Client not happy with bill

Tommy Young, post: 336802, member: 703 wrote: ..."You know that's extra, right?"

I prefer it a little more graceful. Something like "I'd be happy to provide that additional service. Would you like me to provide a supplemental proposal or may I proceed on a time & materials basis?"

In Maine, we're required to be explicitly clear. So, I'd certainly be open to providing the additional services, but would need to give the client something in writing stating the additional work and fee, whether it's lump sum or T&M.

Tommy Young, post: 336790, member: 703 wrote: I absolutely do not like doing business with old people, whether it's clients or my employers.

Wow!

Do you hope to die before you get old (like Pete Townsend did?)

Managing expectations is a challenge. I "try" to "under promise" and "over deliver".

Contract with a clear Scope of Services for the original and Add Service Agreements for additional work. Eventually, you have to talk $$$ with everyone. It does not matter which side I happen to be. I would prefer to have an understanding in the beginning than a misunderstanding in the end. The older I get the more that I understand that both parties understanding the other's expectations is very important in all human interactions.

Norman Oklahoma, post: 336812, member: 9981 wrote: I prefer it a little more graceful. Something like "I'd be happy to provide that additional service. Would you like me to provide a supplemental proposal or may I proceed on a time & materials basis?"

I like that better.

No one ever accused me of being graceful. Jimmy Cleveland can voutch for that.

Tommy Young, post: 336834, member: 703 wrote: I like that better.

No one ever accused me of being graceful. Jimmy Cleveland can voutch for that.

Most of us Yankees can vouch for that.....:whistle:

I grew tired, about 10 years ago, of "change requests", which is why nearly all of the projects are typed and emailed with a proposal or something written on paper. Then, when they ask me to mark the lines, or something else, I note that is outside of the original scope, and costs extra.

In the past three years, on every proposal, I offer about three options on the survey and three different prices. They pick one and we move on.

I bet if you send her a bill for your time on this next consultation/dead horse flogging that will be the end of it.
I am sure you will never make her happy without confessing that you have been lazy and lying and incompetent until she finally "set you straight"on the matter.
From your posts here I am sure we here can all agree that you have shown due diligence in this matter. Until she realizes that this job is over you will continue to LOSE money on it.

I don't understand why we continue to worry about charging reasonable fees. Define the scope of services and don't let the scope creep. When there are additional services, get it in writing and give them a price to do it. If a client continually calls, just tell them that any future discussions will incur additional fees at the professional surveyors rate of xxx.

Jim in AZ, post: 336820, member: 249 wrote: Wow!

Do you hope to die before you get old (like Pete Townsend did?)

Unless something happened just now, Pete Townshend is still alive and kicking (and old)!

skwyd, post: 337359, member: 6874 wrote: Unless something happened just now, Pete Townshend is still alive and kicking (and old)!

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

(in case anyone didn't get the reference)

Tom Adams, post: 337363, member: 7285 wrote: People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

(in case anyone didn't get the reference)

It's probably been like 10 years now, but I got to see the Who in Fresno, CA. My friend called up and said that he had won tickets from the radio station and his wife didn't want to go. I jumped on that ticket so fast that it made his head spin! Great show. Great musicians. Great experience all around.

I saw them back in around 1973. Been a while. I think it might have cost around $12. No free ride here.

Client not happy with bill

Why, what did Bill do?

Dave Karoly, post: 337418, member: 94 wrote: Why, what did Bill do?

The intern

skwyd, post: 337359, member: 6874 wrote: Unless something happened just now, Pete Townshend is still alive and kicking (and old)!

That was my point... Don't think Tommy got it.

skwyd, post: 337373, member: 6874 wrote: .... Great musicians. Great experience all around.

August of 1968 my brother and I were employees of the local amusement park "Wedgewood Village" when the Who performed a concert there. Park employees (including Holden & me) helped carry the equipment from their truck and set it all up on top of Dub Adams Hik'ry Kitchen, the restaurant inside the park. We all got to "take breaks" with the roadies and staff..:whistle:

At first we all mistook the roadies and road manager as the members of the band (hey, a few were British and they had long hair). About 5 minutes before their first set the "real" members of the band showed up in an airport limo and climbed on top of the building and did their show. Tickets for the general population were a lofty 2 bucks. One of our co-workers was able to score a bag of weed for them (at their request), apparently due to their fear of traveling with contraband. He was rewarded with an autographed smashed Zildjian cymbal for his efforts after the two-show concert.

Young Paden was corrupted and hasn't been the same since...

I have similar issues with web design clients. You give them a very specific scope of work with a price. They sign the agreement and send it back with down payment. Then later they add to that scope of work. You send an updated scope and price, they sign and return it. At the end of the project, you send a bill. The nasty phone calls and/or emails start rolling in.

Moral of the story: You can be as clear and concise as you want, but you can't make people listen or read, even though they are signing and agreeing every step of the way.

My solution: Get over it and move on. You just can't please everyone no matter what you do. It works for me. I hate that it has to be that way, but I have to be realistic.

Aloha, Jim: How we aspect anything less from Mr. Young? :bye: