Weekend calls / callouts

[oz-plumber]

Does anyone get fed up with calls on weekends from people wanting work done or advice.

It would be ok if you advertised that you did weekend work or 24 hour service, but over the last few months - or longer - I'm beginning to get the impression that people expect to call you anytime for anything.

I've decided, over the last few weekends, to leave my phone off on Sundays.
Also, I'm not looking at emails either.

I've given some of the important customers my private phone number if something goes wrong, but very few people know this number, so when it rings I answer it.

 

[rpm]

People seem to call earlier in the mornings and later in the evenings plus expect advice over the phone will you know damn well they are doing it and have hit a problem. Seems like what you choose to do is the right course of action.

 

[SimonG]

The off button and voicemail is king. But I have a work phone and a personal phone so it makes it easier.
Says the man that's just worked till 7 on saturday and 5 yesterday. But that was me catching up after losing a few days over the last few weeks.


I choose when I'm working and responding to calls and emails. Especially this time of year, "I'd really love it to be done before Christmas". I'd love to be 12 stone. But neither happening before Christmas.

 

[king of pipes]

Very rare I get away without my work load effecting my one day's rest, Sunday morning doing the shopping with the wife and spent 10 mins on the phone with a regular customer walking round Tesco , 8.30 pm last night oh my mates boilers gone down just given him your number bud grrrr been stuck in a loft all day rerouting pipes really need this ! voicemail on Goodnight all. Kop

 

[Last Plumber]

I'm afraid 'tis the modern world we live in.
I blame:-

Mobile phones, email, Whatsapp, text etc. They enable the days/hours merge into one long one.
Impatient people. We have an 'I want it now' generation in our midst and they are the worst offenders in my experience. They live in a 24/7 world.
Sunday trading - We used to have a day off every week without much say in it. It used to be referred to as the 'Day of Rest'. A lot went to Church, a lot went to spend time with Family or friends. There wasn't much else to do but I think that was a good thing. It forced the 'Rat Race' to stop and have a break.

 

[SimonG]

Bring back no shops open on a Sunday.

 

[oz-plumber]

Update:

• No one died
• No insurance claims
• Someone went without hot water for 22 odd hours
• Someone went without heating for a day
• Someone Googled ' how to reset boiler' and boiler fired up - saved service call.
• 2 people called on monday to pay be credit card
• One call was to tell me the new pan and cistern I installed was 20mm out of centre of the bathroom.

I told him it was to cover the fixing holes from the previous pan installed.
- And there were a couple more.

First world problems
Work phone switched off from midday Saturday until Monday morning.
Emails not looked at from midday Friday until Monday morning.