In this climate if you have that many bookings you are doing amazingly well.  I would take the half hour fee and enjoy a cup of tea in your break.

I would not take a shortened appointment personally.

Do you actually offer half hour outcalls? If anyone tried that to get something that I wouldn't have agreed to in advance, I'd leave. You might not always feel able to walk away from the money though.

I think it would be reasonable to charge for part of the unused portion of the session they booked (might make them remember that they have a bit more time or money than they thought), but you need to be able to stick with it and send them packing if they don't go along with it, otherwise you'll invite further boundary pushing.

No, I wouldn't let them get away with this one.

Even if I did incalls, it would still mean me potentially turning down callers and losing work in the time space afterwards he had *promised* to pay me for.

Outcalls are even more strict. I do occasional half hours myself as I find they are a doddle and a lot less emotional effort. The guys that book them pretty much know they aren't going to be banging away for the full 30 mins anyway and it can be; in-deed done-dressed and out in 20 mins flat. No matter- it still takes the same amount of time to prepare for and travel to..
On my outcalls, I need them to know exactly how long they are booking for ( I get alot of the, " Ill book for the hour and we'll see how it goes.. Just so that I actually turn up I suppose ).

There is a lot of * kidd-ology* in this game of course. From both sides  

I also charge ?120 for the half an hour appointments, and most extend after that time. I guess it gives them a taster...

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Often clients genuinely don't know how long they do want with you. I offer heavily weighted half-hours because yes they can be fine to slot in, but when I offered them at closer to half my one-hour rate I got terribly messed around - also they often blocked up my day for 1  hour or more bookings which most prefer with myself.

When a prospective client says "I'll decide when I arrive", well sometimes it is genuine - but other times I'm sure some guys know what they are doing. Whilst it's no skin off anyone's nose, to have someone say they want a shorter time, but might extend. You are friendly, it would spoil the GFE to ask or point out the timing, it does run on then they don't have the difference. Well ok it's not harmed you as such however it can leave you feeling a little taken advantage of, plus it's not fair on the guys who do book and pay for the longer time in full. That 'taken advantage' feeling isn't a good one to have in this business, and I do everything I can to avoid it. Because of the guys who are vague, or who do arrive thinking they'll have whatever length suits them but only wanting to pay the minimum, well it means I check specifically with the client exactly the time they want and are able to pay for.  This can be at odds with the fact I only see few clients each day, and I think it does confuse or put some on the spot - but it's to protect both sides and prevent any potential fall outs, or sticky situations!

The best ones for making me smile have been when a chap has asked me to fit him into my plans, for a quick half-hour because he's short of time. Turns up 20 minutes late, and stays 40 minutes. Ahem, I thought he was short of time - also it's hardly 'fitting' in when it's taken up a full hour of time either. I'd prefer it if guys actually just said "Look I only want half an hour, but not sure what time I'll arrive, what can  you do?". Not being upfront like this, using the 'just fit me in' then taking up double the time only means I'm not going to want to do the same again.