Permabanned
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 9,204
As some of you do and dont know, i run my own lil IT callout repair service. Business is up and running and all going well yada yada (even got in the local rag for 'exiting new local business' lol).
Anyway, had my first phantom callout today. Fortunately close to home so no real cost involved, but quite annoying. Moreso because i shoulda picked up on it earlier. You know the way your car stereo is only ever stolen on that ONE occasion that you left the fascia on? Well this was a bit like that. Because it was close to home i got neither a phone number or post code as i felt no need for directions or to contact them (my practices will change from now on). Therefore i could not corroborate the address before leaving. Also the guy said very oddly "Where are u based then? Haverfordwest or somewhere?" This being odd because firstly its deliberately obtuse, customers local to me would prefer i WASNT based there as its an hour away, secondly and more importantly if he was based near my house then he wouldnt have dialled an area code so how could i be based in Haverford west. Oops
I arrived at the property, knocked a few times etc. Left a note pinned up on headed paper, old lady calls later wondering who the heck i am. Would like to limit my potential losses on this front in the future. What reasonable methods of call screening can you all suggest?
Ta
Anyway, had my first phantom callout today. Fortunately close to home so no real cost involved, but quite annoying. Moreso because i shoulda picked up on it earlier. You know the way your car stereo is only ever stolen on that ONE occasion that you left the fascia on? Well this was a bit like that. Because it was close to home i got neither a phone number or post code as i felt no need for directions or to contact them (my practices will change from now on). Therefore i could not corroborate the address before leaving. Also the guy said very oddly "Where are u based then? Haverfordwest or somewhere?" This being odd because firstly its deliberately obtuse, customers local to me would prefer i WASNT based there as its an hour away, secondly and more importantly if he was based near my house then he wouldnt have dialled an area code so how could i be based in Haverford west. Oops
I arrived at the property, knocked a few times etc. Left a note pinned up on headed paper, old lady calls later wondering who the heck i am. Would like to limit my potential losses on this front in the future. What reasonable methods of call screening can you all suggest?
Ta
yeah im more careful with that now. I'll give out some answers to business customers as i want to build a relationship with them as im new. But i'll still not sit and be tech support, good advice tho.