I don't think that there is a hard and fast rule, but as a private organization, not LE, I have to be sensitive to market forces, repeat business and referrals. Sure, if the client is a bad client, an unlikely prospect for referrals and abusive, do what you see fit. I have my own standards but I don't purport to say that they should be the industry's.
But most of our (my company's) work comes from referrals and repeat business and I wouldn't be getting these if I slapped my clients with fees that they didn't expect. In essence, it is a form of risk sharing. We make less money than we could have, but we get called back when the client, or a friend, has a similar problem. Others may have different business models and that is fine. I'm not suggesting that I'm right.
Each of us has to decide for ourselves how we price our services. My company is interested in the long view, namely, keeping our current customers happy and relying on them for future business. Sometimes that means rolling with the punches, in our view, anyway.
I just want to thank all of you for your open and honest discussions. I love this forum, it's not always the technical bits we need, but the mentoring of people who have been around the block a few times.
Thanks.
Unless there is contractual agreement otherwise, I do not see why FIs should charge regular fees on rush cases.
I can expect an attorney, doctor even the plumber to charge double on a rush event. Am I less worthy?
Well, we don't know all of the facts, but the OPs original post did not suggest that there was a clause in the contract for short notice work and, IMHO, implied the opposite.
Under those circumstances, telling the client that it is going to cost more when that has not been established at the time of the engagement is, to my mind, bad for business.
And, yes, attorneys and plumbers can charge more for "emergency" service. But you know that up front. Doctors, at least the doctors that I know, are paid according to a contractual schedule with the insurers and most do not include extra fees for "rush" work, but then I can't think of what would be considered rush work except being called to the office on a weekend and that is reimbursed at the standard rate.
Hmmm…
When I call any professional as a last-minute-notice, I know, consciously, or as brute I am, unconsciously that professional will have to make extra effort both in their labor, time arrangement and such. There is a real cost associated with that.
Indeed those "emergency" charges are more defined in other fields, but I do not believe it prohibits us from responding with requesting proper compensation, contractually or at the time if this part was not defined.
I agree this should be already in any contractual agreement. And, without that it is much more cumbersome to ask for the proper fee.
My personal experience with attorneys maybe more negative than others. In my experience they abuse generosity and ethical behavior.
My personal experience with attorneys maybe more negative than others. In my experience they abuse generosity and ethical behavior.
This is the first I have ever hear of such a thing with attorneys!
We strive for the truth based in facts. They want to make variables facts and facts variables.
I just try to think like them with all my agreements, do mental jiu-jitsu and get as much down ahead of time in writing so at least I have something to go by if there is an issue.
When someone is hiring you they are like a starving restaurant patron and order everything on the menu and then act shocked when the bill comes. If you have something to put in their face and say "look here it is in writing - you signed off on it" you at least have a better chance of not being taken advantage of
My personal experience with attorneys maybe more negative than others. In my experience they abuse generosity and ethical behavior.
I guess that I am lucky. Our services are almost always retained on behalf of the client by the attorneys and they have always treated us with respect and kept us involved in every aspect of the case. No surprises.
And when I was suddenly scheduled for two depositions on the same day, both attorneys (working for different firms), worked it out with contention.
Your mileage may vary.
I just try to think like them with all my agreements, do mental jiu-jitsu and get as much down ahead of time in writing so at least I have something to go by if there is an issue.
Well said, D!
Have you ever wondered why many business contracts are as wordy as they are? (My favorite example Rental-car "agreements." Ever notice how detailed they are?)
Reason Sh-"Something"-it happened and the company had to add a stipulation to cover any future repeat occurrences of the same or similar event.
My contract is modified every few months because some "event" necessitates changes in wording.
And, because of U.S. laws, I have a different contract for mobile phone forensics than for computer examinations.
roll
I agree with what others have said what is in your contract. If it isn't in your contract, you will find it difficult to get payment and you can lose business.
We had an incident where the opposing attorney requested a deposition. We prepared and then the day before he cancelled. We were left holding the bag as neither side wanted to pay for the prep time for our deposition. So now when we are deposed we have a document that informs the requestor that they will be subject to paying for our prep time. Lesson learned.