As above really, Just wondering what you guys would consider a "fair" charge..

i am a mobile auto-electrician, i have a van and a small workshop, but primarily, the majority of my work is mobile.

i do a fair amount of training and consider myself to have a reasonable amount of diagnostic gear which compliment each other nicely.

the reason i've decided to ask is i've had varying responses when dealing with customers when they call me to book in, or when the job is finished..

one example..
Saab 9-3 with the 2.0 diesel PSG16.. the vehicle was low on power and kept flagging a fault code relating to boost pressure, 3 garages each looked at the vehicle and charged £50 + VAT, cleared the codes and sent him on his way...

i went out to it and read codes, then carried out roadtest whilst monitoring live data, right enough it was low on power and didnt boost untill high up in the rev range, got back, simple visual checks with mity vac and found a split vac hose, Replaced and charged the customer £48.00.i was there an hour

So thats £180 between 3 garages and no fix
and £48 with me and its fixed!

the customer complained to me saying that it was extortionate for some one in a van with no overheads!

i must advise... Prior to me looking at it, the customer said he wants it fixed... no matter how much it costs!

in the other hand,

Audi A4 2.0 tfsi, Fault codes relating to lean running.

Customer had spent £650 + with garage saying that throttle body had failed and this had damaged o2 sensor (?) had car back and still the same.

i call out to the car and spend 1 1/2 hours, find a canister purge valve stuck open and advise the customer i'd have to replace this valve, £22 odd for the valve, my bill worked out at £136, this was to include the diagnosis, parts and fitting!

Customer was over the moon with this and has recommended me to no end of people!

i dont think i'm expensive, i believe i offer a good service at a fair price, but if i had a pound for every time i heard "you have no overheads" i could give up work!


another favourite is people calling up and then saying "oh i dont want to pay you, just tell me what it is"

Sorry for the long post... Just interested to see what everyone else considers a fair charge..