General Etiquette > Life...in general

Busman's Holiday

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Adah:
The thread about telling friends you are not going to be using them for professional services, such as as a mortgage broker, prompted me to start this thread.

How do you politely but firmly tell family/friends/neighbors that you are not interested in fixing their computer/cutting their hair/doing their taxes/etc. if you are a professional software engineer/hair dresser/accountant/etc.?

DH is always being called upon by family, friends and neighbors to fix their computers. As anyone knows, this can take hours -- many of them -- and the last thing DH wants to do on his weekends and evenings is his "day job" without pay. Family are the worst, frankly, and the least thankful. So, how do you put your foot down, particularly with family who are most likely to take advantage of your specialized knowledge? 

Romes7329:

--- Quote from: Adah on January 12, 2007, 03:01:12 PM ---
DH is always being called upon by family, friends and neighbors to fix their computers. As anyone knows, this can take hours -- many of them -- and the last thing DH wants to do on his weekends and evenings is his "day job" without pay. Family are the worst, frankly, and the least thankful. So, how do you put your foot down, particularly with family who are most likely to take advantage of your specialized knowledge? 

--- End quote ---

"I'm sorry, but that problem seems very complex, and I just don't have the time right now.  You should call the help number that came wit hthe computer"  Rinse, lather, repeat.

I'm a Computer Sicence major with a dad who is self taught in computers...I get this a lot.  He gets this a lot.  I know how frustrating this is.  But this is the only method that has worked.

Clara Bow:
Tell them your hourly rate, and when you expect payment.
Seriously, I think I'd chuckle and tell them I was off duty.

Rei-chan:

Auntie V, you read my mind again.....do you have ESP or is this ka?   :D

I am a self taught computer person, and I used to get this a lot from a certain ex-friend I have mentioned before, and her ex-girlfriend (when they were together).  The friend would understand if I was too busy, but the ex-GF (who was quite frequently drunk) would get all PA about it until one night.....

The call came at about 11 pm, and ex-GF wanted me to come setup her printer, as she wouldn't allow my ex-f to touch it.  When I informed ex-f that it was 11 pm and the instruction manual should suffice to answer any questions, the ex-gf started getting all snarky about it.  I then replied:

"OK, but if I am tech support, I want tech-support wages.  Are you prepared to write me a check for 60 bucks an hour?  If so, I'll be there in 10 minutes."

Ex-GF never asked me for help again, unless I was over there and asked how her PC was doing.   ;D

Slartibartfast:
Part of being family is receiving requests for verbal advice in your area of expertise - I love being able to call my dad (a doctor) at 10 PM and say "Dad, I'm turning green and have a rash all over my right arm.  What should I do?"  Likewise, DH answers a lot of computer questions from clueless family members ("How do I download the Interweb thingy again?"  "Click twice fast on the blue E.") 

BUT if anyone asks him to come spend lots of time cleaning up their computer, he says it's "not his thing" and suggests where they can find someone else who will do it (professionally).  This usually gets the point across that he's not everyone's personal computer janitor.  And if he gets a bunch of calls from the same person, he helps them sign up for a basic computer class at the library :-)

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