Ok bit dramatic but bare with it ....
Contacted (on behalf or mother) combi boiler manufacturer for the number of a local service agent.
Spoke to the independent service agent, provided make and model of boiler.
He confirmed he could service it for £60 + vat (Bedford area)
I asked if he follows the manufacturer's service procedure and he said 'no', he has his own procedure and he has equipment than can check the performance of the boiler.
Booked appointment.
Mother phoned following the service to say 'all is well' with the boiler but was surprised it only took 15mins and didn't expect an additional charge of £25.
Anyway I phoned the engineer and queried the additional charge i.e. over and above the price quoted.
He explained that it was a flue gas test.
I asked why he hadn't informed me of that cost when I booked the appointment.
He said some older boiler dont allow him to connect up his flue test equipment, hence his standard service cost doesnt include.
Again, I asked why he didn't include the 'non optional' cost, given the fact that he had been told which make and model of boiler my mother had.
He said early versions of that make and model didnt allow him to connect his equipment. So he just adds it to the bill when he can.
I asked why he had request additional info on the boiler to enable him to give an accurate quote.
He gave a vague answer about it being a 'part' and sometimes you don't know what parts you need until you start the job.
I asked why he hadn't informed my mother that there was a new 'part' he was adding to the bill and how much it would cost, while he was on-site.
No meaningful answer given.
I also reminded him of the original conversation where he said he had his own service procedure and test equipment (90% sure he described it as a Co test)
Again he backtracked on this, describing it as a PCB test and a check of the on-board diagnostics as part of the standard service.
If you got this far ...... C H E E R S
Any views?
Contacted (on behalf or mother) combi boiler manufacturer for the number of a local service agent.
Spoke to the independent service agent, provided make and model of boiler.
He confirmed he could service it for £60 + vat (Bedford area)
I asked if he follows the manufacturer's service procedure and he said 'no', he has his own procedure and he has equipment than can check the performance of the boiler.
Booked appointment.
Mother phoned following the service to say 'all is well' with the boiler but was surprised it only took 15mins and didn't expect an additional charge of £25.
Anyway I phoned the engineer and queried the additional charge i.e. over and above the price quoted.
He explained that it was a flue gas test.
I asked why he hadn't informed me of that cost when I booked the appointment.
He said some older boiler dont allow him to connect up his flue test equipment, hence his standard service cost doesnt include.
Again, I asked why he didn't include the 'non optional' cost, given the fact that he had been told which make and model of boiler my mother had.
He said early versions of that make and model didnt allow him to connect his equipment. So he just adds it to the bill when he can.
I asked why he had request additional info on the boiler to enable him to give an accurate quote.
He gave a vague answer about it being a 'part' and sometimes you don't know what parts you need until you start the job.
I asked why he hadn't informed my mother that there was a new 'part' he was adding to the bill and how much it would cost, while he was on-site.
No meaningful answer given.
I also reminded him of the original conversation where he said he had his own service procedure and test equipment (90% sure he described it as a Co test)
Again he backtracked on this, describing it as a PCB test and a check of the on-board diagnostics as part of the standard service.
If you got this far ...... C H E E R S
Any views?
