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I can't believe 'professionals' still bill with these as extra -
'Fixed fee' from Surveyor for a purchase had an extra £65 added for "photocopies, stationary, Faxes etc" and now our architect has sent an invoice which includes charges for printing at 40p per A4 sheet and 80p per A3
I should have queried the solicitor charges. Definitely pushing back on these. Seems stupid - just leaves a bad taste
I'm thinking I'll just take the printing charge off and pay the invoice without it. Acceptable?
Are they supposed to be raw material costs or include labour?
A quick google:
http://www.doxdirect.com/A3-Printing.html
...would suggest 51p/page for A3 colour, down to 6p/page for A4 mono, as a going rate. If you're also paying for a PA's time to mess about with printers and faxes, collating and filing, that's a different story.
If you're also paying for a PA's time to mess about with printers and faxes, collating and filing, that's a different story
Still can't see why it would be an extra charge if it's a regular part of the job. When your car goes for a service you don't expect to get an extra charge for 'invoicing'
I've asked for all documents to be output as pdf. There is a (smaller) scanning charge.
One cost is time charges, the other is costs (but might be costs plus).
Some are in the control of your provider (reasonable stuff within the contemplation of the work). Others are outside it - counsel's fees, for example.
What I don;t understand is why more people don't ask for regular costs + disbs updates from their files.
One cost is time charges, the other is costs (but might be costs plus).
But I'd been quoted a fixed fee. Printing at those sorts of prices isn't just for paper - it's a contribution to the cost of hardware. You could go on - a bit for 'computing', something for power heat and light (it's been a cold winter, the heating was on more often).
so would that be typing it up in word, printing it out then scanning it to pdf? wouldn't surprise me.I've asked for all documents to be output as pdf. There is a (smaller) scanning charge.
This sort of stuff does take the piss, you know how much/little paperwork is involved in a job so include it in the price don't add it all on later as tho it was a complete surprise.
My favourite is the fact I am being billed for the money transfer from the solicitors account to mine. How much will depend on the method but a charge to move my own money after they have taken their fees really rips ma knitting.
onehundredthidiot - Member
My favourite is the fact I am being billed for the money transfer from the solicitors account to mine. How much will depend on the method but a charge to move my own money after they have taken their fees really rips ma knitting.
We get charged by the bank to transfer money to clients, why should have to swallow that cost?
Although if people don't mind BACS (3 day transfer) there's no charge.
seem to recall there was a reason why the I couldn't use that, the total amount or something. either that or their admin fee for using BACs was more than whatever they were charging me for the usual transfer.Although if people don't mind BACS (3 day transfer) there's no charge.
Yeah there is a maximum amount you can have for BACS but it depends on what the bank offer the company. It's also the total amount you can have being transferred at one time, eg Limit is £150,000.
£100,000 transferred, takes 3 days.
£75,000 to be transferred, this would have to wait until the £100,000 clears (3 days) so it could be that.
They'd have to be pretty tight to charge for BACS!
Why not pay into my account from buyer and i'll pay out of it? Or just factor it in to the "costs".
Last time we bought they wanted a charge for the transfer of the deposit - so I walked over to the bank and got it out 🙂
And under the 2,4,6 rule they earn interest on the money but it still will not be released until after 7 working days, after the transfer cost has been paid.
The maximum limit for BACS is £20 million, incidentally. The company will have their own BACS limit but that's a volume limit not per transaction.
You've employed an architect and your worrying over 80p a print costs...even if that's a new house with multiple client revisions were talking £20?!
3rd world problem.
1st world problem surely?
My fee proposals state that 'reasonable' A3 and A4 printing costs are included but larger plotting (A2 and above) is charged at cost.
I know the 'reasonable' is vague but when you get to revision H of a simple extension the costs can mount up. To date I haven't charged for A3 or A4 printing.
You've employed an architect and your worrying over 80p a print costs...even if that's a new house with multiple client revisions were talking £20?!
Partly the principle. Partly that it was actually 5% on the first invoice. 5% on the total budget is significant - look after the pennies and that.
onehundredthidiot - Member
And under the 2,4,6 rule they earn interest on the money but it still will not be released until after 7 working days, after the transfer cost has been paid.
Any interest earned on client monies is due to client when it is 'fair and reasonable' to do so. We generally don't pay any interest to clients because of the pitiful rate we get from our Bank means that it in 98% of transactions it would cost more than the interest accrued to work out how much interest has accrued and then transfer the money.
Also under SAR;
'The new Rule 22(3) does require the law firm to have a written policy on the payment of interest and that this policy must be drawn to the client’s attention at the outset of any engagement.'