I am sitting here waiting for my 11AM - I rushed to get ready and he hasn't called yet... I plan to wait until 11:15AM and then call my back-ups (at least 3 other gents wanted this time frame!)... is that a reasonable amount of time to wait?  I think it is, but I also think how bad I would feel if I am able to reach a back-up and then the 11AM calls at like 11:20AM or something!  What do you think?

If you were the 11AM, would you be upset?  If you were the back-up, should I call and say never mind, even if you are on your way?  Stuff happens, and I can be a flake myself sometimes, but maybe this is a discussion that needs to happen... what amount of time, is reasonable to wait on either side of the coin?

xoxox
Anik

Personally I have a 20 minute time limit for any professional. Dr., lawyer, accountant, etc., unless they inform me that there was an unavoidable emergency (most likely for Docs and lawyers). We are all busy and have obligations.

Back-ups were looking for 11AM So, I am in my civvies now, guess I can let the cleaning lady in and go grab a coffee and some air!

My later appointment will be quite pleased... he is my only client today!  

I agree with you PC - I waited until 20 after... oh well... too late to make it up now.

xoxox
Anik

Yes, waiting 15 minutes is generous.  In the era of cell phones, someone who is delayed usually has the capability of informing you.  If you schedule a backup after 15 minutes and the original client shows up or calls, your only obligation is to state that you waited 15 minutes, you're sorry about the disconnect, and you hope he'll try again.  That is, if that's the way you feel.  From what you wrote, you did nothing wrong -- in this case theburden was on the client.

I can't believe with this world of technology that you have not received a phone call. 20 minutes and move on. Time is money and money is time. You later appt. is going to be very happy.

There is a lot to be said for simple courtesy and respect. I once had a Dr. who ran late consistently. Anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes! After about the 3rd visit I suggested that his scheduler needed a refresher course in scheduling. He said, “Everything that happens in this office is at my direction!” I said, “Good! I feel the same way about my life. You’re fired, asshole!” True story. It’s just not worth the aggravation.

so really, I hold nothing against him... I have been in that kind of position myself before... c'est la vie.  I don't like it, but that's life sometimes.

What does irk me is when someone doesn't acknowledge this after the fact, you know, like a call, or an email with "sorry, how can I make this up to you".  I can be a total flake myself, that is the truth, sometimes the darned phone doesn't get a signal in my room, sometimes, I make mistakes and such, but I always acknowledge a mess up and try to make up for it.

In the end, c'est la vie...

xoxox
Anik

Yes, there are a lot of ways to let someone know you're going to be late.  15 minutes is long enough if you have other gents who want to see you. A simple phone call to say your running late is not too much to ask for. We all know when we get on the road if we're going to be late or not, what's a phone call?  If he happened to get stuck in a meeting or something and couldn't call, it's going to take him even longer to get to you.  He'll have to understand if you want to reschedule.

Fifteen minutes is more than enough. The client should always call if he is in traffic or in a meeting or cannot get away--common human courtesy and being respectful of other propels time/money etc.

Sure things happen but I wait 5 minutes maximum and then move on..Too many other fun things to do so I don't wait for something that might not happen.I would certainly not expect a provider to wait for me if I did not call if I was late.

I guess I see too many regulars. They know I'm getting there by Metro and have no reception underground, so they are a little more patient. It also helps that I schedule longer appointments.

On the other hand, I have had a provider call me back 13 days later with no explanation about what happened! I decided not to try again.

Last Year in Tampa, I waited for an hour, and called her every 15 mins, no answer. She was supposed to show at my hotel in her town for outcall. She has no incall. At the 1 hour late mark (11PM). She called and said had to stop for gas and would be there in 15 mins. I waited again and called again at 15 mins. At 12:30 she called and said she couldn't find the Hotel on the main street. She then rambled about being paranoid, cause she thought cop cars were following her cause she was smokin something. She never did show up. I agree that 15 mins late with no call is too long.  I have appreciated being called to tell me that a favorites schedule suddenly opened up.  Those are my lucky days.

and if I did not call, I would not be upset if my appointment was lost.  Frankly, about the only good excuse not to call would be something like an auto accident, or stuck while in a zone with poor/no cell phone coverage; I think most would know 10-15 minutes before the appointed hour if they were going to be late because of traffic and would at least pull off and use a payphone if their cell was not working.

not calling is unacceptable - - however - - this person may have the wrong day

I agree....I have never and I mean never not called if something came up....and in fact, I have only canceled once...you gotta call...

15mins is perfectly fine in my book...you snooze you lose...

Sorry to hear about your no show. He sure missed out. I'm always 15 minutes early,I would never be late for Anik.  

he was the pedestrian that was critically injured yesterday about that time in DC.

Or in the fatal car accident on the beltway yesterday morning....

Or the heart attack victim in NOVA.

But maybe he should get a little benefit of the doubt.....

offered to settle up with me... that is all I ask... an offer.  If my trip sucked, at least I could recoup something... since I am the only one sucking (a good thing indeed), that isn't necessary.

My afternoon was wonderful anyhow, and my date was a true gentleman, so everything is wonderful!

xoxox
Anik

She is posting in DC, though.  It is a very real possibility that he was on the Metro and experienced some real delays...and underground in the Metro most cell phones don't work.  To my knowledge only Verizon provides service in the tunnels, and even then it's spotty.

I'm not excusing no call no show, but hey, it can happen and even with a cell you may not be able to get through.