Anyone used Aerial Force/ TV Aerial co?

another_casualty

Howdy !
Partly my fault , but I was advised by a nice chap on the Techie forum that it may be an idea to post here anyway .

Story is : after moving into my new flat, I was interested in using freeview as there is a wire coming into my living room from the sky dish outside . I looked to see who could install it and what the cost should be . I find that with freesat in general , there is little help / advice when needed. The helpline on the phone is more or less standard. No Sunday service .
Freesat did give me a couple nos. to ring but nobody in my area.
I tried maplins . They advised me the price could be between £85-£120 depending on what needs doing .

So, bearing in mind that all I had to go on , was a job that needed doing ( connect my new humax box to freesat ) and a rough price , I came across Aerial Force.
I was told over the phone the price which is on their website . Vat not included. They said that if there were other things that need doing other than a basic installation , it would cost more .

This was 9 days ago: The chap arrived around 6.20 pm ( same day . Impressive but not 5.30 as stated). He was very 'bouncy / jovial .
(I should've seen the signs )
He looked outside, came inside looked at a 'box' and said bad news it needs a new quad / lnb etc and something I didn't understand.
He scribbled down a breakdown and said £367 and a few pence.
I refused. We came to a compromise and £200 was agreed ( my fault
He was there for 7/8 mins and Job was done .
I paid via credit card , as I thought if it was too much , I may be able to claim some money back . Didn't happen . Credit card co says sorry but no.

So I sent email to Aerial Force on their contact us section on their website . The website is pretty poor tbh. No user revuews . Only 2 engineers listed , and the chap who saw me is not on their website.

Aerial force called me back . They said someone from one of their other departments would investigate after speaking to the engineer.
That never happened . I mentioned mse/ BBC Watchdog etc
No response . I asked why they are called aerial force when the invoice says t v aerial co.
I was told by the chap on the techie forum that I have been well and truly ripped .

As I say, it's partly my fault but it may be worth mentioning my experience here anyway .

Thanks

hollydays

Have you attempted to google them?

wealdroam

another_casualty wrote: »

Howdy !
Partly my fault , but I was advised by a nice chap on the Techie forum that it may be an idea to post here anyway .

Story is : after moving into my new flat, I was interested in using freeview as there is a wire coming into my living room from the sky dish outside . I looked to see who could install it and what the cost should be . I find that with freesat in general , there is little help / advice when needed. The helpline on the phone is more or less standard. No Sunday service .
Freesat did give me a couple nos. to ring but nobody in my area.
I tried maplins . They advised me the price could be between £85-£120 depending on what needs doing .

So, bearing in mind that all I had to go on , was a job that needed doing ( connect my new humax box to freesat ) and a rough price , I came across Aerial Force.
I was told over the phone the price which is on their website . Vat not included. They said that if there were other things that need doing other than a basic installation , it would cost more .

This was 9 days ago: The chap arrived around 6.20 pm ( same day . Impressive but not 5.30 as stated). He was very 'bouncy / jovial .
(I should've seen the signs )
He looked outside, came inside looked at a 'box' and said bad news it needs a new quad / lnb etc and something I didn't understand.
He scribbled down a breakdown and said £367 and a few pence.
I refused. We came to a compromise and £200 was agreed ( my fault
He was there for 7/8 mins and Job was done .
I paid via credit card , as I thought if it was too much , I may be able to claim some money back . Didn't happen . Credit card co says sorry but no.

So I sent email to Aerial Force on their contact us section on their website . The website is pretty poor tbh. No user revuews . Only 2 engineers listed , and the chap who saw me is not on their website.

Aerial force called me back . They said someone from one of their other departments would investigate after speaking to the engineer.
That never happened . I mentioned mse/ BBC Watchdog etc
No response . I asked why they are called aerial force when the invoice says t v aerial co.
I was told by the chap on the techie forum that I have been well and truly ripped .

As I say, it's partly my fault but it may be worth mentioning my experience here anyway .

Thanks

Having read your post I am struggling to understand your problem.

It appears you agreed a price, the work was carried out and you paid the guy.

I have no idea whether the price you paid was fair or not, but remember there were other things as well as 7/8 mins labour - you mentioned 'a new quad / lnb etc'. And what about the 'something I didn't understand', that sounds expensive to me.

Is there anything wrong with your freesat reception or the installation?

another_casualty

hollydays wrote: »

Have you attempted to google them?

Thanks holly , but in what way ?

another_casualty

wealdroam wrote: »

Having read your post I am struggling to understand your problem.

It appears you agreed a price, the work was carried out and you paid the guy.

I have no idea whether the price you paid was fair or not, but remember there were other things as well as 7/8 mins labour - you mentioned 'a new quad / lnb etc'. And what about the 'something I didn't understand', that sounds expensive to me.

Is there anything wrong with your freesat reception or the installation?

Thanks wealdroam .
When I quoted what was put on the invoice and explained myself on the techie thread I was advised I've been totally ripped off.
My concern was that , the engineer went from £367 to £200'
He wanted more than £200 . Can't complain about the service but it seems that I have been overcharged for what was a bog standard job .

photome

The quad /lnb are £40 on marlins website, what else did he fit, was there a call out fee, plus an hourly charge ( often an hour would be charged even if onsite for only a few minutes)

wealdroam

Having now read one of your other threads, I agree with this post:

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

He agreed a price for a job and paid it. The price agreed was more expensive than some other people charge for the same job, but it's difficult to understand on what grounds the credit card company would make a charge back because their customer engaged the services of someone that is expensive

Section 75 protection is not there for buyer's remorse or as a way to haggle a lower price after goods and/or services have been provided.

Perhaps you should follow the other advice and report to Trading Standards, but be aware that won't get you any money back.

hollydays

another_casualty wrote: »

Thanks holly , but in what way ?

Did you check them out for any negative stuff before doing business with them

another_casualty

hollydays wrote: »

Did you check them out for any negative stuff before doing business with them

I tried . Unfortunately I did find some bad feedback on booking .com or trip adviser . Can't remember which .

another_casualty

wealdroam wrote: »

Having now read one of your other threads, I agree with this post:

Perhaps you should follow the other advice and report to Trading Standards, but be aware that won't get you any money back.

Ah, you found my other thread

Yes , it's a lesson learned .

hollydays

another_casualty wrote: »

I tried . Unfortunately I did find some bad feedback on booking .com or trip adviser . Can't remember which .

??
If you put the name aerialforce into google , page one is filled with
These words :
"Beware"
"Same old scams "
"Avoid"

Other links to them including that they've already featured on BBC watchdog before, ( rogue traders , Surreytrading standards ' house of horrors' in 2003 also btw) not sure how you could have missed this.
Numerous links to mse as well

Apparently they hate bad publicity .....