Attitude to being available out of hours

[psychocandy]

You act professionally by performing what you are contracted for. And its not me who's having problem after problem after problem with their client.

Its not as easy as that especially with the advent some time ago of 'professional working day'. That's open to interpretation.

Must admit things were simpler in the days of hourly rates....

[TheFaQQer]

Not a bad idea. Is this the type of number where you get some of the money they get charged for the call?

Now that would be good. Bit like a phone sex line - keep them on as long as you can and it earns you a few quid..... :-)

No - you just get the convenience of a number which looks like a normal phone number, redirects where you want it to, and has it's own voicemail if you need it.

You might be able to get something similar from Skype or some such, but YAC is free. I got mine in 2000.

[Mav]

Do whatever it takes. I prefer over-delivering then seeking my comeuppance at contract re-neg time.

Normally I don't mind if a colleague at the client phones me out of hours if there's anything I can do to help. I'm happy if a 5 min call gets someone out of a hole. As long as:-

1. Its not all the time.
2. As long as it is just a quick call and doesn't take ages.
3. They don't expect it.

What do rest of you do?

[TheFaQQer]

Do whatever it takes. I prefer over-delivering then seeking my comeuppance at contract re-neg time.

So the client expects you to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you accept it?

More fool you.

[SimonMac]

Not a bad idea. Is this the type of number where you get some of the money they get charged for the call?

Now that would be good. Bit like a phone sex line - keep them on as long as you can and it earns you a few quid..... :-)

I mean a bog standard pay as you go mobile, for the other type of number I use Free Local Rate 0845 Numbers, No Set-up Fee

[Mav]

So the client expects you to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you accept it?

More fool you.

Extension with another 50 a day?
Perspective.

Of course depends on how regular it is.

[TheFaQQer]

Extension with another 50 a day?
Perspective.

Of course depends on how regular it is.

Normally a professional working day means eight hours. If you are then expected to be on call regularly for an additional sixteen hours a day, that equates to two working days that you are giving for free. So an extension with another 50 a day works well, assuming that your day rate is less than £25.

You keep working those freebies, though.

[TheFaQQer]

I mean a bog standard pay as you go mobile, for the other type of number I use Free Local Rate 0845 Numbers, No Set-up Fee

I don't like the idea of changing my number every gig, though. Sometimes, as much as I hate to admit it, it's easier when an agent rings me because they know I'm coming available, rather than me having to seek out the work.

Maybe it's because I'm inherently lazy.

[blacksta]

The alternative is the loss of the contract as the client may claim one is not a team player

[Ignis Fatuus]

Normally I don't mind if a colleague at the client phones me out of hours if there's anything I can do to help. I'm happy if a 5 min call gets someone out of a hole. As long as:-

1. Its not all the time.
2. As long as it is just a quick call and doesn't take ages.
3. They don't expect it.

But, its amazing the attitude sometimes. Current client pays someone to be on call (but not me!). Got up this morning to find a few texts on my phone, some urgent emails at 10pm last night.

Then client had the cheek to ask - where was I last night? This problem needed to be sorted. Are you having a laugh?

Bearing in mind this is also the same client who constantly messes me around with extensions, always tries to penny pinch when they can. Not exactly deserving of freebies if I'm honest....

I've got the feeling I'm maybe too nice and, in future, will consider not even doing anything like this for free. The old saying 'give an inch and they'll take a mile' rings very true.

Probably bad idea that they have my own personal mobile no too. Time to get another sim card for business use I think and then swap it over when I walk out the door at night.

What do rest of you do?

I had a client who was calling and texting incessantly during Christmas week. One day I left the phone and email off all morning, only to find a message saying that I wasn't responding and "Das geht nicht". That's the only contract I've ever quit from.

My idea is Occasional contact if necessary ==> OK if I have the time. There's no charge for it (there is give and take).
Criticism for not being available at will, for free ==> Das geht nicht.

I'd also say that it won't help to have a different number, and just not answer it. It'll lead to the same result anyway, and what you want to fix is their attitude, not their knowledge of your phone number.