Charging eldery people?

varial · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:14

Hey,

I have a real problem charging elderly people for work who obviously dont have much money, take today for instance.

Said she had a leak under her sink and when i went round the whole cuboard was rotten and every joint was leaking, it was a right mess. She obviously doesnt have much money and lives with her dog (who was nice a friendly!) on her own. I said what it would cost just for the parts and that with my cost on top of it its going to be rather exspensive for her but it needed doing.

So anyways, i ended up saying i would do it for her and just charge for parts which i dont really mind doing it but its happened a couple of times now. I think i need to man up a bit!

Any one else have the same problem?

Knubje · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:16

Charge her! Bunch of tax dodging freeloaders...

In all seriousness if this is your own business then you need to man up a bit. Perhaps give her a little discount but your labour is where you earn your money. Think of it this way; she could have called some cowboy who botched it and charged her double.

You are a good man doing an honest job and deserve payment, even if it is a little subsidised should you feel so inclined...

antijoke · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:16

Would have no problem charging. Just because they are old you shouldn't feel obliged to do it cheap/free. Man up.

Or are you really trying to say you are going to do it for sexual favours? You OAPaedo.

BFCTom · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:17

It's all good karma I suppose

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:17

If everyone did this it would be fine - when you're an OAP you'd 'make back' the money you lost by doing things for free when you get charged less for things like this.

However 99% of people probably don't do it - in fact those that charge elderly people MORE will tip the balance back over. Quite sad.

Hunders · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:17

You sound like a nice guy.

Nitefly · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:17

People should try charging £2 for a cup of tea at a service station to six ~80 year old women. They were scrabbling around their purses for the money and sadly, since a supervisor was nearby, there wasn't anything I could do.

I felt really guilty - they had no idea that it would be too expensive for them and didn't have the nerve to say no.

uber soldat · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:18

Such a British disease lol you wouldn't get a cheese eating surrender monkey worrying about that sort of thing

Soulja · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:18

Good on you i say.

Need more people like you.

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:19

uber soldat said:
Such a British disease lol you wouldn't get a cheese eating surrender monkey worrying about that sort of thing

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

Whackeygrunt · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:19

You're refusing money because you feel sorry for someone...

It's up to you. What's more important? Feeling better about doing it for less, or actually getting paid for the job and making a profit. Are you ever likely to see her again? Does she even mean anything to you? What will you lose out on by taking a loss in profits? Is being selfless that important to you?

All the answers to these questions will pretty much sum up what you want to do. There is no should do. Only what you want to do. You're not being forced to do anything.

HungryHippos · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:20

Nitefly said:
People should try charging £2 for a cup of tea at a service station to six ~80 year old women. They were scrabbling around their purses for the money and sadly, since a supervisor was nearby, there wasn't anything I could do.

I felt really guilty - they had no idea that it would be too expensive for them and didn't have the nerve to say no.

one cup for 6 of them? I hope you gave them a big cup and 6 straws!

varial · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:20

rghjones said:
If everyone did this it would be fine - when you're an OAP you'd 'make back' the money you lost by doing things for free when you get charged less for things like this.

However 99% of people probably don't do it - in fact those that charge elderly people MORE will tip the balance back over. Quite sad.

That would be good if it was the case! I do beleive in karma and all that, so hopfully when im old and alone with my pet dog and have a leaky tap ill get the same thing!

xb8browney · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:20

I would have charged her maybe not as much but to be honest I find old people not to be as nice as they make out they play the elderly card a lot.

Hunders · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:20

rghjones said:
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

Does this make sense or am I going mad?

^TANK^ · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:21

Soulja said:
Good on you i say.

Need more people like you.

uber soldat · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:21

Hunders said:
Does this make sense or am I going mad?

you're not going mad, it is indeed gibberish.

varial · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:22

Whackeygrunt said:
You're refusing money because you feel sorry for someone...

It's up to you. What's more important? Feeling better about doing it for less, or actually getting paid for the job and making a profit. Are you ever likely to see her again? Does she even mean anything to you? What will you lose out on by taking a loss in profits? Is being selfless that important to you?

All the answers to these questions will pretty much sum up what you want to do. There is no should do. Only what you want to do. You're not being forced to do anything.

I have done it a few times and i sleep easy and feel good but at the end of the day i am trying to make money! My next lot of flyers where going to have some kind of % off the price for OAP

Nitefly · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:22

Eulogy said:
one cup for 6 of them? I hope you gave them a big cup and 6 straws!

You knew what I meant

wormwood · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:23

In my experience old people tend to be the biggest tippers, they never seem to be short of cash. I guess it is because a lot of them are indoors and don't do much all day and have nothing else to spend their money on.