A £30 bungalow?
Now that sounds like a choice account to me.....
You were dumped in favour of someone doing it for half the price, they've proved unreliable and now want you back.
If that were a run of the mill account I would happily smile at them, feel smug and say, "Thanks but no thanks, I'm afraid I'm too busy to fit you in."
I'd also want to get the point across, in a very polite way, that I would be leary about taking them back on, only for them to take the next cut price cowboy.
But if it is a top paying job?.....
Then it gets a little tougher doesn't it...
If the guy who cancelled you had said, 'Sorry mate, thats business'. Then yet again, I would have politely told him ok, I'll come back, but my price has to increase.
Not by a tenner, pound to a penny he'd tell you to take a hike.
If his price increases over the years you had done them had been modest, op perhaps you hadn't put them up for 2 or 3 years, then you could easily justify a £5.00 increase, telling him that loyal, long term customers only had minimal increases, but new work, and as he was no longer on your books that what he now is, has to be charged at your current rates.
It's never easy, there have been the odd time when I've lost a customer like this and have looked forward to them asking me back, it's lovely to smile politely and tell them you are now to busy
But if it's a top account and easy money?..........
There comes a point when you say sod the bloody principle, give me the money!!
Ian