Whats Wrong With Gas Fitters??

Canucklehead

frank.hopper wrote: »

What do you say to your long standing decent clients, whom you've had a good relationship with , who may be required to work abroad, or forced to rent out their property-given the difficult housing market , and request you to supply them with a [gas safety] landlords's certificate?

Good morning: This isn't an issue for the OH i.e. he did the original work and provides annual servicing/repairs. I am referring to individuals with whom my OH has never had any dealings . As a self employed tradesperson he can choose his clients just as they can choose to engage his services. Btw, the scenario you have outlined isn't something he has experienced yet in his 30+ years in the trade. A landlord shouldn't have any difficulty finding a CORGI .

HTH

Canucklehead

frank.hopper

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: This isn't an issue for the OH i.e. he did the original work and provides annual servicing/repairs. I am referring to individuals with whom my OH has never had any dealings . As a self employed tradesperson he can choose his clients just as they can choose to engage his services. Btw, the scenario you have outlined isn't something he has experienced yet in his 30+ years in the trade. A landlord shouldn't have any difficulty finding a CORGI .

HTH

Canucklehead

Of course ANY tradesperson can choose their clients, and vice versa,

Sorry, I was somewhat surprised when you said your OH " won't do any work for landlords"


If you meant 'new ' not existing landlords, why make such a sweeping statement? like " won't do any work for landlords"

misgrace

Canucklehead wrote: »

(the state of some rental properties down here in East Kent is appalling not to mention owner occupied: ...his dust sheet stuck to the floor, in fact he could see a path in the filth where the tenants walked to the fridge...as soon as he got home the dust sheet and his clothes went straight into the washing machine:eek:).

Oh Yes, I have been there and refused the job, I had one landlord who rents to students ask me round for a quote, as soon as I walked in through the front door and saw the dirt and mess in the hall, going up the stairs, I knew I didnt want the job.
I then followed to have a look at the jobs they wanted doing, I could not believe my eyes, the lounge/dining room looked as if some yobs had got in and trashed the place, and :eek: the state of the bathroom, and kitchen, there was not one area free of rubbish.

The wanted me to paint the bathroom, I could not believe it, the bath/sink and the toilet in particular had not been cleaned in months, and yet the students were having showers over the bath, the floor was disgusting.
Even if I covered up the bath, floor sink etc, I still would have to hoover after I finished, or wipe around the bath, like I always do, but I wasnt going to clean other peoples carp.

There was no way I would put my dust sheets anywhere in that house,as I wash my sheets on a regular basis,and they are very good ones, and not got years of dirt on them, I wouldnt put dirty sheets down in any of my clients homes
I did ask the landlord who would remove all the mess before I start the job, she looked at me blankly and said, 'well of course you'.

I had to tell her there and then, in a very nice way that I cant do the job, I didnt want to actually say the reason, as even though it was a shathole, I didnt want to actually say it, even though its not her fault as such, but she has allowed it to become like this.
She got a bit stroppy, and kept asking me why, I hummed and hawed, and said that the job is too big for me, and cant fit it in, she wasnt happy, she then turned round and said, 'Oh is the job too much for you', 'You cant be a proper decorator then':eek:

I am ashamed to say that I cracked,:o and told her truth, that the house was too dirty, and I wouldnt put my dust sheets down anywhere in the house, again I said it in a very nice way, she blamed it all on the students, and apologised for the mess.

Even if I was offered treble my money, I still would not have worked there, this is the very first job I have refused on the grounds it was so filthy.

I have worked in fire damage/smoke damage/water damage houses, have worked in untidy houses which is nothing, but this house I wouldnt let a pig live in it.

KellyWelly

I'm surprised that some tradespeople think customers should pay for quotes. I realise there is going to be some cost to you in terms of travel expenses and of course your time, but I would never even consider getting a quote from somebody who was going to charge me. I think it's a bit like going for a job interview, and I've never been paid for one of those!

In my recent experience I've found the tradespeople I dealt with to be the time wasters. I made appointments with 7 different plumbers to come and quote me for a bathroom installation, only 4 turned up and of them only 2 ever gave me a quote. Only 1 of them gave me a written quote which was broken down into proper costings. Obviously he was the one who got the job (not only because he was £2K cheaper than the other and actually had certificates and insurance and a portfolio that he showed me without me even asking!)

I personally always phone at least 3 firms or fitters when I want a job done because I want to get the best deal - like we all do - I'm not a time waster - I felt that the plumbers who didn't bother sending the quote and the one who wanted £4K just for labour were time wasters!

I had a similar experience 3 years ago when I had a new kitchen fitted. I phoned a local fitter who came round and looked and said he would take the job and we agreed a price but once the kitchen arrived he wouldn't come and fit it! I ended up getting another fitter to do it who did a great job for next to nothing and he ended up doing two other kitchens for friends.

jcorbygas

As Canucklehead knows, I am also the wife of an ex British Gas Corgi reg engineer. My husband also had a 5 year apprenticeship and worked for over 20 years with BG until going self employed 10 years ago.(and a lot of the time I wish he was still with them - paid holidays, paid sick leave etc.)
We charge £50 per hour and we have a regular client base of over 1200 customers. Yes, £50 per hour might be a lot if you are using a so called 'course cowboy' who does not have the experience but just did one of the many quick courses, so perhaps before employing tradesmen you should ask how long they have been trading, and what their experience is.
However, £50 an hour is not a lot compared with what people pay for say having their car repaired at a franchised dealer. We obviously have tax to pay, insurance, no sick pay or holiday pay, vehicle running costs, telephone and office expenses and my wages to cover running the office and paying for the many hours it takes for paperwork and phoning customers.We also have people ringing up Sundays, Christmas Day, and wondering why we are not happy about that, so your home life is mucked up a lot as well. So,to sum up the original posters thread title - there is nothing wrong with gas fitters who are properly trained and qualified - just spend a little time finding the right one - personal recommendation is the best - and also if you ring and find the engineers wife answers the phone, and books you in etc,you know you have found a good engineer - isnt that right Canucklehead?

Canucklehead

jcorbygas wrote: »

As Canucklehead knows, I am also the wife of an ex British Gas Corgi reg engineer. My husband also had a 5 year apprenticeship and worked for over 20 years with BG until going self employed 10 years ago.(and a lot of the time I wish he was still with them - paid holidays, paid sick leave etc.)
We charge £50 per hour and we have a regular client base of over 1200 customers. Yes, £50 per hour might be a lot if you are using a so called 'course cowboy' who does not have the experience but just did one of the many quick courses, so perhaps before employing tradesmen you should ask how long they have been trading, and what their experience is.
However, £50 an hour is not a lot compared with what people pay for say having their car repaired at a franchised dealer. We obviously have tax to pay, insurance, no sick pay or holiday pay, vehicle running costs, telephone and office expenses and my wages to cover running the office and paying for the many hours it takes for paperwork and phoning customers.We also have people ringing up Sundays, Christmas Day, and wondering why we are not happy about that, so your home life is mucked up a lot as well. So,to sum up the original posters thread title - there is nothing wrong with gas fitters who are properly trained and qualified - just spend a little time finding the right one - personal recommendation is the best - and also if you ring and find the engineers wife answers the phone, and books you in etc,you know you have found a good engineer - isnt that right Canucklehead?

Good morning: Absolutely spot on:T

Canucklehead

WobblyGoblin

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good evening: A thoughtful and even-handed response:T Btw, how did you get on with your boiler installation? What did you go for in the end? (I'm asking as I posted on your thread last spring;)).

Canucklehead

Ah yes - thought I'd put an update on but obviously never did. Oops!

We got another quote (3rd didn't show...) which was around the same mark. However, the guy didn't seem as knowledgeable and wasn't very specific with what needed doing. He didn't ask any questions about where things needed to go, what was happening with the old water tank cupboard etc. As a result we went with the recomended guy.

Powerflush and all the other things you mentioned were included (I'd discussed those at the time). When I asked about the boiler he said it would be a WB 37kw (the new energy efficient model). When he turned up he had plumped for the 42kw model (as we have 2 showers) and he got a discount on it to bring it down to price of the model he was planning to get.

All in all a top guy who did a good job with little fuss. Finished before I got home on the second day but he came in later that week to explain everything done.

Only gripe was (a fair bit later) I found that there was still pipes and the old water tank etc left in the loft. Not sure if he forgot to remove it or couldn't be bothered.

sparky883

He will come back for them now with the price of scrap!

Clowance

my husband is a qualified electrician; he is employed full time to rewire social housing. (not london). For his employment he gets about £12 per hour, when he does private work he charges £20 per hour and does a good job.
We dont live in or near London.