To double-dip on fees is disgraceful

You need to say: “Sorry, Jim but to visit you at your home 50 miles away from my office is going to mean I am out of the office for half a day so I am going to have to charge more to reflect this.”

It wouldn’t be acceptable if at the end of your meal you were delivered a bill in a chain restaurant that stated you had to pay a 20 per cent service charge because they only pay minimum wage.

If you had been told ahead of tucking into your meal that their waiting staff needed you to cough up 20 per cent on top then you could have made a decision as to whether you were happy to eat there or go elsewhere.

emma.hughes@ft.com