Accepting money to fix a work mate/ friend's computer?

LEE929394

LEE929394

LEE929394

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139
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London
This is a scenario i've been in many times, especially with work mates (not best friends or anything)
It's normally just to clear their system of spyware/viruses, reinstall windows etc when their machines are running slow. The one i've got to do this weekend will take a good few hours to sort out.
Trouble is i've done this 'favour' too many times (for different people) in the past, should i start charging / accepting money if they offer?
It does feel a bit tight taking money off people i know because of their ignorance!(surfing the net without a firewall etc etc)
The guy wants to give me £40, maybe just except £20 or just do it for free?
What's your views? (keep my morals or be the geek for hire and take the cash!) ;)
 
If they offer take it, its better than asking.

If you don't, someone else will. and if they know they might need you again, they will expect to pay.
 
Been in same situation, i think it gets to point were it becomes a very big annoyance to fix someones computer even if its your best mates, i personally would start charging or accepting whatever they give u, at the end of the day its your time being used.
 
id take it mate, a girl i know was going to get me to look at her laptop, i didnt because i had too much on, she took it to a pc place and they charged her £110!
 
Take the money. One thing it will do is make people think twice about asking you to sort every little problem they have. I used to do it for free when I worked in IT and it was amazing how much people would take your time for granted. Now I always charge.
 
If it's just a work mate, accept the cash (although make sure it's only a sum you're comfortable with). You're giving up your time to do it afterall. If you're happy to do it for free, then do that but make sure you let it be known in future that you will charge otherwise people (as opportunist gits they are) will abuse your good will.
 
I charge work colleagues £15 to look at the PC and do a quick fix if it's less than 15mins work or £60 to do anything that takes longer, up to and including a backup and re-install. Until I started asking people for money they would happily let me spend my own time fixing their PCs but they don't seem to mind paying now either.
 
One of my mates gave me £60 for building him a computer. He bought the parts, I put it together and installed the software and I got some money for my time.

You're offering a service out of good will and pretty soon people are just going to take the proverbial wee unless you ask for some pub money. If I do anything for mates I always ask they return a favour or give me a tenner for some lunch or something, if they value you and your help, they'll happily pay you :)

It's just about stopping people taking advantage.
 
LEE929394 said:
This is a scenario i've been in many times, especially with work mates (not best friends or anything)
It's normally just to clear their system of spyware/viruses, reinstall windows etc when their machines are running slow. The one i've got to do this weekend will take a good few hours to sort out.
Trouble is i've done this 'favour' too many times (for different people) in the past, should i start charging / accepting money if they offer?
It does feel a bit tight taking money off people i know because of their ignorance!(surfing the net without a firewall etc etc)
The guy wants to give me £40, maybe just except £20 or just do it for free?
What's your views? (keep my morals or be the geek for hire and take the cash!) ;)
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How is taking a fair amount of money from someone for spending your valuable time fixing their PC, that they would otherwise be paying someone else vast sums to do, immoral? Ridiculous.

It's because of their ignorance that their PC is screwed in the first place, and if you feel that your time can't be better spent any other way than fixing someone elses PC then fair dos'...
 
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For my best mates as such I dont charge as they have their own trades and I can count on them for a return of the favour.

For people that I know but dont see regualrly other than to say hi to in the pub or when their machine is goosed I charge usually 20-30 quid for each machine. Never had a problem with anyone thinking that it shold be done for free in fact the other way seems to apply with their mates phoning me up and looking for my services.
 
verbal said:
I charge work colleagues £15 to look at the PC and do a quick fix if it's less than 15mins work or £60 to do anything that takes longer, up to and including a backup and re-install. Until I started asking people for money they would happily let me spend my own time fixing their PCs but they don't seem to mind paying now either.
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this
 
why do people need to ask?
you dont expect your mate who might be a plumber to fix your pipes etc for free.
you dont expect your painter / decorator friend to decorate your house for free.
you dont expect your builder friend to build you a conservatory for free.
you dont expect your carpet fitter friend to lay you down a carpet for free.

if it takes more than a few minutes it is a job and payment is required even if its just a box of choclates or beer.

take his money and then take him down the pub and buy him some beer, you get free beer he feels like he has free beer win win.
 
Take it, though i never do. Helped a few mates build pc's (even ones i dont really like) as its a bit of fun (been bought pints and so on).

Same for fixing up spyware and windows re-installs, iv been given loads of help from peopel before now getting windows sorted so i always pass on the help (even if its jsut re-formats)
 
arknor said:
why do people need to ask?
you dont expect your mate who might be a plumber to fix your pipes etc for free.
you dont expect your painter / decorator friend to decorate your house for free.
you dont expect your builder friend to build you a conservatory for free.
you dont expect your carpet fitter friend to lay you down a carpet for free.

if it takes more than a few minutes it is a job and payment is required even if its just a box of choclates or beer.

take his money and then take him down the pub and buy him some beer, you get free beer he feels like he has free beer win win.
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You can't compare building a conservatory to doing something as simple as re-installing windows.
All you need to do to re-install windows is backup important files and then boot from a CD and do something else while you wait.
Could teach your friend while you're at it, it's not rocket science.

I wouldn't mind being paid back with a beer but I won't accept money, not from a friend anyway.
 
From a friend I'd accept booze, or just them oweing me one. For a work colleague I'd take cash or a decent amount of booze :p
 
I've never accepted money from a close friend or family for any kind of work, even if its took me all day
Nor has any of my close friends or family ever expected me to pay them for anything

I don't think I've ever done anything for anyone that I don't know very well but if I did I would probably charge them
 
tchan_4 said:
You can't compare building a conservatory to doing something as simple as re-installing windows.
All you need to do to re-install windows is backup important files and then boot from a CD and do something else while you wait.
Could teach your friend while you're at it, it's not rocket science.

I wouldn't mind being paid back with a beer but I won't accept money, not from a friend anyway.
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I agree. Spend a little time teaching them this stuff, it's not in the slightest bit difficult. As long as they supply the beer then no problem. Most of the time spent is waiting for stuff to install, scan or download.
 
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