and booked another hotel now I would not be able to get a flight - or even if I did get a flight the client won't pay for it as they are providing me with 'free flights'.

On a similar topic though - if the client turned round and said - "all stop everthing is on hold for a week" then where is the poor contracter left - no pay for a week with no compensation?

Surely all I have to put into the contract is words along the lines of "Where the client is unable to ensure sufficient work is in place or is unable to provide the required means to perform the work at the required place then the client shall pay compensation at the rates...."

As my contract makes my clients responsible for the provision of flights and accommodation for our meetings then they should be aware of the penalties for not meeting their obligations - which is what the contract should cover.