What to do when a client cancels pickup

I haven't had this happen yet, but I am curious as to what you guys do.



I know a lot of the big name companies will charge clients a cancellation fee if they do not cancel the job order within 24 hours.

I think I would only ever charge if they were to cancel after I have shown up, and even then it would be a small amount to at least cover the fuel spent.

Just want to see what others on here that do more of what I do (junk removal) do in these situations.

I've never charged a customer for a service I didn't provide. If they cancel after you show, you just have to bite the bullet.

The only way you're ever going to get a cancellation fee is if they sign something prior to your arrival, and advertising such fee before acquiring all of your jobs will probably hurt your conversion rate.

if your a big enough operator you can get by with it. If your not you can't. I for one am not. some times circumstances require cancellation some times they don.t. I have canceled shipments, not many but a few.

I was actually thinking about it just now, and since I accept cash, credit, and checks, doing any sort of cancelling fee wouldn't really work.

Only way it would work, is if I charged only by credit card and got the number ahead of time.

Didnt think about all of that.

Like I said, never really had to of, and I doubt it will ever happen, but never know.

I do know that most companies, regardless of size will charge a cancellation fee if you dont cancel within a certain time frame.

Guess, like the admin said, if it ever happens, I will bite the bullet.

Any customer that wants to schedule a job more than a week out I charge a non-refundable $50 deposit. Reason being there is a high cancellation rate for those jobs. I have shown up and heard "Oh my brother/ cousin/friend came and did it cheaper/for free. Didn't someone call you?"

for junk removal i always call first---- trash hauling in my area is very competitive ( that way if someone else did do it for cheaper they can at least tell me first so i can save fuel) ..... also if im leaving the dump going to a trash pickup i always pull over and call .... .... repeats call are priority over new calls --- doesn't matter when they call

Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

Any customer that wants to schedule a job more than a week out I charge a non-refundable $50 deposit. Reason being there is a high cancellation rate for those jobs. I have shown up and heard "Oh my brother/ cousin/friend came and did it cheaper/for free. Didn't someone call you?"

That is something else I was thinking of doing, but dont want to run off new business either.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is something else I was thinking of doing, but dont want to run off new business either.

You HAVE to George. Seriously. Anything more than a week away, something inevitably comes up. A deposit keeps things straight and businesslike. Sheduling a job 8 days out means you will 80% have a cancellation in my experience, then you've lost whatever revenue you could have put in place of that job because you are holding a spot for them.

Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

You HAVE to George. Seriously. Anything more than a week away, something inevitably comes up. A deposit keeps things straight and businesslike. Sheduling a job 8 days out means you will 80% have a cancellation in my experience, then you've lost whatever revenue you could have put in place of that job because you are holding a spot for them.

That is quite true as well.

I could always put it like that as well. Telling them to ensure that particular spot is theirs, there will be a non refundable fee of x amount of dollars that will be required before the spot can be booked that far out. Then informing them, that the deposit can go towards their estimate.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is quite true as well.

I could always put it like that as well. Telling them to ensure that particular spot is theirs, there will be a non refundable fee of x amount of dollars that will be required before the spot can be booked that far out. Then informing them, that the deposit can go towards their estimate.

Also if they're willing to pay the deposit you know they're serious.

Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

Also if they're willing to pay the deposit you know they're serious.

What do you use a minimum John? Meaning, like 3 days, 5 days, or what?

Do you do a $50 Deposit with your clients?

Only thing with that, for me, is the minimum i charge for metal removal (even appliance is $35, so that might be lowered of course.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

What do you use a minimum John? Meaning, like 3 days, 5 days, or what?

Do you do a $50 Deposit with your clients?

Only thing with that, for me, is the minimum i charge for metal removal (even appliance is $35, so that might be lowered of course.

I usually charge a deposit for anything 8 days out or more.

What to do when a client cancels pickup?

sell it to the next guy, if its a craiglist sale first to show up with cash gets it, i dont hold anything for anyone

I agree with a nonrefundable deposit, but it can get you in trouble if they want you to hold it longer than agreed upon. Id rather hold out for a cash buyer than hold a deposit.