<HTML><HTML> In a message dated 1/13/06 11:42:36 AM, ReggaePass writes: <BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE">If someone contacts m= e in advance of the appointment to cancel, even on the same day, I don't mak= e a stink about it. If they don't show up and haven't communicated, I lea= ve them a note and a bill for half the amount of a service call (after waiti= ng 15 minutes and calling my voice mail to check for word from them and call= ing their house just in case they don't hear the door bell). If they have= a legit excuse (emergency medical, etc.), I cut them some slack. If not,= I tell them that they will have to pay the bill before I reschedule. The= vast majority of my work is by referral and repeat customers, so most of th= e time, they pay. If not, our relationship is over. And I'm sure to sh= are the tale of their dead-beat-ed-ness with the other qualified local techn= icians. Alan Eder P. S. Ever have somebody announce that they "can't" pay you after the wor= k is done? ae In a message dated 1/13/06 8:50:31 AM, joegarrett@earthlink.net writes: I'd like to know what y'all have in place for last minute cancellation po= licies? I've always sent a bill for half a service call, if a client cancell= ed w/in 24 hours of the appointment. This has always been met with a big fla= p. :-( If it is a family crisis or a medical emergency, then I would simply = forget it. I had one this morning, (7am!). Senior citizen's son controls the money and = doesn't think it's worthy. grrrr! My gut tells me to simply forget it and do= some shop work in the extra time. What say y'all? Regards, Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares R I </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>