Late cancellations as a subbie... Charge? Fee?

[Mortimer Firewood]

If you book some one in for work you should give then 2 or 3 days notice or at least have other work you can drop on to. As above in my experience its the subbie that does not turn up.

[Andy Collins]

I find this difficult to understand. I've been a subbie for the majority of my career, and was rarely let down, maybe half a dozen times. There is always something to do, and in the event of being let down, you have a back up plan of some sort. If you are truly self employed, you have to back things up. You sell logs, you do anything to keep your money rolling. You don't put all your eggs in one basket, if you do you should be employed, not s/e. Being s/e, you are a business, yes a very small business, but you have to keep your business afloat by always keeping your eyes open, and planning ahead.

In answer to the OPs question, no, you can't charge a cancellation fee, or you can, but it'll probably be your last day there.

[swinny]

I do do logs, and thats what i went and did. But i want money in the bank each week..... not to wait till next winter for a return. I don't have my eggs in one basket, there are a few companies to work for... it wouldn't be the end of the world to finish where i sub...

 

You may not have worked for plonkers or people that only give a toss about themselves, but i'm slowly waiding through the bull Cheers

Edited November 2, 2012 by Steve Bullman

[Andy Collins]

That's all good then, sorry I'm tired and was typing as I thought it. It is tough when you're let down at the last minute, and is a pita because it's too late to try and sort another source at short notice.

[eggsarascal]

It's a tough one swinny. I both use subbies and sub into other companies. As for charging for late cancellations I think it's a non starter.

 

When i used to do the logs i could ask the subby to do a days logging (their choice).

 

I like to think i'm a fair sort of bloke, if i cancelled a subby on the day of the job i would still pay him a percentage of his wage then make it up to him on the next job.

[born2trot]

I've got t&c's of a contract climber here and he charges 100% of day rate if cancelled less than 24hrs and 50% if more than 24hrs but less than 48 . No charge if over 48hrs .

[AlvinD]

I've got t&c's of a contract climber here and he charges 100% of day rate if cancelled less than 24hrs and 50% if more than 24hrs but less than 48 . No charge if over 48hrs .

 

Sounds fair Good minimal backup plan in place. It's not the employers fault the job has been cancelled but then again he did request the climber for that day.

[Andy Collins]

What I was trying to get across last night was an opinion to help allreaders, not just the OP. Being s/e is not an easy option, in fact it's probably the toughest choice, the easy choice being on the books with all the "luxuries" that employment brings, and lack of reliability short term is a problem, hence why I suggest having different options to fall back on.

[geoff]

I have both cancelled a booked subby & had it happen to me,things go wrong,clients cancel,etc.

If I have a fall back I will give the subby the days work,but would not expect to be paid as a subby myself when I get cancelled.

Fortunately it is not something that crops up too often,but I do believe that we have to roll with the good days & the let downs to help each other make a profit in these tough times.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I think it's just part of being a subby. It's happened to me before now due to either piss poor weather or unforeseen circumstances and I just let it ride. No point kicking up a fuss with someone as they may never get you back and you'll lose out on future work. Just suck it up and do the best you can with a day off.

 

I find this difficult to understand. I've been a subbie for the majority of my career, and was rarely let down, maybe half a dozen times. There is always something to do, and in the event of being let down, you have a back up plan of some sort. If you are truly self employed, you have to back things up. You sell logs, you do anything to keep your money rolling. You don't put all your eggs in one basket, if you do you should be employed, not s/e. Being s/e, you are a business, yes a very small business, but you have to keep your business afloat by always keeping your eyes open, and planning ahead.

In answer to the OPs question, no, you can't charge a cancellation fee, or you can, but it'll probably be your last day there.

 

Got to agree; subby climber cancelled on day 1 of 3 day job - just the way it goes; genuine reason. Then I had a customer cancel the night before - what can you do?!