Pro Bono Electrical Work

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ohm

Senior Member
Location
Birmingham, AL
We've all heard how to make money and how EC's set rates but what happens when you stumble into a job where the lights are out, the kds are sick, mom and dad are out of a job? And, if you charge your normal rate you're taking food out of a childs mouth?
 
ohm said:
We've all heard how to make money and how EC's set rates but what happens when you stumble into a job where the lights are out, the kds are sick, mom and dad are out of a job? And, if you charge your normal rate you're taking food out of a childs mouth?
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Well, whatever you do, just don't come back here and go telling all about it, or thats all the glory reward you will get for it. Seems like to me, the highest cost EC's are also the most succesful EC's. And also from what I have witnessed in the past, they also do more in charity work than the typical dirty trucks with a smelly owner outfit, that doesn't charge enough.
 
macmikeman said:
Well, whatever you do, just don't come back here and go telling all about it, or thats all the glory reward you will get for it. Seems like to me, the highest cost EC's are also the most succesful EC's. And also from what I have witnessed in the past, they also do more in charity work than the typical dirty trucks with a smelly owner outfit, that doesn't charge enough.
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Some times here you wont get any reward.
There is a book that tells you what you do in secret will be rewarded in secret. But if you brag to the public then you have received your reward.
 
That is the good part of owning the business I am given the chance to do good things.Check out the DVD " Flywheel" its a good movie for the business owner.
 
ohm said:
We've all heard how to make money and how EC's set rates but what happens when you stumble into a job where the lights are out, the kds are sick, mom and dad are out of a job? And, if you charge your normal rate you're taking food out of a childs mouth?
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sounds like you know what the right thing to do is.
 
Whatever you decide to do when a situation like that comes up, keep it to yourself, and karma will follow. IMO:)
 
When I did residential service I did a few charity jobs, I had to hide them as the boss was questioning where was.
 
Mr. Wizard said:
Whatever you decide to do when a situation like that comes up, keep it to yourself, and karma will follow. IMO:)
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All good answers, from good people. I had a job like that which another electrician turned down. I didn't charge anything for it and felt good about it. Didn't say anything to anyone but started to hear how they had been scamming the whole town. I still can't decide if I did the right thing, but you guys have helped, thanks.
 
Never charged for work for none profit organizations and after hurricane Andrew- -- all the residential work we did was at no charge--we didn't tell them it was free--just never billed them. We could aford it...
 
ohm said:
All good answers, from good people. I had a job like that which another electrician turned down. I didn't charge anything for it and felt good about it. Didn't say anything to anyone but started to hear how they had been scamming the whole town. I still can't decide if I did the right thing, but you guys have helped, thanks.
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If what you heard about the situation was true. So what. You did what you felt was the right thing to do at the time. The burden of scamming some one doesn't fall on your shoulders. Their will be a day of reward and punishment.
 
I have done a lot of small things for people or organizations for free and it always comes back in the good way when i least expect it but always at the right time. Sure makes you happy when you see the results of helping someone else out in need.
 
I've gone back to fix things from jobs 5+ years old (bad switch, kids put something in an outlet, bad string on a pull chain). Sometimes it is only 2 or 3 minutes of my day. People want me to bill them but I ask that they make a little extra donation during church. I just hope when I check out of this world I got a credit balance. Only God will know.
 
I've found that a good way to make your exit after you do the good deed is to just say, "Goodbye. I'll send the bill you the bill." and wink.:)
 
I've found that the ones least able to afford the service work are the first ones to try and pay. I've also had hardship service calls that I was paid with cookies or a piece of cake and felt good about it.
 
SEO said:
I've found that the ones least able to afford the service work are the first ones to try and pay. I've also had hardship service calls that I was paid with cookies or a piece of cake and felt good about it.
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Again, you guys make me proud to be around.

I did an insurance inspection, at the counties request, for a family who got burned out and was getting a hard time from their insurer. It had megger readings, pictures and statement. I was ready to go to court for them.

Along with the material I enclosed an invoice for about $300. After about three months I called and they still had not settled with the insurance co. but they promised to pay, when they could.

About 18 months later, they got their insurance money and I got a check in the mail for the invoice amount with a request for the amount or interest they owed.

I told her they were paid in full, wished them well and told her there was never any doubt in my mind they would pay when they could.
 
It really comes down to what the onwer of the company wants to do.

If you are the onwer, and you want to be charitable, do so.

Don't be charitable with someone else's money though.
 
petersonra said:
It really comes down to what the onwer of the company wants to do.

If you are the onwer, and you want to be charitable, do so.

Don't be charitable with someone else's money though.
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True, I wouldn't fault an employee for refering a hardship case to the boss, since it's his money.
 
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