Useless and downright crooked gas fitters

bazster

Got home from a holiday the other day, boiler wouldn't light. Shut it down and tried to re-start, even worse now, pilot will not light!

1: Useless Fitter: First guy I rang said he'd be round later. Two days later, no sign of him.

2: Crooked Fitter: Next guy turned up, said it needed a new gas valve. Very old boiler, not sure parts available, probably need a new boiler, he could supply and fit one at a very special price. I said to see if he could find a gas valve and let me know. After he'd gone, it took my mate Google about 30 seconds to find countless suppliers with the gas valve in stock for about £90.

Heard nothing from Crooked Fitter for three days, so on to:

3: Decent Fitter: Said he'd be there at 3:30. 'Phoned at 4:00 to apologise for running late. Turned up just before 5:00, replaced thermocouple and fixed dodgy igniter. All done and working in half-an-hour.

Back to Crooked Fitter: he called the next day to say he'd managed to find a new gas valve, £525 to supply and fit. How about a new boiler?

No wonder that business has such a terrible reputation.

I also have some radiator replacement work to do, guess who is getting the job?

Slowhand

Exact same with my 40 year old Baxi boiler last winter. Was told boiler was obsolete and new one needed. Googled problem and came to the conclusion it was either thermocouple or valve, both of which were available from multiple sellers. Got thermocouple from B&Q for under a tenner and replaced it myself. 11 months later heating is working perfectly.

bod1467

Slowhand wrote: »

11 months later heating is working perfectly.

It took you 11 months to sort it out? :eek:

peter_the_piper

bazster wrote: »

Got home from a holiday the other day, boiler wouldn't light. Shut it down and tried to re-start, even worse now, pilot will not light!

1: Useless Fitter: First guy I rang said he'd be round later. Two days later, no sign of him.

2: Crooked Fitter: Next guy turned up, said it needed a new gas valve. Very old boiler, not sure parts available, probably need a new boiler, he could supply and fit one at a very special price. I said to see if he could find a gas valve and let me know. After he'd gone, it took my mate Google about 30 seconds to find countless suppliers with the gas valve in stock for about £90.

Heard nothing from Crooked Fitter for three days, so on to:

3: Decent Fitter: Said he'd be there at 3:30. 'Phoned at 4:00 to apologise for running late. Turned up just before 5:00, replaced thermocouple and fixed dodgy igniter. All done and working in half-an-hour.

Back to Crooked Fitter: he called the next day to say he'd managed to find a new gas valve, £525 to supply and fit. How about a new boiler?

No wonder that business has such a terrible reputation.

I also have some radiator replacement work to do, guess who is getting the job?

The Electrician??:rotfl:

jacques_chirac

I'm not sure the second fitter was 'crooked' as such, just not with the times. Some still rely on their local plumbers merchants for parts, and if they haven't got it assume it is no longer available. The merchants will charge top price, especially for older parts, hence the ridiculous price.

I now source parts online for a relative, we have a regular supplier who guarantees next day delivery. We normally save half the price, and in one case got a part for a tenth of that charged by the local Plumb Centre, and without the two week lead time

Slowhand

bod1467 wrote: »

It took you 11 months to sort it out? :eek:

No, this thread reminded me I should turn the heating back on again to check it's working for when the weather gets properly cold. It's off again, but I know it'll work when it's needed for a few days in December/January.:D

bazster

jacques_chirac wrote: »

I'm not sure the second fitter was 'crooked' as such, just not with the times. Some still rely on their local plumbers merchants for parts, and if they haven't got it assume it is no longer available. The merchants will charge top price, especially for older parts, hence the ridiculous price.

I now source parts online for a relative, we have a regular supplier who guarantees next day delivery. We normally save half the price, and in one case got a part for a tenth of that charged by the local Plumb Centre, and without the two week lead time

Of course he was crooked. It was obvious right from the start that he wanted to flog a new boiler (he kept pushing his connections with Worcester, and it was plastered all over his van), and he conveniently came up with the wrong diagnosis and failed to carry out the obvious, on-the-spot fix. I even told him that I thought the reason the pilot wouldn't light was that the igniter was not visibly sparking.

Even at £90 for a gas valve, plus about the same again to fit, it would've been a total rip-off since it wasn't actually needed at all!

As for not being up with the times, he is half my age and happy to communicate by email!

bazster

Slowhand wrote: »

No, this thread reminded me I should turn the heating back on again to check it's working for when the weather gets properly cold. It's off again, but I know it'll work when it's needed for a few days in December/January.:D

Blydi hell, are you a polar bear?

Slowhand

bazster wrote: »

Blydi hell, are you a polar bear?

Nope, I'm more a penguin. Polar bears are wussies...they hibernate.

bazster

Slowhand wrote: »

Nope, I'm more a penguin. Polar bears are wussies...they hibernate.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well done, I've got tea all over my keyboard now!

Slowhand

bazster wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well done, I've got tea all over my keyboard now!

!!!!!! you just wasted heat! You need to man up!