Gas engineers won't fit fireplace they didn't supply

fred246

I wrote about my experiences in another thread. I needed my boiler fixing so one Monday I phoned all the gas engineers in the yellow pages and no-one could come. The next Monday I had decided I needed a new boiler. I started phoning up the same numbers. It was a lot more promising. I looked out of the window and there was a line of 4 vans. If they think there is massive profit in a job they are there like a flash. If there isn't silly profit they can't come. Human nature I suppose. If you want them to look at the job just tell them you think you need a new boiler. They'll be there.

bris

fred246 wrote: »

I wrote about my experiences in another thread. I needed my boiler fixing so one Monday I phoned all the gas engineers in the yellow pages and no-one could come. The next Monday I had decided I needed a new boiler. I started phoning up the same numbers. It was a lot more promising. I looked out of the window and there was a line of 4 vans. If they think there is massive profit in a job they are there like a flash. If there isn't silly profit they can't come. Human nature I suppose. If you want them to look at the job just tell them you think you need a new boiler. They'll be there.

Not all gas engineers fix boilers, most simply don't know how as it's a pretty specialist area being able to diagnose the faults.


A lot simply don't want to because it's too much hassle as fix one problem then when another pops up they get the blame.. but there are still a good few who do.


But if you want your boiler fixed without looking around then it's as easy as phoning the manufacturers repair line, they all have repair teams so it's not difficult to get it fixed.

SHAFT

fred246 wrote: »

I wrote about my experiences in another thread. I needed my boiler fixing so one Monday I phoned all the gas engineers in the yellow pages and no-one could come. The next Monday I had decided I needed a new boiler. I started phoning up the same numbers. It was a lot more promising. I looked out of the window and there was a line of 4 vans. If they think there is massive profit in a job they are there like a flash. If there isn't silly profit they can't come. Human nature I suppose. If you want them to look at the job just tell them you think you need a new boiler. They'll be there.

I'm surprised you didn't do the work yourself.

baldelectrician

I don't like when people supply things- a little story

Went to a regular client last month as there were 3 problems;

1. Hall lights were not working
2. Under cupboard lights in kitchen were not working
3. Dimmer in en-suite was not working- client tried to change it himself and faield

So after I quiz the client on the job (over the phone) I go the wholesaler and buy 3 under cupboard dimmer lights and a 1 gang plastic dimmer

We arrive and check the en-suite and the dimmer is wired wrong, tell the client the LAP dimmer is (in my opinion) unreliable and I can either install her dimmer or put in my Varilight dimmer (£15 plus VAT)
She chooses to keep her dimmer

On to the hall lights
Had a look at these old lights (large R80 brass spots on a recently plastered ceiling- obviously had been taken down to plaster and put back up)
Told the client the lights were on the way out (pitting on lamp contact) and she needed new ones, we did get one working out of 3. One light was flickering as the lamp holder was on the way out, we also changed the swiches as they were a bit sticky (30 years old) to eliminate the loose contact thing you get on old Ashley switches.

On to the kitchen lights
Checked 3 light and they were the shaver 'linolite' lamps, the lamps were dud and I gave the choice of getting replacement lamps (quite hard as these are being phased out) or replaceing these with LED ones I had brought with me.

She chooose the new ones and I had the wholesaler line with me (she could see MY cost)

So I charged her a labour cost (capped at one hour) and the ACTUAL cost of the lights in the kitchen we fitted.

Next day she calls to tell me the hall light was not working again (it was when I left she said, although only one was working)
I arrive back (unpaid), look at the lights and check they are all getting power, check the lampholders and replace the lamps with ones she found.
2 of the 3 start working again and she agrees to order new fittings for me to fit (I manage to source fittings that will cover the hole)

She agrees that I am not responsable for 30 year old fittings that I did not fit and I have not charged her as a gesture of good will.
I reitrate the fitting have past it and the lights will not last as the lamp holders have heat damage.

2 day later she calls to tell me the dimmer (she supplied) is not working and 'what am I going to do about it?'

I tell her that I gave her the option of installing her dimmer (that I said was not good) or insalling mine (at £8 more) which was good, she declined my offer and wanted her one fitted

I point out to her that I am not responsable for her dimmer but I am responsable for my workmanship

I gave her the choice of coming to check her dimmer and if it was something I had done (such as a loose wire or snappped connection) I would not charge - I also stated she and her husband could stand beside me when checked this.
If it was not my fault a labour cost of £40 would be charged.

I told her that she had one visit (more than an hour) capped at one hour, plus a second visit (to something that was not my fault) not charged and wanted a THIRD visit at no cost.

She decided to wait until the time booked to fit the hall lights she ordered rather than pay another cost.

She was still of the opinion that I was being unreasonable by not coming out for a third visit to fix something that was not supplid by me.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

Rant over, now you see why tradespeople prefer to supply things

fred246

SHAFT wrote: »

I'm surprised you didn't do the work yourself.

I did. The CORGI registered engineer said that the heat exchanger was leaking and it was beyond economic repair. He wanted £2300 for a new boiler. I took a look and I could see that the leak was from the union between the pipe and the heat exchanger. I fixed it with PTFE tape costing 99p. That was 13 years ago and the boiler is still working well. That PTFE tape was from B&Q. With the internet all tools are cheaper. I would now do the same repair with PTFE tape from Toolstation for 25p. Quarter of the price.

jefaz07

fred246 wrote: »

I did. The CORGI registered engineer said that the heat exchanger was leaking and it was beyond economic repair. He wanted £2300 for a new boiler. I took a look and I could see that the leak was from the union between the pipe and the heat exchanger. I fixed it with PTFE tape costing 99p. That was 13 years ago and the boiler is still working well. That PTFE tape was from B&Q. With the internet all tools are cheaper. I would now do the same repair with PTFE tape from Toolstation for 25p. Quarter of the price.

And potentially kill yourself whilst going against the gas regs. Well done!!!

new666uk

baldelectrician wrote: »

I don't like when people supply things- a little story

Went to a regular client last month as there were 3 problems;

1. Hall lights were not working
2. Under cupboard lights in kitchen were not working
3. Dimmer in en-suite was not working- client tried to change it himself and faield

So after I quiz the client on the job (over the phone) I go the wholesaler and buy 3 under cupboard dimmer lights and a 1 gang plastic dimmer

We arrive and check the en-suite and the dimmer is wired wrong, tell the client the LAP dimmer is (in my opinion) unreliable and I can either install her dimmer or put in my Varilight dimmer (£15 plus VAT)
She chooses to keep her dimmer

On to the hall lights
Had a look at these old lights (large R80 brass spots on a recently plastered ceiling- obviously had been taken down to plaster and put back up)
Told the client the lights were on the way out (pitting on lamp contact) and she needed new ones, we did get one working out of 3. One light was flickering as the lamp holder was on the way out, we also changed the swiches as they were a bit sticky (30 years old) to eliminate the loose contact thing you get on old Ashley switches.

On to the kitchen lights
Checked 3 light and they were the shaver 'linolite' lamps, the lamps were dud and I gave the choice of getting replacement lamps (quite hard as these are being phased out) or replaceing these with LED ones I had brought with me.

She chooose the new ones and I had the wholesaler line with me (she could see MY cost)

So I charged her a labour cost (capped at one hour) and the ACTUAL cost of the lights in the kitchen we fitted.

Next day she calls to tell me the hall light was not working again (it was when I left she said, although only one was working)
I arrive back (unpaid), look at the lights and check they are all getting power, check the lampholders and replace the lamps with ones she found.
2 of the 3 start working again and she agrees to order new fittings for me to fit (I manage to source fittings that will cover the hole)

She agrees that I am not responsable for 30 year old fittings that I did not fit and I have not charged her as a gesture of good will.
I reitrate the fitting have past it and the lights will not last as the lamp holders have heat damage.

2 day later she calls to tell me the dimmer (she supplied) is not working and 'what am I going to do about it?'

I tell her that I gave her the option of installing her dimmer (that I said was not good) or insalling mine (at £8 more) which was good, she declined my offer and wanted her one fitted

I point out to her that I am not responsable for her dimmer but I am responsable for my workmanship

I gave her the choice of coming to check her dimmer and if it was something I had done (such as a loose wire or snappped connection) I would not charge - I also stated she and her husband could stand beside me when checked this.
If it was not my fault a labour cost of £40 would be charged.

I told her that she had one visit (more than an hour) capped at one hour, plus a second visit (to something that was not my fault) not charged and wanted a THIRD visit at no cost.

She decided to wait until the time booked to fit the hall lights she ordered rather than pay another cost.

She was still of the opinion that I was being unreasonable by not coming out for a third visit to fix something that was not supplid by me.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

Rant over, now you see why tradespeople prefer to supply things

I could understand this if I was asking them to install a second hand / ebay gas stove as no-one knows the history of it. In this instance it's a brand new still in box gas stove so the only rational argument I can see for them not wanting the job is simply that they would make more money off the package deal.


@Jonesya mentioned splitting the job out and getting a builder and then the gas engineer to just make the final connections. I'm coming round to that way of thinking and might even wait till summer when there is naff all work for gas guys and do it then.

baldelectrician

new666uk wrote: »

I could understand this if I was asking them to install a second hand / ebay gas stove as no-one knows the history of it. In this instance it's a brand new still in box gas stove so the only rational argument I can see for them not wanting the job is simply that they would make more money off the package deal.


@Jonesya mentioned splitting the job out and getting a builder and then the gas engineer to just make the final connections. I'm coming round to that way of thinking and might even wait till summer when there is naff all work for gas guys and do it then.

Thanks for responding

The problem lies if something is missing / damaged etc, the client does not want to pay for a failed visit.

If I supply a new consumer unit (on a fixed cost) any issues are mine and I deal with them at no extra cost.