Mates rates

moneyistooshorttomention

This is obviously going to vary widely I imagine, but what sort of discount on a job would tend to be given to someone if they were paying "mates rates" for it, rather than the "standard" price?

Angelicdevil

Depends what it is but I've had mates do jobs for the cost of materials only.

phill99

I refuse to work for friends and family. For this reason. They want it done on the cheap.

Why should I charge less because they know me? My cost base is still the same, my outgoings are the same. The minute you charge less, you automatically think you an do a poorer job, so your hearts not in it, then your mate gets annoyed as the job isn't up to scratch.

So with mates rates, every one is worse off!

SerialRenter

Working for friends and family, you also suddenly find yourself not just doing the one job. You're now, as far as they're concerned, on a long term service and maintenance contract, but for free.

moneyistooshorttomention

Hastens to add, at this point, that its not me who is after the mates' rates on the work concerned and the odd couple of times where I found I was quoted that level anyway, I've told them they aren't charging enough and given them some more.

I am on the sideline in a scenario like this and think this may be going on, hence wondering what sort of discount the "party involved" may (yep...would be...) getting.

silvercar

20% off if doing a mates rate means they are not charging VAT, 20% off for cash in hand labour costs that aren't going through the books.

TBH I would rather pay the proper price knowing that, as a mate, the job will be top quality.

If it is something that needs certifying, I would be wary that mates rates means no certificate or no warranty.

moneyistooshorttomention

silvercar wrote: »

20% off if doing a mates rate means they are not charging VAT, 20% off for cash in hand labour costs that aren't going through the books.

TBH I would rather pay the proper price knowing that, as a mate, the job will be top quality.

If it is something that needs certifying, I would be wary that mates rates means no certificate or no warranty.

As in, add those two things together and it would come to 40% off in total then I'm guessing??

martin.cat

Personally I do mates rates for FOC / exchange. I avoid such job as generally it causes problems. I have help many help but cLl in favours when I need jobs doing and I have found this works best as I fill in lows or do the odd even to help out

oystercatcher

If friends are doing work for me I always ask them to charge the same as they usually would because I don't want them to lose money using their time for me.

Slinky

I've always wondered why the 'mate' who is doing the work is the one is the one expected to give a discount. Why shouldn't the 'mate' who is having the work done pay more?

theartfullodger

I always insist on paying normal rates.. and suspect many of those offering "mates rates" may be forgetting minor items like income tax & VaT.... I could of course be wrong..

As my father-in-law used to say, if a jobs worth doing, its worth charging for it..