Hi everyone

Aint been around for ages as moved house and no internet for months (a horrifying feeling) Hope everyone is well.

As mentioned before im with an agency,however i also have some private clients that ive found along the way.

My dilemma is this,the agency i work for  charges low prices,however the volume of work i get means i end up making a heck of a lot more than when i worked for an agency previously that charged a lot more but got me less work. Its not ideal but i need the money for time being at least!

I am loath however to charge my private clients the same as the agency as deep down i feel my services are worth more,also when its private clients i have no in call facility so have to consider travel costs etc and also the fact that they are paying for privilage of having my number and being able to contact me 24/7.

So i have been charging private clients a higher rate than with agency,most dont mind but a few are starting to be a bit niggly about it and its starting to get to me. Thing is i would like to go independent when my finances allow and i dont want to already be in the position of underpricing my services when i eventually do so!

So what do you think? am i wrong,right or just a greedy bugger? cos im  not even sure myself anymore

i think it is most important that you feel well with the price you are charging
never ever devalue yourself and it is a very bad feeling of charging less than you feel comfortable with,
always charge that amount you feel comfortable with and that resonates with you, ... of course that can change over time. and i personally feel as more comfortable you get with charging higher rates as more likely are the clients to pay them!!!! 

If they're complaining, presumably they know the agency you work for and could choose to book you through there for the cheaper price. If most of them did that you'd have to pay a fee for them all and make even less money than if you charged them the agency rate privately, but if they know perfectly well that they could get the agency rate but choose to keep going to you directly then whatever they get out of that must be worth it. Tell them that they can pay your rates if they call you, or your agency's rates if they call the agency, unless you think they'll all go off to the agency!

If you like, you could overstay sometimes, maybe go for dinner with them, stuff that makes them feel more special than an agency client.

And i also have to say that since giving my number to some clients ive never had more respect for ladies who work independently. Ive only chosen my most select clients to give my number too and ive still had the lot,drunken texts at midnight,people thinking they can ring/text me at all hours just to chat,phonecalls where the person has said nothing and then hung up,the whole lot! I dont know how you independent ladies cope without wanting to strangle someone

I assume you've given them your personal number. Having a proper work phone makes that side much easier.

if i get a nuisance call in the middle of the night or if i get a constant TW i save the number in my phone with a BL at the begining of whatever name i save them under for BLACKLIST.  this way i know not to bother answering when it comes up on the screen so i dont get annoyed with them.

Its easy to get frustrated with them but i find its better to find away around it rather than loose my rag, thats just playing in to a good TW's hands.