To Charge Family Or Not To Charge....

Hey All,

I'm writing this in hopes to see others view on the subject.

I have just finished fixing an uncle's computer for the 5th time in 4 months without charging a cent!

Now, I hate to see people go to places like Futureshop and get screwed worse then a 2$ hooker, but my generosity can only go so far....

Counting the amount of time I have put into fixing their computer totals 30+ without a charge (considering most places charge 75$/hour - they saved over 2200$!)

So what should I do? (since my warnings of watch what you install, watch how you uninstall something (ie: delete directory through explorer) and so on....)

Should I start charging them for the services I provide at a lesser price then clients or should I continue giving this service for free since they're "family"?

What do you guys think/do?

Would/Do you charge family members for computer services?

Thanks for the input...

(The reason I ask this is because it's becoming a little cumbersome)

I would have to say you shoudl be compensated somewhat, especially if the last few times youve fixed the machine for free. Charity is all well and good, but sometimes you do need money, and you can't always do everything for free, even where friends and family are concerned. I copy cds for friends, but I require a dollar or two, or just have them provide the cdrs, so you might be able to work out some kind of barter system instead of monetary compensation

tyger_claw,

Well, it happend the exact thing to me. At first it's nice going to help someone of your family without earning a cent. But then... (hehe) thay start to call you very often because they know you are a good boy, like computers and you don't care about helping your family members for free, but know what?... you are from the family too!!! :D, if they deserve help, you too. So, if after a loooot of days and times helping (and teaching) them for free, they should realized you deserve a prize too, and then, if they don't realize which the prize is, well, i think is time to charge them a little then.

Family is family, friends are friends... business are business don't matter where.

That's my opinion.

Bye.

DKRR

I agree, completely, tyger_claw. Yes, you're doing them a huge favor and yes, they may never 'listen and learn'. However, painful as it is, families are supposed to help each other out.

Have you ever tried just mentioning something (while smiling....almost jokingly) like: ".....and just think...at $75 an hour I've saved you nearly $2,300! I'll take a six pack of Heineken with my pizza, please." :)

Just a pleasant way to give them a hint!

I ran into the same dilemma with my family and friends and the load just seemed to keep adding up and getting worse to the point where I felt like a full time technician, so I made everyone aware that the next time something went wrong I was going to charge them a deducted rate from my contract rate (80-130 an hour) i just told them that depending on the problem (software/hardware) would determine how much I would charge them. software costing more of course. So I personally just charge them 10-20 dollars and hour and everyone seems to be happy. Now the way this comes back to get you is if someone in your family regularly does anything for you. For instance I dont charge my aunt because she provides me with legal counsel on different matters and I dont charge my good buddy because his mom provides me free travel agency help. But you get the point. This is just my 2 cents

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by mathgirl32
I agree, completely, tyger_claw. Yes, you're doing them a huge favor and yes, they may never 'listen and learn'. However, painful as it is, families are supposed to help each other out.

Have you ever tried just mentioning something (while smiling....almost jokingly) like: ".....and just think...at $75 an hour I've saved you nearly $2,300! I'll take a six pack of Heineken with my pizza, please." :)

Just a pleasant way to give them a hint!

---

Totally agree mathgirl32. Remember Tyger, the are forms of compensation other than just cold hard cash. A few subtle suggestion from you and may be you can get something for your time. A dinner out, nice bottle of goof or maybe there is something your uncle can do for you. Look at some of the other possibilities before you stick your hand out. I believe, in time, your uncle will come to understand your time is worth something.

Cheers:

Tha same thing happened to me. I started fixing my parents computers, then other family members started calling and I did feel like it was a full time job. They would email me at work all the time and pester me so I finally gave them a list of sites where they could find information on hoaxes and viruses and charged them a small fee ($25 an hour) for other computer work. You gotta think, if they are taking up a lot of your time (as my family was) that you cant do all of this for free.

I like how DarkRaider said it:

Quote:

---

Family is family, friends are friends... (but) business are business...

---

It's all true what you guys said, that instead of cash, a feast or other services are welcomed.
And I totally agree. It's nice to get some form of "gift" back for the "gift" I gave.

I'm glad to see that everyone is basically in accordance with my feelings. And I feel for those who are in the same predicament as myself, feeling as a full-time or even on-call tech help.

I figure I'll jokinly bring it up (like MathGirl32 said) and if that doesn't get through, well I'll just have to get more and more serious about it....

/me tells Bruno to go bust some knee caps :D

well what is ur uncle's line of work? surely he could offer u some help in whatever service he does. or if ur in a fix and ur uncle "knows a guy". So if u let him know how big of a favor ur doing for him he'll also know that he owes u big time. or maybe he wont. some ppl just dont appreciate things.

mathgirl did say it. family should help each other. next time you have to move something heavy like a tv home from the store...call them up and ask them for help like its nothing. hey you help them. If your stuck for a ride or a baby sitter...call them up. if they dont want to return the favor they wont be so fast to call you for help next time but it really isn't fun to be alone in the world so don't be to hard on them.

but im almost willing to bet that you practically begged them to let you work on their computers at first.

As much as I'd like to charge my family for the number of times that I work on their computers, I just can't do it. I find myself in this situation all the time - "hey, can you come by and look at my machine, I can't do this and that, blah blah blah." I don't know how much time I've spent doing various fixes and such for family members. But, somehow I just can't bring myself to charging - I think that I'd feel bad if I asked.. But I believe that if you feel you should be compensated, then you should at least charge something - not as much as a normal vendor, but something... Personally though, I just can't do it...

Well, what I would do is say something like "Alllright, I'll do it again this time, but you owe me dinner!" Things like that. Small things. Don't directly say "You owe me this much" It could break relationships. Little subtle things like dinner, movies, or favors are good ways to get something back.

Even though the feeling of helping someone else should be enough :P

Hmmm, im sorry if im falling out of line here a bit....... Your question can only be answered by yourself. Never ask how to handle family to non family members. It depends on how close you are to your family. If i charged my family, it would render our relationship. My opinion is that you should decide yourself whether to charge them or not. In the end, they would have no other choice than to pay someone to fix their problem (which is like abusing thier situation). Dont get me wrong. Charge only the expenses you might have to fix their problems (hardware/software/travel/etc...) Anyways, at the moment im talking against my real point here (thats all that i would do), but its YOU who has to decide. Again sorry if my answer is not exactly what you wanted from me. Good luck on making that decision.

I like how Tedob1 said it:

Quote:

---

but im almost willing to bet that you practically begged them to let you work on their computers at first.

---

Actually, no.... I "happen" to be over one day (or invited) and was asked what to do "if" something *insert scenario* were to happen. (my fiancee was kind enough to brag about my skills, how nice :))

So I explained to them several solutions, some being more indebt then others (like registry editing) and they said, "hey!, you could fix the problem then....?" I was then led to the wounded beast for vetenerian duties...

Since then, I've been mr. Fix-It on call.

Anyways... I hear what you are all saying. Unfortunetly, he works as shelf stuffer at Wal-Mart (night crew) and she works in pharmaceuticals (I don't do drugs, in case someone's thinking it) Also, these people are quite reserved, so their social circle is limited.

But! Like many of you said, he *should* be able to give some of his time when I'm in need, like say; moving stuff, dinners, and what not....

And, like many of you said, it could cause a conflict with family if I started sticking out a bill for the services (even at a fraction of their costs).

So I guess I'll work it the old peseant way. The trade market way :)

One downside of charging is that, no matter how low the fee, one has a right to expect performance. I don't charge my family members, but, since I work long days and travel a lot, I choose my times to work on their machines. If they have to wait a week or two to repair the damage they caused, they are more cautious next time.

In one extreme case, I had to tell a friend that if he felt competent enough to install software, the next time an install went wrong he could rebuild the system. I stuck with it and I know that he has done that several times. Some people are slow learners.

Well theres always the "family discount" (Inflate the price 100% then give them a 50% discount) hehe. I own a repair business myself (auto-Truck) i ran into the same problem I dont charge labor but i do charge for parts.....and theres always the " Im very busy and i dont know when i can get there " excuse then they go elsewhere when they are tired of waiting for me.
Only ones that get away free are Mom and Dad. They raised me, fed me , clothed me and paid for my education, they did without so i could have. The least i can do is help them when they need it, espcially that they are retired on a fixed income.
Id guess in your case you have to make a decission, but remember, if they went somewhere else, they WOULD pay.

According to me, FamStars&Straps's advice is the best.
You cant ask money, it'll not look nice.
You might need your family at sometime and they'll remember the way you talked to them. I wouldnt be able to bring myself to even asking 'em for money. IF they're asking you too frequently, indirectly convey the message that you are busy. Just think you are doing it for your girlfriend/wife, im sure you wouldnt mind doing as many times. But i think it'll be indecent to ask for money.

Anyway, it's only opinion.

i bielive you don't have to charge them any cent.
coz as they need you now, you might need them one day.
that's why friends and family there for.
i never charged any of my friends or family, but when i need them they are always there for me.
this is life , u give and get :D, but it's something good if they really show you how much they really appreciate what you do for them.
like my uncle once when he went to the states he bought me a gift , that was really nice for him.

Yeap, charging familly just doesn't work but they pay you back in different ways, emotional, food, rides.... whenever my sister ask me to fix "her" pc well it's dinner time and it jsut happen to be the one night that she needs the kids to be babisitted ... and also that my favorite dish is just laying around .... how convenient .... but i don't mind at all plus i think of her pc as mine too because i use it all the time ...
so enjoy the pizza and the beer, for friends i only ask a 6 pack to keep me company !