Parking charges conundrum...

[Nat]

Hi all,

This probably won't apply to you if you don't work in city centres but if you do please read on...

What do you do about parking charges if you have to do a job where there are parking restrictions and you have to pay and display? Do you pass this charge directly onto the customer i.e. list it on your invoice?

Also if there is no where to park legally how many of you get away with putting the old 'Dealing with an emergency' note in the window'? (I have got away with this quite a bit and only got one ticket which I actually managed to blag my way out of by sending them a letter).

Reason I am asking this is because after waiting for ages on the list I have finally been offered a traders permit by the city council which i would love to have but they want £600 a year for it.I am trying to weigh up whether or not it's worth it as most of my work is outside the restriction areas.

Is there a fair way to pass on this cost? Maybe just to customers who live in these areas?

Please help. What should I do?

Cheers

 

[CES]

I would pass this cost on but not visible on the invoices (add it to materials). In Edinburgh a traders permit is approx £1000 or it was the last time I looked, unfortunately for me I cant get one because I dont live or have my premises in the city.. Work that one out.. I pass on any charges but sometimes a nightmare job will last longer than expected so I ahem, make up for it on the next job.
I don't get away with the "dealing with an emergency" notice. Tried it once and got pumped by the council.. next time Ill ignore the gas leak and the resultant explosion may make more parking space available..

 

[bennygas]

IMHO, I think if you pass the cost on to the customers in the city centre area, you run the risk of alienating them or possibly causing issue to some extent (so possibly dipping out on future or recommendation work - you can imagine the conversation: "yep, he even charged me for the parking etc..."), and you also run the risk of failing to recoup your costs if only charging the city centre customers. I think the way I'd do it (if I'd do it at all) is treat it as a running cost for the business as a whole by nudging up all the prices - I know you could say it isn't fair, but I think you also need to be fair to yourself. if you do it that way any price increase is kept to a minimum (it's spread across a lot of customers, hopefully relatively unnoticed), it's less likely to cause issue with anyone (you're not going to be putting parking charges on invoices etc), and you're more likely to recoup your expenditure (small charge over lots of customers = reasonable payback, if you do it the other way, what if the city centre work doesn't come in in large enough quantities?). lot of money though eh?

 

[Nat]

IMHO, I think if you pass the cost on to the customers in the city centre area, you run the risk of alienating them or possibly causing issue to some extent (so possibly dipping out on future or recommendation work - you can imagine the conversation: "yep, he even charged me for the parking etc..."), and you also run the risk of failing to recoup your costs if only charging the city centre customers. I think the way I'd do it (if I'd do it at all) is treat it as a running cost for the business as a whole by nudging up all the prices - I know you could say it isn't fair, but I think you also need to be fair to yourself. if you do it that way any price increase is kept to a minimum (it's spread across a lot of customers, hopefully relatively unnoticed), it's less likely to cause issue with anyone (you're not going to be putting parking charges on invoices etc), and you're more likely to recoup your expenditure (small charge over lots of customers = reasonable payback, if you do it the other way, what if the city centre work doesn't come in in large enough quantities?). lot of money though eh?

Thanks bennygas I think what you are saying is probably right. Still don't know what to do though. £600 is a lot but if i bung it in with expenses it's only costing £480 in real terms... Sounds slightly more appealing at that rate

 

[REDSAW]

if i am at any concern i tell the customer = plus parking tickets or charges.
someone i know apparently has a permit @£150 a year.

i phone up the council and tell them i have to attend a job in the city (notts), they ask for van details how long i need and then allow me to park anywhere as long as its not disabled free of charge for the estimated time!!.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Down here it costs a tenner for a waiver for a day or £30 for up to 7. The cost gets added onto the jobs plus the time it takes to get it. In a really great move the parking office has been moved from the area it was in where there was free parking on the street to one where the only parking nearby is a pay and display car park with a height barrier. Anyone with an over height vehicle, so most tradesmen, have to drive round the nearby streets looking for an on street space at £1.50 an hour so it now takes a couple of hours to get the waiver.

I avoid working in the restricted areas as much as possible but if I need a waiver I get my missus or father to pick it up as they fit under the height barrier. I suggested years ago that a better solution would be for bona fides tradesmen to be able to purchase a book of waivers and fill in the details themselves, anyone abusing the system would have their right to use it removed. This would save hundreds if not thousands of hours for tradesmen in the time and time spent on administration by the council but it's obviously too sensible for them.

 

[Bernie2]

Hmm!

Big problem this. Should be a licensing scheme of some sort for city centre access if working there.

 

[Kev the gas]

Absolute Bargain, prices in Brighton are higher I heard from a plumber friend.

If you turn down the opportunity now you will regret it for years.

 

[Nat]

if i am at any concern i tell the customer = plus parking tickets or charges.
someone i know apparently has a permit @£150 a year.

i phone up the council and tell them i have to attend a job in the city (notts), they ask for van details how long i need and then allow me to park anywhere as long as its not disabled free of charge for the estimated time!!.

What?! Really! I am moving north!

 

[Nat]

Absolute Bargain, prices in Brighton are higher I heard from a plumber friend.

If you turn down the opportunity now you will regret it for years.

This is what I am starting to think! This is such a tricky decision to make!

Thanks for your advice.

 

[secret squirrel]

I don't think you have a choice really, its expensive as its a one off payment every year but I think you have to look at is as any other expense, van, road tax, van ins, Public liability ins. city centre parking.

Just add a fiver to every job or £2.50. Its another expense, another one that hurts.:49:

 

[Nat]

I don't think you have a choice really, its expensive as its a one off payment every year but I think you have to look at is as any other expense, van, road tax, van ins, Public liability ins. city centre parking.

Just add a fiver to every job or £2.50. Its another expense, another one that hurts.:49:

The thing is I have managed so far without it. It would make things a lot more convenient though.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

i dont go often central london , its a standard procedure here , job is labour+materials+parking+congestion charge !
you have two options you tell them the cost an collect payment or dont tell them !
If its a plan work I get customer to get me parking permits or i put charge on my invoice !