Cock up

[Mick Stockbridge]

I went to Folkestone today for a housing agency to dismantle a silver birch, took all the neccesary kit and expected to finish around about eleven. After all I,ve never seen a big s.birch in my life. On the other side is a well used footpath which requires two lookouts,one groundie and me. This is my first job for this agency and so far I,m out of pocket by about £140. Surely even the most uneducated can identify s.birch. I,m going to rebook it for Jan but my question is should I invoice them for the £140?

[Andy R]

is it the norm to not price the work yourself..?..even council work..?

 

Same as ever really, how do you think the powers that be would take it if you explained the situation to them..?..Is there much money on the job..?

 

Looks really limited for room there, can you zip the brash out over the garages, and handball the cord into the woody area behind the tree..?

[Mick Stockbridge]

is it the norm to not price the work yourself..?..even council work..?

 

Same as ever really, how do you think the powers that be would take it if you explained the situation to them..?..Is there much money on the job..?

 

Looks really limited for room there, can you zip the brash out over the garages, and handball the cord into the woody area behind the tree..?

 

I work for them on an hourly rate. The spec was drive 40 miles dismantle a s.birch and leave all debris. I turned up with one groundie, saw the footpath and decided against it. Because of the distance it did,nt warrant pricing up. I dont want to leave a bad taste in their mouths so should I take the loss?

[Andy R]

ah sorry I thought you had started it already...I would say take the loss and make some of it back when you go back to take the tree down, but on an hourly rate I don't see how you can do that.

 

Just tell them you will have to charge them some travelling costs for the wasted journey.

[Rupe]

Tell them you need four men, health and safety and all that, then go back with three, charge for four and you've made the money back?

[Stephen Blair]

I think the mistake is on your part, i have done the same myself.

put it down to experience. Although i would phone them and tell them the reasons why it wasnt done today, you never know they might pay you. Explain that this time you wont charge them but in the future you will, To someone sitting in an office, a tree is a tree. I used to rehearse all the possibilities in my head about the conversation, get myself really worked up and stressed. But it was just my own anxiety. They have obviously chosen you as the contractor for good reason. Pick up the phone and make the call. Even if you dont get the 140, you will feel a lot better mate. take it from me. You dont want to go to bed tonight worrying about it or being angry, that only leeds to stress and depression. I have been there.

[Nick B]

Take the loss this time

But charge them an extra hour on the next few jobs to cover the cost

 

i would not imagine they will know if you have been 5 hours or 6 hours

on any given job

And this way it will not upset them at the start of your new contract:001_smile:

[Rupe]

Seriously though you do need someone at the council sending yu the work who actually knows what tree it is!

 

So I don't think its your fault, they either pay your time to look at each job prior to carrying out the work, or they issue better instructions, or they take quotes for every job.

 

By the hour is fine, but you need a site specific risk assessment to work to. If they can't provide the information then you will end up in this situation again and again.

[Rupe]

I just re read the beginning. So its a housing agency? I work for one of those and no one knows anything about trees, your going to get this a lot. Maybe always take three men and charge for three if they are need or not.

[Andy R]

we do work for a housing agency and we usually get a list of jobs and will drive round and look at each tree beforehand and price them individually...hourly rate off the back of an office workers spec must be a nightmare.