New client problems

[Wanderer]

How would you feel if you had been through the process of pricing up an extension and the builder turns up on the first day and says he will be off 2 days that week? Not pleased I would expect.

My builders taught me a hell of a lot about running a business and them not turning up some days was the least of my problems. They wanted to add extra cost for any tiny variation which was a pain in in the arse and I had fights with these idiots every few days. The hilarious thing was that at the end of it all he offered a handshake and was pleased at a "job well done". Nice job in the end though.

[snarfblat]

My builders taught me a hell of a lot about running a business and them not turning up some days was the least of my problems. They wanted to add extra cost for any tiny variation which was a pain in in the arse and I had fights with these idiots every few days. The hilarious thing was that at the end of it all he offered a handshake and was pleased at a "job well done". Nice job in the end though.

Oh my don't even get me started on tradies! Of course I've had some very good ones. I've had some not show up for a quote. Show up and do 10 minutes of work and leave and not return, showed up angry and told me to not mess around as he wanted to get home to his family in an hour. Well excuse me! I thought I was paying you to do a service, not charity work.

[snarfblat]

To update; I talked it over with them today and they weren't willing to say how many hours per week I would be working for the entire contract. They still wanted to be able to walk over and say next 3 weeks work 40, next after that 10, then 30 and so on.

I said that isn't what the contract said (it states 40 in the contract) and if I am working 10 hours for you, some other client is going to want to pay for those additional hours. This is also 100% onsite too with an hour commute each way.

I was nice about it all. I told them I didn't think my services were a good fit for what they were looking for.

[cojak]

New client problems

Good for you. It's better to do this kind of thing sooner rather than later, before it starts costing you.

[psychocandy]

To update; I talked it over with them today and they weren't willing to say how many hours per week I would be working for the entire contract. They still wanted to be able to walk over and say next 3 weeks work 40, next after that 10, then 30 and so on.

I said that isn't what the contract said (it states 40 in the contract) and if I am working 10 hours for you, some other client is going to want to pay for those additional hours. This is also 100% onsite too with an hour commute each way.

I was nice about it all. I told them I didn't think my services were a good fit for what they were looking for.

Snarf - to be honest I now agree with you. I know in effect we're all subject to this no work no pay mutuality thing but client should have mentioned this at the beginning - its only fair.

Agree with you too. If they want to be able to have the flexibility to say 30 hours this week, 10 hours next, they can't moan when you say sorry I can only do 20 hours that week etc.

After all, they're not paying you to sit around waiting for them to ask you to work.

One other thing - I find that clients that try to shave off hours here and there are the worst. Usually, they want something for nothing and expect the world just because, in their eyes, they're paying premium for your services.

[kaiser78]

Because my other client hasn't finalized their golive date and I hadn't been notified of my acceptance to speak and this client kept pushing back the start date. They ended up delaying by 2 weeks. I am not just going to sit around and do nothing during that time.

They didn't bother to tell me up front they didn't have enough to pay me for 40 hours either.

Not the clearest answer, but think I get what you are saying. However still doesn't answer my question - Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (or at least that you may still have to spend some time other client for a period of time) ?

[Wanderer]

I said that isn't what the contract said (it states 40 in the contract) and if I am working 10 hours for you, some other client is going to want to pay for those additional hours. This is also 100% onsite too with an hour commute each way.

I was nice about it all. I told them I didn't think my services were a good fit for what they were looking for.

You were very diplomatic then!

If a client wants you hanging around onsite for a week but might only pay you for 10 hours then I'd tell them to go and stick it. I'm billing for 40 hours that week and that's the end of it.

Don't take tulip from idiots like that.

[snarfblat]

Not the clearest answer, but think I get what you are saying. However still doesn't answer my question - Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (or at least that you may still have to spend some time other client for a period of time) ?

Oh I told them I had other clients. They just weren't listening.

I was under the impression I would be started the next week. I had cleared my schedule to start then.

They kept pushing back and would not give me a firm start date.

I sold those hours to my other clients.

2 weeks later, I get an email late Friday saying oh you can start with new client on Monday. They are ready for you now.

[snarfblat]

Another update.
It was quiet for a day and then they started to call me and call me and call me.

They said they really needed me.

I just kept telling them I wasn't interested.

It was quiet again and then they called again and offered me 50% more than my normal rate for 10 hours a week. I said ok.

I still think they are creeps but oh well, it is just for a few months.