How annoying!

MadamDotty

Back again!
Most of the people I see as a CDC are really lovely & they make the job so enjoyable, however I do get one or two people who can be very annoying, because when they can’t or don’t want to keep their appt they don’t bother to let me know. This drives me mad because I’m waiting around for someone who doesn’t show up and as I give my clients half hour slots, that’s a half hour wasted, plus when I’m busy I could have re-used that slot if I’d been given notice. I know occasionally there are justifiable circumstances, but surely it’s just polite to let me know – I’d never just cancel an appt and not turn up. If people don’t want to ring and talk to me (which I can understand if they’ve changed their mind and feel bad about telling me) then send me a text or an email, that’s not asking too much surely?

My other bugbear is regular latecomers, again I can understand that from time to time you get caught up in traffic or have a problem getting out on time, sure it happens but most people have a mobile phone and can let me know they’re running late (as many in fact do).

Now I have two clients in particular that this applies to, one who starts and stops the diet regularly and every time she contacts me to come back I’m very supportive and always happy to see her again, but when she gives up after a week or two, she just doesn’t show up and never lets me know.

The other lady I’ve only seen 5 times, but every single time she is late and not just 5 or 10 minutes either usually 20-30 mins late, which of course has a knock on effect if I have a client after her, and she’s very talkative and difficult to hurry along, even when she’s aware I have someone else who’s arrived and is now waiting.

So how should I tackle these people, I’m not at all confrontational but it’s driving me mad and I don’t know how to handle it to be honest.

Don't get me wrong, most of my clients are fab and go out of their way to let me know if they have a problem with their appointment and I'm not a moaner, but this does get me mad. :mad:

So counsellors and dieters alike, I’d love to have your opinions/advice on this, am I being too fussy, should I just lump it and take it as part of the job, or am I being too soft and should speak my mind? How do other CDCs handle this and what do dieters think about it (nice to hear it from a clients POV).

Thanks guys - feels better just getting it off my chest. Late client was late again this afternoon which is what's set me off :rolleyes:
 
oh you por thing. I always turn up to my cdc's on time never before or ever late i always ensure enough time getting there for traffic pee stops etc! 2hr drive for me!! If i was you i would just say it to the 2in particular look would you mind its just that etc etc..it is often basic manners that people lack like your right a phone call/text/email isnt that hard.

Hope you get it sorted oh or better still maybe they post here and know who they are!!!! and wont be late again!!

becky x
 
Blimey Becky if you can be prompt with a 2 hour drive then there's no excuses! Good for you and you're right - it is just basic manners.

Thanks for that
x
 
i have to admit that there has been quite few time when i haven't been able to make appointments with my CDC due to changing jobs/childcare but I have ALWAYS emailed/txt/called to let her know in advance! Also she has had to reschedule with me a few times and again commnication has been fab!
Maybe u should just have a quick word with them, maybe they dont even realise its a prob, let them know that even if they r gonna cancel/be late u'd MUCH rather kno than be left sitting like a numpty!!
 
I really think you should speak to each of your 'latecomers' and explain your problems. It is extremely rude of someone to be habitually late - such a lack of respect for you and your time, however, if you haven't given them a chance to 'do the right thing' by telling them that their habitual lateness is causing problems then they may very well believe that all is well.

I try very hard not to be late for appointments, however I have a family who think that we I say can we go now, they think they can spend the next 20mins phaffing around which will inevitably make us late for wherever we need to be!
 
Thanks Lisa, appreciate your input, I don't mind people re-scheduling at all and I'm very accomodating and as you said sometimes CDCs need to re-schedule too, life does sometimes get in the way! When clients start with me I give them an information sheet that includes a request that they let me know if they can't make their appointment or are running late - but people still do it.

All the best with your CD journey and thanks again
x
 
LOL Helen at your family - know what you mean :) I have a DH a bit like that!

Thanks for your input too and yes I do think I should have a polite word, it's re-assuring to know that you all agree with me.
x
 
What has just struck me as 'odd' is that there are soooooo many posts of peeps moaning about their CDCs but you can count on the FINGERS OF ONE HAND the other way round - do you guys have a special hidden thread where you get to rant?

I think that all CDCs are such a special bunch us 'clients' really shouldn't take the mick!
 
Some people can be so rude! If you can I'd ask the one who just doesn't turn up to call you and let you know they're not coming (you could always say you have a waiting list?) although tbh if they stop and wanted to start again I'd want to tell them I had no free appointments. The one who is late - I'd like to tell them they've missed their appt but tbh I'm not that brave, are you?. How about you say something like well I can weigh you but I've got another appt in 5/10 minutes?
 
I really think you should speak to each of your I have a family who think that we I say can we go now, they think they can spend the next 20mins phaffing around which will inevitably make us late for wherever we need to be!

Lol, dh used to do that until I told him once we'd to be somewhere half an hour before we actually did. We arrived on time and I told him and for some reason he doesn't do it anymore.
 
Aww thanks Helen. I think on the whole we keep our rants to ourselves (and immediate family of course) but mainly because most clients are fab too, I love most of my clients and like I said consider some to be real friends now not clients. And as a CDC I know I'm not going to like or get on with every person that steps over my threshold and that is par for the course but luckily they're few and far between, in my experience anyway.
 
Some people can be so rude! If you can I'd ask the one who just doesn't turn up to call you and let you know they're not coming (you could always say you have a waiting list?) although tbh if they stop and wanted to start again I'd want to tell them I had no free appointments. The one who is late - I'd like to tell them they've missed their appt but tbh I'm not that brave, are you?. How about you say something like well I can weigh you but I've got another appt in 5/10 minutes?

I'm not particularly brave TBH, although I did decide today that half an hour after her appointment I'd just go out and leave a note on the door - but she was "only" 20 minutes late today!
 
Sorry, I've not been much help! I'm not brave either.
Oh contraire! You've all agreed with me so far and that makes me feel a whole heap better that I'm not being an old moaning minnie! And you had a couple of really good suggestions too - so thanks again :)
 
I hate that too, I think that the next time they are late that you should say "look I know these things can happen but I notice that it seems to be every time are you putting yourself under a lot of pressure to make this time slot? Maybe in the future you could book a different slot when there is less pressure on you before you get here" If they dont change the slot at least they will have got the message that you're pissed about it.....

As for the ones who dont turn up at all, that is truely annoying, I'd operate a three strikes and your out policy on those people. Allow once, but on the second occasion mention that you notice this is the second time this has happened and its quite annoying not to mention a waste of your time to be sitting around waiting for someone who doesnt show.

If it happens after that I'd say you are unsure if you can facilitate them as they have a record of not turning up without letting you know and its highly insulting.

Personally if I just didnt turn up for something like that I would be mortified contacting them again for another apt anyway
 
Hi
What about a weekly/monthly newsletter and put it in there about appointments and what you expect, say its something a client asked you to do and You thought it was a good idea, as a childminder I find it is sometimes easier to have it witten down so they cant say I didnt hear you say that!
Other than that tell them you only have a 5 minute slot left for her as she was late, next time come earlier and we can talk!
 
I hate that too, I think that the next time they are late that you should say "look I know these things can happen but I notice that it seems to be every time are you putting yourself under a lot of pressure to make this time slot? Maybe in the future you could book a different slot when there is less pressure on you before you get here" If they dont change the slot at least they will have got the message that you're pissed about it.....

As for the ones who dont turn up at all, that is truely annoying, I'd operate a three strikes and your out policy on those people. Allow once, but on the second occasion mention that you notice this is the second time this has happened and its quite annoying not to mention a waste of your time to be sitting around waiting for someone who doesnt show.

If it happens after that I'd say you are unsure if you can facilitate them as they have a record of not turning up without letting you know and its highly insulting.

Personally if I just didnt turn up for something like that I would be mortified contacting them again for another apt anyway

Thanks Hedgehog, I agree I'd be too mortified to contact someone I'd let down! I like the three strikes policy, good idea. Late lady had a different appointment today - day and time, so it's not that, she is very busy and is self-employed but in some ways that makes it worse, you'd think she'd be more aware and understanding!
 
I dont know what way you do your apts, daytime only or daytime and evening but if you do both, then I'd say to her that the daytime apts seem to be posing her a problem in making her apts on time which is impacting on the time managment of your day, would she consider trying to make a later apt at time where she has less work pressures on her?


I think you definitely have to say something to her, she needs to realise that being habitually late is not cute or
acceptable behaviour.

I feel like I am on a rant LOL sorry hun, I just hate people being late all the time and the "oh you know me, ha ha" attitute to it!
 
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