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Second-Hand News - Vans On British Roads At All-Time High
New analysis by Direct Line business insurance of government statistics reveal the number of vans on the roads in Great Britain has hit a record high...
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I’m A Professional, Get Me Out Of Here
Almost half of tradespeople say they have gotten in their vans and driven away from a job because of a customer’s behaviour or an argument, according to research from Direct Line business insurance.
The study revealed 47 per cent of those surveyed had quit at least one job with the average value of each job walked away from being £1,062.
Arguments
Four in 10 (41 per cent) tradespeople report they have had arguments with customers because of their behaviour, with the most common issue being late payment (62 per cent). It is a key issue for the industry and can significantly impact cash flow. Tradespeople are owed an average £6,984 in outstanding payments.
Other reasons for arguments include customers trying to tell tradespeople how to do the job (57 per cent) and customers adding additional jobs on top of what had already been agreed (39 per cent).
The top 10 most annoying customer habits:
Late payment – 62%
Being told how to do a job – 57%
Adding additional jobs – 39%
Customers nagging for a faster finish – 39%
Customers hovering – 36%
Indecisiveness and mind changing – 33%
Children hovering near the job – 31%
Pet not restrained – 29%
Not being able to start at the agreed date – 27%
Customers trying to get involved or help – 36%
I’ll get someone else
With 42 per cent of Brits struggling to find a tradesperson to do work in their home, the survey also revealed the ‘red flags’ that cause professionals to decline some jobs altogether. On average tradespeople turn down five jobs a year due to the ‘red flags’ they have identified.
The most common ‘red flag’ was a customer telling them that they can get someone else to do the job for less (49 per cent). This was followed closely by dictating how much a job should cost (47 per cent) or how long it should take (41 per cent), wanting to cut corners to reduce cost such as using cheap materials (45 per cent) and asking for a discount with a sob story (43 per cent).
I’m a professional, get me out of here
Alison Traboulsi, a product manager at Direct Line business insurance says: “We’ve all had to manage challenging situations and people that have tested our patience. While tradespeople understand that often customers questions are about trying to understand a task that sits outside of their general knowledge, frequent questions and demands can make for a difficult working environment for tradespeople.
“It bodes well for customers to remember that the person they’ve hired or are looking to hire, is an expert in their field. A tradesperson relies on word of mouth and a good reputation, so ultimately, they want to make sure that they do a good job, on time and at a fair price for the work they’re doing.”
Picture: Almost half of tradespeople say they have quit at least one job because of a customer’s behaviour.
www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
18th February 2024