How much for this work?

[happyskyper]

That would be very easy (not a brain surgery after all) if an engineer had a transparent pricing policy!?

But it is precisely at this juncture that the question "how long is a piece of string?" pops its ugly head time after time!

Engineers charge whatever they can get away with... so when they turn up at your door they are not looking at your problem straight away but checking out what car is parked in the driveway..

 

[Agile]

I have a transparent pricing policy and give budgetary quotes over the phone without seeing the customer or his car.

Indeed I am the only one to have mentioned a price above.

What I do not do is to trot round and give lots of free advice and information on what needs to be done only to enable the owner to have a spec to use to get others to do the job cheaper.

Several times before this has happened! Recently I relaxed my policy as the customer was local and seemed keen for me to do the work. I did a lot of research on equipment and prices and then visited free and spent about an hour inspecting the system and advising what would need to be done.

He has rewarded me for all that time without thanking me and has had someone cheaper to do the work for him based on my specification.

Tony

 

[corgiman]

Indeed I am the only one to have mentioned a price above.

that would only mean something tony if you were to complete the job and charge that price

Nothing stopping me saying I would do it for a tenner but alas I am not in your area

 

[gash2024]

that smear was not meant for you 2024 unintentional sorry,
check post subject.

Very sorry pimpernel i thought you were talking to me

 

[gash2024]

Dont get me wrong guys i think most people are happy to pay a reasonable price for work to be done, if iam happy with the price i will go ahead with the work but if its to much i might have to delay it again.
If i can get a rough price then i will go on to ring around to get a few quotes, i only live in leicestershire so iam not expecting to pay london prices.
Ive rang two people this morning, one told me they charge £110 per hour which is more than my solicitor charges and the other said they had just finished a similiar job and hes pretty sure it would cost about £320.
Could someone explain what would have to be done to complete the job.
Shame you dont live in my area agile i would probably take up your offer.

 

[John506]

£110 per hour

 

[gash2024]

sorry i forgot to mention thats plus VAT

 

[Stephen19]

Removed

 

[Agile]

Ive rang two people this morning, one told me they charge £110 per hour which is more than my solicitor charges

and the other said they had just finished a similiar job and hes pretty sure it would cost about £320.

Could someone explain what would have to be done to complete the job.
Shame you dont live in my area agile i would probably take up your offer.

Please could you email your solicitors details as he seems reasonably priced!

I probably do cover your area but that was not any offer, just an indication of what we have charged in the past, but that included the programmer and a three port or two port valve and a cylinder stat.

Your job is unknown as it all depends on cable routing and circuit requirements between the boiler and controls also how easy it is to drain and refill.

If you were able to post photos of the boiler wiring connections and the cylinder then we could give more detailed information.

Whilst there is a Middlesex Cricket Club there is no longer any county called Middlesex any more. It was devided between Brent and Hillingdon and possibly another London Borough.

Tony

 

[gash2024]

I will try and get some pictures for you but the pipe from the boiler splits into 2 infront of the hot water tank with one pipe going to the tank and one going to the heating and its on the heating pipe about 2-3 inch along that the 2 port valve is.
To be honest agile if thats what you charge then i would say that your more honestly priced compared to the people ive spoke to as i already have the timer and valve which are both new in there box but i dont have a cylinder stat (dont know if i need one or have one already) and ive even got the inhibitor to put back in the system , so the quotes were based on there labour plus any additional parts.
The system is easy to drain as ive done it before when fitting a new radiator, it is vented and the radiators downstairs have drain valves fitted plus the myson economist boiler we have has got a drain valve aswell .

 

[gash2024]

Ive just realised what you meant when you were talking about middlesex, i dont live there ive just never chose the correct area so it must have chose that for me

 

[Agile]

I see it as about five hours work plus about £60-£80 of bits but that can be a serious under price if new cables are needed to the boiler and there is no easy route.

But be aware that now is the most busy time of year for us and you would get a much better price during the summer.

There are also a lot of very cheap third world people in Leicester.

Tony

 

[JPC]

I'm sure the are 3rd world people everywhere, not just leicester and some 3rd world people, as you put it, might be good plumbers...

I'm sure you were not refering to me.

 

[Agile]

I said there were some CHEAP third world people in Leicester.

I was not commenting on their capabilities ( which would vary ) only their charges!

Tonight I was disappointed ! I went to a boiler which had been installed a few days ago by a genuine CORGI who was sufficiently clever to get it working by fitting a replacement NTC as it was showing a fault code indicating NTC failure. The removed NTC did give the correct resistance though. I will thermally cycle it and see if it fails.

He lives in a posh area and talks intelligently although he has a "non traditional British name" and I was expecting a good installation.

Unfortunately, he had fitted the flue at an angle of about 15° and not hard sealed it.

Tony

 

[gash2024]

So someone is third world because they come from another country? if you want me to be honest i dont care if the guy comes from mars as long as he does a good job and doesnt rip me off.
I already know that there will be no need for new cables to the boiler as my electrician has assured me if the timer is fitted in the airing cupboard then the length of new wire would be very short and easy to fit .
Just out of interest if i have the parts that are needed what additional parts will be needed to complete the job as you said there would be £60-£80 of bits.

Thanks