Call out charges

[kiwi pom]

Well why would he do favours for them if they run and object to him buildin a shed?

I didn't say he should do favours for them.
Doing favours and planning permission are two completely different things.

 

[daveydiesel1]

I didn't say he should do favours for them.
Doing favours and planning permission are two completely different things.

The point i was making was he showed them some neighbourly kindness ny doing an odd job for them with his machine that would otherwise have taken them alot longer to do by hand but once he went to build they didnt show him any neighbourly kindness and actively tried to stop him. Its not really a very neighbourly thing to do and doesnt show much mutual respect

 

[Sam Partridge]

Put this is Agriculture because call out charges can apply to lots of things.

Simple question: A straight forward (mechanic, vet, or other) call out is easy enough to understand and usually involves time and mileage. But what is the contractural situation when you know the vet or mechanic is visiting next door at the same time? I've done a search but nothing came up. I phoned my local dealer to pick his brains about a suspicious noise coming from a machine. I had mentioned a similar problem when collecting a part and it had been suggested that next time I ask as they were always 'pleased to help'.

This time I was told that my enquiry was handy because Bert would be passing my farm later on in the day on the way to another job and it would be no bother to pop in and have a listen -- which Bert duly did. The 'listening' took about 20 minutes and did not result in conclusive advice. (How long does anyone have to listen to a noise to identify it?). The mechanic thought it might be this or that and suggested 'the other' but didn't really know.

In due course, a fairly substantial bill arrived which seemed excessive for what was involved. I have had similar bills from others which includes a large call out fee. Frankly, it is bad public relations at the very least when he's in the area anyway. Is it even legal when the 'professional' is visiting next door who is being charged the same for mileage, i.e. from workshop to farm?

Looking at this from the other perspective, I would probably do a discounted delivery charge if I could group a few together but not actually say thats the reason. Otherwise, if its say one delivery but I had other things to do in the area, I would charge full price and then I've benefitted with free travel to run some errands

 

[kiwi pom]

The point i was making was he showed them some neighbourly kindness ny doing an odd job for them with his machine that would otherwise have taken them alot longer to do by hand but once he went to build they didnt show him any neighbourly kindness and actively tried to stop him. Its not really a very neighbourly thing to do and doesnt show much mutual respect

You can show appreciation and still oppose something if it is going to adversely affect you.
My point is we don't know enough about it, and they are two completely different things.
You don't know how much hassle or not the farm was already causing, he may have needed to do the favours just to stay equal.
Why was PP turned down? no idea, I doubt it was because someone said they don't like it.
I just don't like jumping on the farmer is always right and the public are scum bandwagon, that many seem so keen on here.
Anyway off topic.

Call out charges should be clearly stated and agreed to beforehand.
I wonder (and asked) whether the OP thought the dealer had tricked them into a visit.

 

[som farmer]

You can show appreciation and still oppose something if it is going to adversely affect you.
My point is we don't know enough about it, and they are two completely different things.
You don't know how much hassle or not the farm was already causing, he may have needed to do the favours just to stay equal.
Why was PP turned down? no idea, I doubt it was because someone said they don't like it.
I just don't like jumping on the farmer is always right and the public are scum bandwagon, that many seem so keen on here.
Anyway off topic.

Call out charges should be clearly stated and agreed to beforehand.
I wonder (and asked) whether the OP thought the dealer had tricked them into a visit.

the last pp we applied for, her letter of objection, so incensed the pp officer, he was determined to get it through on permitted development.
if it had been a little bit more 'precise', he would have reported her for racial prejudice.

she had both barrels from me, no words kept back, she has avoided speaking to me, for 5 yrs - until about 4 weeks ago, at a party .

her husband said a bit to me, and he's ok, l think he wished he hadn't, he was firmly told, his wife was prejudiced, a snob, and a down right liar. Not sure he didn't agree with me.

 

[glasshouse]

I detest legal beagles for this very reason.

Robbers

 

[wherearethey]

Our vet ( equine ) has two types of call out fees -
planned " circle visit" when you book in advance and he gives you the day he is in the area so you pay a small " call out fee .
Emergency visit - obviously a higher call out fee .
Often if I ring him and say one of the horses has a problem he asks for a video - he takes a look and often just gives advise over the phone - no charge
Rang his practice Christmas day a few years ago as one pony very under the weather - expecting to get transferred to the out of hours practice - Vet picks up the phone talks me through a few things to check .Gave advice re medication and said he should be ok - call back if any issues - Pony fine by the evening .Vet refused to charge - I made sure he got a very nice bottle delivered
Dreading when he retires !

 

[Dry Rot]

Our vet ( equine ) has two types of call out fees -
planned " circle visit" when you book in advance and he gives you the day he is in the area so you pay a small " call out fee .
Emergency visit - obviously a higher call out fee .
Often if I ring him and say one of the horses has a problem he asks for a video - he takes a look and often just gives advise over the phone - no charge
Rang his practice Christmas day a few years ago as one pony very under the weather - expecting to get transferred to the out of hours practice - Vet picks up the phone talks me through a few things to check .Gave advice re medication and said he should be ok - call back if any issues - Pony fine by the evening .Vet refused to charge - I made sure he got a very nice bottle delivered
Dreading when he retires !

It's called "Public relations". Those who grab every penny they can don't get my custom for long! It's the small items that irritate that we remember most. Like the "I'll pop in when I'm passing later today", then we get a large bill for 10 minutes listening to an engine. Don't charge for the small items that are easily checked, wait until there is a big bill (as there will be if you keep his business) and pop on a small margin then to cover the 'miscellaneous'.

 

[kiwi pom]

It's called "Public relations". Those who grab every penny they can don't get my custom for long! It's the small items that irritate that we remember most. Like the "I'll pop in when I'm passing later today", then we get a large bill for 10 minutes listening to an engine. Don't charge for the small items that are easily checked, wait until there is a big bill (as there will be if you keep his business) and pop on a small margin then to cover the 'miscellaneous'.

My theory that you felt you were tricked into a bill as they were next door was right then?
Did you ask what the charge would be (if any) at the time?

I don't think service managers have the ability to decide what they charge for do they? good way to get yourself fired. Bit different if it's the company owner who writes the bills.

 

[AnyOldName]

Im sorry to say but this but some on here need a reality check. You are talking about professional advice here. A ten minute phone call “to a mate” who just happens to be a vet or a lawyer or a doctor or whatever and expecting some kind of dispensation is as disrespectful as it is unrealistic. Business is business.

You may be willing to work for nowt, but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to. I charge my time out to clients, many of whom are farmers. Every minute and mile is clocked because it has to be. It’s not greed, it’s paying a mortgage and feeding a family.

Agreed

Only farmers pride themselves on how little they’ll work for.

 

[d williams]

Vat threshold be about 25K. Would kill off a large part of the black economy and help level the playing field. Plenty round me working hard and not vat registered... we all know why and how....

Or let the ones who are vat registered keep 5/10% of the vat as a handling charge there’s not many bank’s accountants solicitors institutions handling those large amounts of money for nothing that’s for sure

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Or let the ones who are vat registered keep 5/10% of the vat as a handling charge there’s not many bank’s accountants solicitors institutions handling those large amounts of money for nothing that’s for sure

Interesting concept. Charge 20%.. pay 15%. That would double my wages

 

[Dry Rot]

Looking at this from the other perspective, I would probably do a discounted delivery charge if I could group a few together but not actually say thats the reason. Otherwise, if its say one delivery but I had other things to do in the area, I would charge full price and then I've benefitted with free travel to run some errands

The mechanic said he was passing my door and could pop in to advise. The visit was about 15 minutes and I got no useful advice as he didn't seem to have a clue. I was also charged a small fee for "a consumable". What consumables are involved in listening to an engine for a few minutes? A deaf aid battery?

I still haven't paid the bill and am debating whether to let the courts fix a fair fee. What is relevant is that I can (and probably will) post my query around the world for free by putting it on Facebook with a .wav (sound) file. Some businesses in the remoter parts of the UK still think that distance gives them an absolute monopoly. Thankfully, those days are over.

 

[som farmer]

we get charged a 'consumable' charge with the vets £5, covers odd syringes, needles etc, or something left behind. Perfectly reasonable.

 

[Dry Rot]

we get charged a 'consumable' charge with the vets £5, covers odd syringes, needles etc, or something left behind. Perfectly reasonable.

Included in a bill just for listening?? The tractor didn't get an injection. If it had, I might have agreed the charge!

 

[Steve welder]

I'm a welder and if I came to do a couple of hours welding at your site would you expect a call out fee or travel time added or to just pay for the 2 hours

 

[thorpe]

I'm a welder and if I came to do a couple of hours welding at your site would you expect a call out fee or travel time added or to just pay for the 2 hours

travel and travel time have got to be covered justdon't take the pizz like the main dealer's