Reply to: New client problems

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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) ?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (and in writing) - not surprised they got the hump.

It is a two way thing to expect a level of professionalism...

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.

[psychocandy]

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.

Sounds like you didn't handle it as well as you could have which has resulted in a bad first impression which is now going to bite you for the rest of the gig.

OK in this case I see your point but for others its not usually first day is it?

Using the same argument, builder tells you he can't start job for 2 weeks - then on friday afternoon you give him a hard time because he won't be available the following monday even though he'd already told you this and you'd agreed to it. Gotta admit this happens.

[kaiser78]

I have been contracting/consulting for quite a few years now but I seem to be running into problems with the new contract.

I have been there a week.

I will just list the problems.

Agency, they are usually a problem, guy lied to and threatened me with better sign the contract right now or they will find someone else. I just ignored him as I knew the client wouldn't be ready until after the holiday.

The eager client starts pushing back my start date. Ended up pushing it back 2 weeks.

I worked the first week doing the 40 hours that were expected. The manager comes tells me I can only work 30 hours until he gets more for the budget. He doesn't know when that will be,

On the first day I told him I had some other clients. I told him I need 2 days off this week for a another client and to speak at a convention. These are things that were already planned and couldn't change them. I had rearranged everything else to make it fit.

The client was not happy at all with this. He kept sending me texts during my golive to "CALL HIM!!!" I finally shut my phone off. So when I had the chance to call back, he said I never said anything to the lead about taking those days off. He was quite nasty about it. I said of course I did as that is how you found out and sent out an email about me speaking to the company.

The work itself is simple but the lead wants to micromanage and talk down to me.


How should I handle this client? I didn't start my own company to be in a situation like this. If I wanted to have every move monitored and have to raise my hand to go to the toilet, I would have stayed an employee.

Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (and in writing) - not surprised they got the hump.

It is a two way thing to expect a level of professionalism...

[psychocandy]

I've been asked that before. I put together a proposal for how much they would need to pay me to cancel the holiday, because I'm not unreasonable.

They declined

It's the same when I'm asked to work weekends if I'm staying away - to make up for not seeing my children for two weeks, I need to take them away for at least four days. Cover the cost of that, and I might be interested in working that weekend.

Its amazing how many urgent things are no longer urgent when client realises they can't get it for free or usual price....

[northernladuk]

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.

Sounds like you didn't handle it as well as you could have which has resulted in a bad first impression which is now going to bite you for the rest of the gig.

[TheFaQQer]

Maybe after this gig, I should take a long break.

From the sounds of things, you should have a long break INSTEAD of this gig

At the end of the day, just smile and invoice. Keep thinking about the money, and what you are going to do when the gig ends. I'd even go as far as booking something for as soon as you think you'll be available - if it's long enough then the client won't off you an extension anyway, and you can then leave into the sunshine.