HI Everyone,

Just wanted to get some advice from you all about your understanding about day rates.

An electrician told me that his day rate was £130.

He only turned up at 3pm and finished at the first site at 4.30pm.

I then asked him to work on another site as we had time and I had work elsewhere anyway so would get the most of a day's work from him but he was unable to join me as he had a prior engagement.

I then told him to just invoice me for the 2 hours (thinking £130 / 8 hours x 2 hours).

Today I had a full day's work for him starting at 9am but he didn't arrive until 10am and then mentioned he needed to leave at 2pm for another appointment.

Again I was only looking to pay for his 4 hours work since he left of his own accord.

Tonight he has sent me a bill for £130 x 2 days.

Is this right as I feel it seems unfair? If I had asked him to leave early due to lack of work then that would be different but he left of his own accord.

What should I do? I feel bullied but if you think he's in his right to 2 full day's pay then we'll do the honourable thing.

Thanks!

verbal contract ?

Some subbies do have some funny ideas £130 is cheap for a sparks good ones are £200 a day. I would guess that you have a bit of an arguement on your hands, but I would only pay him for the hrs he has worked

Yes it was verbal.

Complexity is what is interpreted as "Day Rate".

I thought that implied a full day. Obviously he didn't.

Verbal or whatever-surely a day rate is more than two hours work per day, unless your a politician!.

I would say day rate = 8 hours

I would assume day rate to be more than 4hrs in the same place..... but then maybe I'm naive too ?

IMO day rate is that. He works for whoever for that day for £x.

I wouldnt pay it, but if you have to come to an arrangement then do that and do not use them again. But if you want my day rate is £350 but ill always have prior appts but could squezze in an hour or 2 for that if need be.

Let me know

Thanks for all your comments so far.

Surely there's got to be one person out there who believes this guy is in the right? (would love a balanced view)

Perhaps I should offer to pay him a higher hourly rate than the pro-rata day rate (£16.25 per hr based on £130 day rate).

I wouldn't pay either invoice, once somebody starts coming the c**t I like to have the last laugh. Tell him to stop p***ing on you and telling you its raining.

Edited July 20, 201213 yr by jameswilson