"no call out charge" at what point u start charging?

[John_]

Hi all, just wondering at what point do we start charging when we advertise no call out charge, say for boiler break down. Or it is down to our discretion and the nature of the problem? Slap me if this has been asked before. Thx in advance.

 

[snowhead]

From leaving home.

 

[stevetheplumber]

for a boiler breakdown i would start to charge the minute i get there as half the job is deciding what is wrong .For other work i tend to either guestimate(taps changing toilet over flowing etc ) by phone ,larger work go see and give a price

 

[John_]

Am I right in thinking that in the past, people charged just to turn up? Now a day we can't do that because of competition, so we advertise no call out meaning that we r not charging to turn up but will start charging if we start looking at the problem, again assuming for boiler breakdown? Thx again.

 

[SimonG]

As soon as I arrive it's a £40 minimum.

 

[Guest123]

A callout charge is a charge that is levied for being called out, usually out of hours and is separate from an hourly rate. An hourly rate is charged from the moment that you arrive.
For example;
Callout charge is £50
Hourly rate is £30
Work takes 2 hours; £30x2=£60
Plus callout charge; £50
TOTAL to be invoiced= £110

 

[mfgs]

I have a minimum charge of 1 hours labour, so whether I am there 5 mins or 55mins it will be the same price.

 

[petercj]

So if you advertise 'no call-out charge', and you do free estimates, does that mean you will turn out, diagnose the problem, and give a price for fixing it, without making a charge?

 

[Mike Jackson]

In that case I will charge a diagnostic fee because I have spent my time diagnosing the fault. I don't give free estimates for breakdowns. I can tell people an hourly rate or charge a diagnostic fee and give a price.

 

[mfgs]

I will give them a quote for fixing it if they tell me the problem.

I will not go and diagnose a fault for free, no one should. You have to use your skill and knowledge to know what the problem is, why tell someone what part is needed as they can then phone around and see who will fit it for the cheapest price or worse of all do it themself.

I actually had someone call me up and asked for a quote to repair a boiler, I said how can I quote for something when I dont know what is wrong. He could not grasp that I would charge him to diagnose the problem and got very angry very quick so I told him to do one.