diagnostics charge for heating engineer

canyouhelp

Hi,

i just recently had the heating exchanger in my boiler replaced. It broke just before Christmas and so I had problems getting anyone to come out to fix it (I still had some hot water, but it went up and down)

the first guy who came told me what the problem was, but then said he was too busy to come as he was working on a big job.

I then called someone else, told them what the problem was, but he said he wanted to look at the boiler himself so he came and confirmed the problem. He told me I'd be charged for the part and for the labour.

I was away for a week, so a fortnight later he came back to replace the part. I've just had the bill, and he's charged me £60 for the initial visit, plus £20 for the chemical he added to the radiators after draining and refilling them. So the bill is £220.

We got on really well, and I thought he was a nice bloke, so I don't really want to question this, but he never told me the initial visit would be charged, and I already knew what the problem was. Also, if I hadn't got him to do the work, he wouldn't have sent me the bill for that on its own, would he, so why can he add it on now?

Anyway, just wondered if this is normal, or whether I should ask him about it.

Thanks

diywhynot

We charge for diagnosis based on our investigations and never assume the RGI before us has made the right one.