Charging for un-doing your own work...

thecomputerguy

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I had a clients husband call me because his Anti-Virus ran out and I had recently updated his Wife's AV. I pulled Trend Micro from her computer and installed Kabuto + Emsisoft (which I price at $99 p/y for residential, includes install).

This guy is a cheap PITA, he has money, he blows lots of money, and he refuses to spend money when he should (like buying a refurb laptop instead of new, then complaining it's slow after 6 months of use), and he's generally a scummy guy, to his wife, and in general... Think Ron Jeremy in appearance, and how you'd expect RJ to be in person.

So he calls me and says hey my Security expired and I need to update it. You installed some security in my Wife's computer doesn't that cover mine too?

I explain that no, what I installed is for a single computer, and it is higher end product which provides Malware+Virus protection & Workstation monitoring for hardware failure and system errors.

He says, "WHAT? That's ridiculous! Most of the time it will cover all of the computers, and she don't need any higher end product she barely uses the thing."

Which is untrue, she just doesn't use it as much as him.

I say, "Well you are welcome to provide your own AV product and I'll be happy to install it for you" - for which I would charge labor for.

He says, "No thanks I'll figure it out myself" and hung up on me.

So I know he next steps are to talk to his neighbor, his neighbors son, his nephew who "Knows a lot about computers" ... then tell's his Wife how I screwed them, and how dumb she is, and then come back with how I screwed his wife and he wants me to take it off and put his 3 user of AVG AV he got for $19.99.

So, do I bill for removing my AV, then bill more for installing his AV, with a 1hr minimum that would make whatever he brings up to right around the price of installing Kabuto + Emsi on both considering I wouldn't refund the full $99 since shes used part of the years worth of license already.

Or he'll just call me all ****** off and tell me to get it off her computer, so he can have his neighbor install MS Security Essentials.... so do I charge to get it off he computer?
 
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If he wants to take off the already paid for software, and have us install his AVG this would constitute a new invoice in my shop. Service would be paid as if he was a new customer. I would not refund the Kabuto + Emsisoft unless you have stated he can cancel at the end of each month and then if you did pro rate it from that time.
 
Obviously no charge for the removal, since it's almost certainly a case of "uncheck in the control panel and wait a few hours," but if he wants you to install something then charge for your time - and if he wants to do it himself, have at it.

And if he installs AVG and gets a virus, then clearly any removal/cleanup is charged.
 
If someone had me install a graphics card, and later wanted me to pull it out and put in a different one, I'd charge twice. Whether it's better or worse is irrelevant. Your situation is no different.

Also +1 to firing the customer.
 
I would uninstall it an not charge him, but if he wants you to install something else, I would bill for that but let him know it before hand there would be a charge. Charging to uninstall the original software is only going to make the situation worse. He may be in the wrong, but its not worth the stress to try and make your point over it. Plus the more frustrated you make him the more he might go around running his mouth about his experience with your business. He sounds like someone you don't want as a customer so just be done with it and tell him politely afterwards that your business services are probably not the best fit for what he is looking for.... AKA, you're fired!
 
I go by - clients pay us for our knowledge and expertise. If he can't figure out how to uninstall it himself and brings in to you then bill him. Let him know his charge when he drops it off and it is then his choice not yours if he wants the work done.
 
I say, "Well you are welcome to provide your own AV product and I'll be happy to install it for you" - for which I would charge labor for.
I think this is where you made your mistake. Note that I'm not trying to criticize and in your situation I'm not saying I could have done better. But, as a detached observer... by telling him this you devalued your offering. You essentially confirmed his bias that all AV products are the same, and you may not have clearly articulated what it meant for her to have a managed service. She got a hell of a deal - a good AV and a local person / shop who will keep an eye on the health of her computer for a year.

I'd further would have let him know that that is the only AV product that you trust and support. In your experience you've seen them all and the problems some of them cause and wouldn't want to touch AVG (or whatever product) with a 10' pole.

He says, "No thanks I'll figure it out myself" and hung up on me.
And that's where the call ended. Right?

I think a lot of the posts here are responding like he's already come back with his $20 AVG. But he hasn't. This is all conjecture.
 
If it's Emsisoft with Kabuto just deactivate it. I wouldn't refund the difference though, unless you've stated you would do that somewhere.
If he wants to install AVG tell him you will charge for that but offer no support whatsoever.
Then tell him that your business and he are not a good fit.
 
It won't be long before he gets the dreaded "User profile service failed the login" error because AVG corrupted yet another profile. I had two this week and they finally had enough with AVG and got them to switch.
 
If it's Emsisoft with Kabuto just deactivate it. I wouldn't refund the difference though, unless you've stated you would do that somewhere.
If he wants to install AVG tell him you will charge for that but offer no support whatsoever.
Then tell him that your business and he are not a good fit.

Yup! Deactivate both monitoring and AV and on next reboot or sync it will uninstall.

@timeshifter Asbolutely nailed it! You never want to devalue the service you sold to the wife. You sell and recommend Kabuto and Emsisoft and stand behind the product. If he wants to go ahead and throw a fit and complain about pricing that is his problem.

Uninstall the product at no charge to rid yourself of more drama and simply let him know this relationship just isn't working out anymore. Fire his behind. lol

Also @thecomputerguy I gotta tell you, I always find your stories very interesting. You should definitely post more.
 
I will echo much of what has been said.

#1 lose this guy as a customer it is unfortunate for his wife and anyone else related/connected to this customer you may lose as I doubt they are a problem to work with but this guy clearly isn't worth the billable time.

#2 I generally would not refund the AV you did install but if forced refund would be prorated for time used.

#3 Don't charge for the install if there is another install you are billing for with AV type app. I always consider the removal of other AV apps as part of an install.

#4 Charge per machine for any install he does have you do of his chosen AV/Security app.
 
I'd just refuse to install anything for him. You're only setting yourself up for a phone call in a couple of months time saying "you installed AVG a few months ago and it hasn't worked since, and now I have an infection. Sort it but I don't expect to be billed".
 
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