Colette, You've re-capped it nicely. Thanks. Ted Simmons >Just to chime in: > >I think the answer is "all of the above". In cases like this there are always >individual circumstances that should affect your general policy. Generally, I >do not call the night before, because I do not want to set up that dependency >when I might not be able to always call. The appointment is on unless one >of us >cancels. I can be counted on to show up or call, the client should bear the >same responsibility. Usually I leave a bill at the door, thereby proving >that I >did show up. > >You can always waive the charge if they call with a very good reason, but you >can't easily try to institute the charge when you find out they just >didn't have >any respect for your time. People who do this chronically will not help you >build a good clientele. On the other hand, if things are slow, I have been >known to let this policy slide. I also never leave a bill if I arrived >late for >the appointment and they are not home. To me, late is after the 30-minute >window I ask them to give me. If I call and there is no answer, I come anyway. >If they have an answering machine, I leave a message saying I'm on my way. If >they show respect for my time, I show respect for theirs. If they have hard >feelings, I try to smooth it over and part on congenial terms. Sometimes you >gotta eat it; sometimes you don't. > >Last week a very good teacher forgot to leave her door open. She was >mortified. >I was understanding. I doubt it will happen again with her, and the subject of >an additional charge never came up. I decided that she had already referred >enough good people to me to deserve a break, and I am comfortable with that >decision. They're all different. > >Colette Collier, RPT
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