Someone is trying to rip me off !!

angelica_99

My joiner knocked our BT telephone cable box yesterday by accident whilst laying oak flooring/new skirting. The cables were all in the way but the top box had come away leaving about 4 wires dangling.

I rang an aerial/phone type company in the local rag this morning and asked if he could help to fix as we have no phone/sky - he said yes - he would be able to go there today - I asked him how much and he said he would ring me with a price once he saw the job.

He turned up to do the job, did the job then left - the joiner said he was there under 45 minutes and chatted for most of that time.

He then rang me and blabbed on about how much work he had had to do - and the cost was £180 !! He said BT would have charged me between £300 and £400 !!

I said he was meant to ring, so he agreed and said okay £80 !

I still think its a rip off - he lives 10 minutes away from my house so didn't have miles to travel.

My husband is going to ring him "to discuss it" but I just wondered if anyone knew where we stood legally.

I thank you !

baldelectrician

BT will charge around £120 for this.

Phone them and ask their hourly rate, (pose as another customer); ask if they have a call out charge.

Rate and call out should be £75 (max) including £5 for materials.

Write to them and offer £75 in full and final settlement, sending a cheque. If they cash it then they are effectively accepting your offer.

Firms like these do my box in.

Annabee

Shouldn't your joiner be paying anyway, as it was his fault, or at least making acontribution?

angelica_99

Annabee wrote: »

Shouldn't your joiner be paying anyway, as it was his fault, or at least making acontribution?

He is - he's paying half - in fairness we would have had to get someone to move them above the new higher skirting boards.