Ripped off

[DP]

Householders often post here seeking advice so they are not ripped off by trades people. While I can understand reluctance the house holders have in inviting someone tho may ask for a pot of gold for tightening a loose screw. Knowledge gives them an idea of what to expect.

I had a householder who phoned on Monday saying her boiler was leaking. She had a million questions about her 4 year old boiler. At the end of the call if she had said she needed time to think instead of booking a call post 5.00 today, I would have put the episode down as a client seeking advice and information. So I turns up at 5.15pm today to hear clattering noises from the kitchen, a van in the drive and wet wall where the PRV is. She meets me at the door to say she had left a message on my landline at 4PM today, cancelling the call.

Question I ask myself is, does she not realise cancelling an appointment 75 minutes prior is no cancellation at all. I wonder what her reaction would be if she did the same with a dentist or other professional and was made to pay up for time wasting. I walked away in disgust. I have to say this selfish attitude is totally wrong. In this case her Ideal Isar is my friend.

 

[Agile]

I do have to say that a call to a landline during the daytime does not in my view constitute an effective cancellation.

The whole question then hinges on whether she had access to your mobile number but chose not to call it. If that was the case then I think a charge for abortive visit is justified. We charge £36 in our local area.

I presume she really had left a message.

Of course I avoid those situations by calling the client when I am setting out. I notice that British Gas now advertise that they follow my procedure!

Tony

 

[gaspro1981]

you should bill the lady for time wasted plus fuel costs i reckon to the sum of about £50

 

[namsag]

Its an isar , she done you a favour, Personally would not give a t#ss look on it as an early finish.

 

[corgiman]

got to agree with nams

trying to screw cash out of a punter like that isnt worth the odds on headache

 

[Boilerman2]

This is a really common problem, our terms and conditions state that at least 24hrs notice is required to cancel, and if our Engineer arrives but cannot proceed then an Abortive call charge of £36+vat will be applied to their account

UNFORTUNATELY if you cannot set foot in the house you would be very unlikely to win if you took them to County Court for non payment of said fee

My Answer - A Television Fly on the wall doc CUSTOMERS FROM HELL

 

[Deleted member 105431]

next time your in the area just put expanding foam in her flue. . . . .

 

[corgiman]

See

http://www.roguecustomer.com/

 

[holty]

typical example. boiler went down in a restaurant. so we pushed a few non important jobs aside to give priority to getting the restaurant hot water.2 months later still chasing payment.love you when youve fixed the problem. loathe you when you give them the bill.

 

[corgiman]

payment on completion stops that shyte holty

 

[lsxit]

DP???

Hmm you sound like an idiot/troll who posts on the screwfix forum. he goes by the name Dick Puller and is also from glasgow.

Are you going to do on this forum what you do on the screwfix forum? ie. abuse everyone and show off about that fact that you think you have 100+ plumbers working for you.

 

[namsag]

isxit.... it would have took you 2 mins to do a search on DP and found out he is a very knowledgable and helpful guy on this site and is never abusive.
Unlike you have just been

 

[Nige F]

He`ll leave that to "Legion"...He`s not a Devil, He`s a very naughty boy

 

[Agile]

Dick Puller ( not his real name ) is what he says and cannot stand fools and is rather rude rather than abusive to the inexperienced but to someone like me is is very polite!

He is a very knowledgeable "old school" traditional plumber.

He has also posted a few times o here.

Tony

 

[namsag]

SO what your saying is he makes exceptions,