@Borell Glad you are all sorted but the £80 per hour comment will get a lot of peoples back up in here. For your area that is about right.
Don't forget that that £80 doesn't go into our pockets. We aren't just a heating engineer we are a business and as such have overheads and running costs.
Van, fuel, maintenance, three different insurances, tools, yearly membership fees, £2500+ qualifications every 5 years, accountants, solicitors, office, admin costs, yearly calibration of equipment, PAT testing of tools, waste carriers licence, uniform, phone bills, ongoing training, advertising, staff wages, tax, national insurance, holiday pay cover, sick pay cover, pension and profit. This is only a quick list, there is more.
Then we have everything that PAYE employees have. Mortgage, car, insurance, normal house hold bills, a wife and kids!!
All of that has to come out of that £80 and don't forget that that £80 isn't every hour of every day. There is all the free time that goes into quotes, writing up job specifications, warranty call backs, time off for training and qualifications.
Doesn't look so expensive now does it!?
Look at it this way. You payed for a very good engineer to get you working again and for a lot less than you were initially adamant on spending. You could say that that repair hasn't actually cost you any money at all and has actually saved you £1600. Now thats an engineer that you want to be keeping and not complaining about.
Jon
PS I've never been to see Lee Mack so it wasn't me!!