Ethics

Kelly O'Malley

I read cards for people and when I do I won't accept payment if they're not completely happy with the reading.

Sometimes the reading doesn't work for me,maybe because I'm not in a receptive state at the time or the subject isn't ready or willing for it.

Another non pay situation.

I remember a reading I did recently for a very nice and very psychic subject but as hard as I tried the images were too jumbled to make sense.
I battled with it for an hour,did 4 layouts and still nothing other than the fact that his wife was pregnant with their first child - a girl (born 18 hours after the reading - at least I was able to pick that up!)

I refused payment of course and the subject argued about it saying I at least deserved something for my time.

I put it to him this way.If he'd gone into a restaurant and been served a plate of inedible slop would he be willing to pay for it?

The chef and the waiters had spent their time cooking and serving him.

He kept his money.

I may be a a fool with this attitude - I won't get rich anyway - but are there any other fortune tellers who operate this way?

I'd like to feel I'm not the only one with a handle on one side of my head!

DANNY22XX

if i wasnt happy with anything i would not pay for it,,,i have been to the restraunt orderd so call slop ,,,its everyones right ,,,not to pay for it if they are not happy.
but you should say it that if they are not happy with the reading there has to be a sit down charge,,or somthing ,
me personally not really into the cards thing i rather go day by day.but thats me,,but good luck what ever you decide;)

Riamfada

I dont see a problem with readers asking for money, once its done before the reading. Not sprung on the client afterwards "by the way you owe me 40 quid" which is the rules of any economic transaction, including the more seedy ones :P. I do think some are very expensive, I sat down to get one done once and it was 40 quid (South Dublin Café). Needless to say I walked off. Id rather buy 20 lotto tickets than hear somone tell me Ill pass my exams. My granny does that for free!

People provide a service and clients are well aware of the sketchy nature of psychic readings and indeed their validity before they hand over money. Its not fair to not pay because the psychic didnt give you next week's lotto numbers or the weight of your first born in ten years.

G

stevenmu

Well I think that's a very ethical way to go about giving readings.

Like any other profession I think it's only fair to accept money in return if your work is up to a certain standard, it's very understandable that in a field like giving readings that you can't always guarantee a standard, for many reasons it a reading may just simply not work out, and it's nice to see someone ethical enough to not accept money in those cases.

There's enough people out there that will take money without even attempting a proper reading, so it's great to see someone who will only accept it if they're satisfied they've done a good job. You might not get rich, but hopefully you'll sleep better at night

karynp

I also read cards,and get paid for it,its my living. Am 110% in agreement,if i feel i havent given my "all" to the reading then the sitter doesnt have to pay or aternatively if they feel it was way off and not at all connecting in any way for them then i wouldnt accept payment. Also i would charge the same fee if they came to me or i had to travel to them,whatever the distance or if i have to pay for a stand/table at a fair,some people increase their fee to cover the cost, i dont as its not the sitters fault i am at a fair is it.
Its a crying shame that there are a lot of folk out there who do the exact opposite,and i would never ask for any money beforehand. I also do a lot of free readings if i feel it is needed or if someone genuinely has no means of payment,a lot of times its just a wonderful feeling inside to know you gave some peace to someone in need. In saying that i do have a mortgage to pay,kids to feed ect.There are very few "rich" in monetary value psychics/mediums, however,i find the richness you recieve inside you can make up the difference.

6th

What about if you put alot of effort into it, you feel it went great but the client says it really feel it was any good i.e. it didnt make any sense to them or their situation. What if the client said they didnt want to pay? If that was to happen would you then point out the value of your time and effort?

A readers time is either worth something or it is not. I can understand if a client turns up and you tell them early on that its not working out then send them away and its the best for everyone. If you read for an hour then either you charge for your time or apologise for wasting the clients time - it shouldnt take an hour to figure out its going nowhere, nothing wrong with putting your hand up and saying "I've got nothing".

karynp

For me anyway, i can tell if a person is making up the fact it didnt go well,its simple really,when i am reading there is a different energy around me,hard to explain,so,if i felt the connection was there and they claim its not then they are usually just chancing there arm, also, theres very few people who are that good at telling lies that they could totally cover up the emotion of a proper reading,theres bound to be reactions. Ive had it happen when people just chance there arm,but you know what, its not worth an argument, im a firm believer in Karma and what goes around comes around.Yes, we are worth our time but as the same for any business,we all have "shoplifters" in our midst,the only difference being we dont have survellance cameras ect.
But usually, you will know fairly promptly in a reading if its not going to go well.

6th

karynp wrote: »

But usually, you will know fairly promptly in a reading if its not going to go well.

I'd agree but in the OP it was a case of reading for an hour and getting nothing. In a case like that I (as a client) would be pissed off for having my time wasted. Its like waiting in Woodies for one of the staffto come back with a product only for them to come back an hour later and say they dont have it.

karynp

Sabotage wrote: »

I'd agree but in the OP it was a case of reading for an hour and getting nothing. In a case like that I (as a client) would be pissed off for having my time wasted. Its like waiting in Woodies for one of the staffto come back with a product only for them to come back an hour later and say they dont have it.

Agreed,
yeah,would be fed up alright,but wouldnt be paying for anything either.sometimes we just dont gel with someone to give them a reading due to a few different things,and yes,best thing for both parties is to send them on there way,REMEMBERING to explain to them there not about to die or something that your just not connecting,maybe inviting them back another time or sending them to another reader you trust.

Kelly O'Malley

The subject in the example I gave was told after the the first attempt failed that things weren't working and when I offered to keep trying agreed.He had a major career decision to make and really wanted an answer.He certainly didn't think his time was being wasted.
Yay Karynp!
I too do a lot of pro bono work.
I feel that what I do has to be done from the motivation to help people rather than as a money spinner.
While I do explain my fee before I begin I also explain the consequences of a reading that doesn't work - and often a brief synopsis of how the cards work to first timers.
So many have a dread of the Death and Devil cards I find it wise to explain the symbolism of those before I start in case they turn up.

Oryx

Its interesting that this subject has come up today. Ive refused all offers of payment in the past, apart from once when I took petrol money. I did my first fair on Sunday, which was also the first time I ever charged. I felt I had to, to cover my costs and so I wouldnt get lynched by the other readers. Im still debating how to go on from here as I do more readings. Charging does not sit well with me, and did not at this fair either. All but one of my sitters were happy, the one that wasnt was a big learning curve for me, she had very fixed expectations on linking to a particular spirit, and is used to working with one reader, who is currently out of action. Like you I spent a lot of time and got information, but what I was giving and what she wanted didnt match. I charged half but in hindsight shouldnt have taken anything. The fact that she waited ages, and I was charging made me feel pressure to work with her, when I should have said no. You live, you learn.

Im in a real quandary this week as to what to do, so any advice from ye would be helpful. I want this to be my main work and I need a way to do it that sits well with my concience.

Kelly O'Malley

[quote=KtK I need a way to do it that sits well with my concience. [/quote]

I had the same problem.Then the number of free readings I was doing started to seriously infringe on the time and energy I had to earn enough to pay my bills.
As all readers know,it's hard work and very draining.
You have the right to eat ergo you have the right to be paid for your time and effort.
As long as you're conning no one and not profiteering from your work - ie handing out slop and overcharging for it -you're going to be in good kharmic shape.

stevenmu

KtK wrote: »

she had very fixed expectations on linking to a particular spirit

Personally I think that for people like that with a very fixed view of view of what they want it would help to explain clearly to them that it isn't a fixed process, that these things don't work on demand and there's no guarantees of who or what may come through (if anything at all). Make it clear and then it's up to them to continue or not, and if they do then I think it's fair to charge them full rate whether they get what they want or not. I presume people like this would be fairly easy to spot at the start or early on?

karynp

KTK
I can really understand where your coming from. I was feeling the same way when i started to read for money. Its a fair exchange,it keeps the balance even,your giving your energy and being paid to do so,after all,it does take a bit out of you doesnt it. You deserve the money you get and spirit dont want s to live in poverty thats for sure. I remember my first fair thinking how dare i take money for this but having to pay out for my table sorted that one out. The lady you didnt connect with was a big lesson for you,harden yourself up girl,LOL, you must have been really tired at that stage,i kno pressure from them waiting makes you feel you need to read but explain to them you feel tired and its not worth it for either of you. We can only go so far in a day plus fairs drain you anyway.
woops,i gota fly, will finish this in a little while.
you done well,congrats.

Oryx

stevenmu wrote: »

Personally I think that for people like that with a very fixed view of view of what they want it would help to explain clearly to them that it isn't a fixed process, that these things don't work on demand and there's no guarantees of who or what may come through (if anything at all). Make it clear and then it's up to them to continue or not, and if they do then I think it's fair to charge them full rate whether they get what they want or not. I presume people like this would be fairly easy to spot at the start or early on?

Oh, Ill know the type next time.:) This lady was just used to a particular reader who reads in a different style.

As long as you're conning no one and not profiteering from your work - ie handing out slop and overcharging for it -you're going to be in good kharmic shape.

@Kelly. Thanks. Thats kind of what I was thinking, I think as long as I look at the fee (if any) as a bonus I take if the client is happy then thats how Ill move on. I bet more often than not Ill be soft and say ah sure its alright. I just love doing the work above all. Its great when a reading leaves someone uplifted. Thats the real reward. Moving into a fixed situation like a fair was very regimented for me, and involved a big shift of how and why I do this. My usual fee was a cup of coffee.

Stoner

IMO the whole thing is so loose that you could charge for everything, once you explain that sometimes it wont work/happen for you then sure, charge them IMO.
I don't mean this in an insulting way but why would someone not be happy with a reading, were they ever going to get anything concrete to begin with? if they went for one they obviously they know about them and have no issues with going along with someone reading their palm or whatever.

However it does make the whole thing seem more honest if someone feels that they would only charge if they deliver.
when you say "happy" with the reading does that mean happy with your efforts or happy with the news, for example if you told someone they were going to die young and made them unhappy, would you still charge them, or do you just leave out the bad news, i.e. you get to choose what information you share about that person with that person.

Oryx

Stoner wrote: »

IMO the whole thing is so loose that you could charge for everything, once you explain that sometimes it wont work/happen for you then sure, charge them IMO.
I don't mean this in an insulting way but why would someone not be happy with a reading, were they ever going to get anything concrete to begin with? if they went for one they obviously they know about them and have no issues with going along with someone reading their palm or whatever.

I dont know about the others here, but the way I work, I have to give concrete info from the past or present which I then progress with. So yes, you would be required to give concrete information or at least info the sitter can identify with. If the person simply cannot understand or place the info into their life, then that's a bad reading.

However it does make the whole thing seem more honest if someone feels that they would only charge if they deliver.
when you say "happy" with the reading does that mean happy with your efforts or happy with the news, for example if you told someone they were going to die young and made them unhappy, would you still charge them, or do you just leave out the bad news, i.e. you get to choose what information you share about that person with that person.

Telling someone a death is going to happen is highly irresponsible imo. The future is not fixed, you cannot say such a thing with certainty, and its hurtful, so no, I would never volunteer such a thing. Everyone has the option to alter their future, in giving trends towards future events, you should, I think always explain the opportunity to change things. If you are seeing a possible bad outcome, it may be to point out behaviour that can be changed, so as to improve that outcome.

Stoner

point taken KtK, I agreed with you on a similar thread before, I guess I should have used a less extreme example,

Lets say that you picked up on the fact that someone was going for a promotion , but that it would be unsuccessful, this would make them unhappy, would you tell them that?

And I guess what you are saying about giving them info that you would look to see if they were happy with what you picked up on and therefore achieved some level of connection etc and therefore a level success?

Kelly O'Malley

Telling someone a death is going to happen is highly irresponsible imo. The future is not fixed, you cannot say such a thing with certainty, and its hurtful, so no, I would never volunteer such a thing. Everyone has the option to alter their future, in giving trends towards future events, you should, I think always explain the opportunity to change things. If you are seeing a possible bad outcome, it may be to point out behaviour that can be changed, so as to improve that outcome.[/quote]

Couldn't agree more!

I always start by explaining that the future is not set in stone and if the cards point out a problem they will also suggest a way in which it can be avoided.