Unfair Bill? What shall I do now?

frogga

Hi Guys,

I would really appriciate honest oppinions about this.

1. My boiler broke down last week. The flame kept going out when it fired up.
2. I called a local firm who came out later that day.
3. The chap wouldn't quote as he said he didn't deal with the money, the office would invoice me later in the week, but he expected it would be about £100.
4. He was here for an hour and changed a Control Stat. He also said he Freed off a 3 port valve upstairs. In this time he also had to go out and get the part.
5. As he put it all back together it went out again. That concerned me but he said he had accidentally blown it out and it sometimes happens.
6. He fired it up and it was working. 5 mins after he left it went out again.
7. Next day (as by then there was no reply at the office) I phoned and said it still wasn't working so they sent another man out that afternoon.
8. He was here 1 hour and said that it wasn't the Control Stat, it was a fault on the piolet interupter which he cleaned through and it worked. NO parts were changed although he did say I might need a new one if this didn't work.
9. He checked the 3 port valve that the gentleman said he freed off yesterday but he said it was only the casing that he freed off and the insides were corroded so I would need a new one anyway although that was nothing to do with the boilers problem.
10. When he left the boiler was working and he said that I had not needed the new part from yesterday but sometimes these things are trial and error.

Now, I have recieved a bill for £212.56. They have charged me for ;
Man 1 labour and travel for 1 hour £55.40 + VAT of £9.70
The Control Stat £29.10 + VAT £5.09
The 2nd Man labour and travel for 2 hours £96.40 + VAT £16.87
Making a total of £212.56

I have phoned and disputed the bill yesterday. I was Very polite and explained that I was not going to pay for 2 hours on day two as he was here less than 1. She checked and agreed to halve that "as a gesture of good will" :rolleyes: He had been here 50 mins Then I said I would not pay for the part as it was unnecessary and did not fix the fault. She agreed that they would cover the cost of the part. BUT they are insisting that I still have to pay for labour and transport for the chap from day 1. He DID NOT FIX THE FAULT. The work he did was unnecessary. Why should I pay for his labour? She said that Man 2 was more experienced and new the fault straight away and basically man 1 tried his best. I have said I am happy to pay for Man 2 for 1 hours labour but NOT for man 1 or the spare part.

We are now at stalemate. Am I right? DO I have to pay for Man 1 even though he didn't fix it? Man 2 fixed it straight away for which I am happy to pay.

Sorry for such a long post but it was complicated She is speaking to the boss and calling me today. Shall I just refuse to pay for Man 1? I dont want to fiddle anyone, but I wont pay for someones time if they were incompetant.