IT Support to Friends / Family

suki1001

Print your new price list for mates rates.

Give to dad and family, say because these small jobs are costing you time and money, plus you feel your services are being abused and that you are now charging.

Explain to dad, that the costs of petrol, phone calls, plus mates/you not being covered by indemnity insurance (which is putting you at risk if for example you are unable to work through injury caused at mate's house).

foxtrot_mike

Dad claims that all his friend asked me to do was to call him / or go around, and will only be a five minute job apparently.

Dad has been asking me every single day to call this bloke, and dad has apprently has been losing sleep over it.

I know his friend but only an aquanintance but i did get brainwashed with a load of blackmail that this man has helped my dad alot.

I have also asked friends to help me in the past

I know i have asked friends to do me favours in the past, the most recent being a sewing job and i returned the offer with a bottle of Whiskey, but even then i didnt push it.

I really dont know what to say or do, thanks for your suggestions but it all seems a bit difficult, and the fact that ive been bullied and pushed into do this has really not helped, but im the general type to ignore rudeness rather than tackle it.

Mojisola

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

I know i have asked friends to do me favours in the past, the most recent being a sewing job and i returned the offer with a bottle of Whiskey, but even then i didnt push it.

That's fair enough. Swopping jobs or showing your appreciation in some way works out.

Our neighbour used to be a mechanic and he was always getting asked for (free) help. He was out on his front mending someone's car one day and I said "I thought you were doing some decorating today", he said "The car owner is really good at papering so he's doing the lounge and I'm fixing his car". Works for both of them!

Reggie_Rebel

"Of course I'll try and fix it for you, I hope it's a bit more successful than the last one I did though, it took them four hours to put the fire out."

Last you'll hear

Hermia

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

Dad claims that all his friend asked me to do was to call him / or go around, and will only be a five minute job apparently.

How does he know it will only be a five minute job? Could you point out to him that you have been called out to five minute jobs before and it has taken considerably longer.

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

Dad has been asking me every single day to call this bloke, and dad has apprently has been losing sleep over it.

Do you take after your dad? It's just that you both sound quite sensitive in that you both seem to be getting upset over something that some people might just shrug off. If your dad is worried about this issue would he respond to a heart to heart in which you explain how upset you are getting?

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

I know his friend but only an aquanintance but i did get brainwashed with a load of blackmail that this man has helped my dad alot.

Errrr, so? If one of my mum's friends helps her it has nothing to do with me. Explain that you have your own friends to deal with and that your dad needs to pay his 'debts' to this friend and not get you to do it.

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

I really dont know what to say or do, thanks for your suggestions but it all seems a bit difficult, and the fact that ive been bullied and pushed into do this has really not helped, but im the general type to ignore rudeness rather than tackle it.

As you are so upset by this I would possibly suggest just doing it this once. Then have a chat with your dad explaining that you are never doing it again. My builder uncle printed out some flyers with his 'friends and family' rate on it. If anyone asks for free work he just hands that over. The leaflet highlights the discount they are getting for those who genuinely want to hire him. But, the leaflet also puts off the takers and those people who could sort their own problem out, but are just too lazy.

Gavin83

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

Dad claims that all his friend asked me to do was to call him / or go around, and will only be a five minute job apparently.

Dad has been asking me every single day to call this bloke, and dad has apprently has been losing sleep over it.

I know his friend but only an aquanintance but i did get brainwashed with a load of blackmail that this man has helped my dad alot.

I have also asked friends to help me in the past

I know i have asked friends to do me favours in the past, the most recent being a sewing job and i returned the offer with a bottle of Whiskey, but even then i didnt push it.

I really dont know what to say or do, thanks for your suggestions but it all seems a bit difficult, and the fact that ive been bullied and pushed into do this has really not helped, but im the general type to ignore rudeness rather than tackle it.

It seems to me your being forced into this which is a little unfair. If he has done your dad favours it's up to him to pay him back, it's not your responsibility. Tell your dad to go and see a doctor if he is losing sleep over something so trivial.

Personally if it was me I'd refuse. Your not gaining out of it and there's always the possibility something could go wrong and you'll be expected to pay out or be sued for what was essentially a favour. He doesn't even know you, nothing to lose by suing you if you happen to break his computer for example. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

If your feeling particularly nice then you could offer to do this one job but make it clear you won't be helping out all his mates in the future.

Doing favours for friends is a completely different ball game.

I'm now a DBA but used to do this kind of thing to support myself while at college. Seems like a good task for a teenager but I don't think an experienced IT professional should be bothering.

19lottie82

If I were you OP, I would call your dads friend and explain that you are very busy at the moment but thought that you would give him a quick call to see if you could offer any advice. If he asks you to visit, repeat that you are very busy and point him in the direction of a reputable IT company.


THEN tell your Dad under no circumstances if he to agree to anything like this on your behalf again.

Any

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

Dad claims that all his friend asked me to do was to call him / or go around, and will only be a five minute job apparently.

Dad has been asking me every single day to call this bloke, and dad has apprently has been losing sleep over it.

I know his friend but only an aquanintance but i did get brainwashed with a load of blackmail that this man has helped my dad alot.

I have also asked friends to help me in the past

I know i have asked friends to do me favours in the past, the most recent being a sewing job and i returned the offer with a bottle of Whiskey, but even then i didnt push it.

I really dont know what to say or do, thanks for your suggestions but it all seems a bit difficult, and the fact that ive been bullied and pushed into do this has really not helped, but im the general type to ignore rudeness rather than tackle it.

Your father is an incredibly rude man.
Obviously he is a boasting man who cannot take a word back as that would make him embarassed and silly, so he will rather stress you, his OWN CHILD out then to call this mate and say "sorry I tried but it is not currently possible".
I hate people like that. Trying so hard to please one on account of another, without realising the hurt that it's causing on the other side!!

Errr, this bloke has a problem and YOU have to call him??????

Seriously mate, you need to grow some balls (what is it for ladies if you are a lady?:D) as this is unacceptable. You need to stop your father to boast in the first place, otherwise this is not the last time you were both losing sleep over something so trivial!!

eamon

My oldest friend works in IT and gave me the best advice when I got my 1st PC and went on line.
Install & use a firewall & anti virus.
Avoid !!!!!! & gambling sites
Touching wood etc in the intervening years I have had few problems that I couldn't fix myself (have used the IT board many times).
For the OP if you struggle to say no then I would go with what other posters have suggested and swap your labour. You must have jobs/tasks that need doing but are outside your skillset and or you just don't have the time to do.

Emmzi

CVs for me. I'm the one who reads and edits and makes you sound good.

I tend to get a drink when someone gets a job though!