Gasworks charging

Raffine

Recently had to book an engineer through this company. They cancelled day prior to visit and gave another appointment the following week. Problem needed urgent attention so called another engineer from a different company and everything was fine. Gasworks engineer phoned on the day of the reset appointment saying we were his next job. Told him sorry problem has been fixed. The guy said ok no worries.
Now Gasworks is invoicing me for £102 for a call out that has never happened. Is it normal ?

eskbanker

Did you advise Gasworks before the day of the rearranged appointment that it wasn't suitable?

HillStreetBlues

Di you agree to new date with Gasworks?

km1500

When you had the problem fixed, I assume you called gasworks to tell.them and cancel ?

Or did you just leave it until.the gasworks  engineer was on his way, in which case of course you have to pay the bill !

Raffine

No my son forgot but they never mentioned T&C on the phone when the appointment was made. They only mentioned T&C after I complained and then changed the original invoice.

Raffine

I have been to see them with my son and we came to an arrangement. I still think that it is their duty to alert the customer on the possible charge as the appointment was made on the phone. If the website had been used then I would have looked at T&C. I think it is day light robbery as they just move on to the next job the guy at the shop said they were inundated with demands so I don’t think there was £102 of losses for not even turning up at the door! 

I would still not recommend shoddy work practices, most appointments are followed by an email and it is easy and honest to alert the client. 

The only excuse they had was that they are so busy they don’t have the time to say it to the client! But they still bill for £102 for not even showing up, sorry my view is that it is not a professional approach

Thank you for your replies, I am glad that the matter is settled but will warn everyone about their practice, this is my personal opinion.

eskbanker

Raffine said:

I still think that it is their duty to alert the customer on the possible charge as the appointment was made on the phone. If the website had been used then I would have looked at T&C.

How many of those Ts & Cs do you think they should read out on phone calls?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

eskbanker said:

Raffine said:

I still think that it is their duty to alert the customer on the possible charge as the appointment was made on the phone. If the website had been used then I would have looked at T&C.

How many of those Ts & Cs do you think they should read out on phone calls?

If the contract is concluded through a means of distance communication which allows limited space or time to display the information, the trader shall provide, on or through that particular means prior to the conclusion of such a contract, at least the pre-contractual information regarding the main characteristics of the goods or services, the identity of the trader, the total price, the right of withdrawal, the duration of the contract and, if the contract is of indeterminate duration, the conditions for terminating the contract.

Would be the answer to that one

Distance contract for a service that has yet to begin would allow the consumer standard cancellation rights (assuming the relevant cancellation period hadn't expired), I wonder if OP agreed to pay anything? 

SuzeQStan

Raffine said:

I have been to see them with my son and we came to an arrangement. I still think that it is their duty to alert the customer on the possible charge as the appointment was made on the phone. If the website had been used then I would have looked at T&C. I think it is day light robbery as they just move on to the next job the guy at the shop said they were inundated with demands so I don’t think there was £102 of losses for not even turning up at the door! 

I would still not recommend shoddy work practices, most appointments are followed by an email and it is easy and honest to alert the client. 

The only excuse they had was that they are so busy they don’t have the time to say it to the client! But they still bill for £102 for not even showing up, sorry my view is that it is not a professional approach

Thank you for your replies, I am glad that the matter is settled but will warn everyone about their practice, this is my personal opinion.

If they didn’t turn up
dont pay it.

Jumblebumble

Raffine said:

I have been to see them with my son and we came to an arrangement. I still think that it is their duty to alert the customer on the possible charge as the appointment was made on the phone. If the website had been used then I would have looked at T&C. I think it is day light robbery as they just move on to the next job the guy at the shop said they were inundated with demands so I don’t think there was £102 of losses for not even turning up at the door! 

I would still not recommend shoddy work practices, most appointments are followed by an email and it is easy and honest to alert the client. 

The only excuse they had was that they are so busy they don’t have the time to say it to the client! But they still bill for £102 for not even showing up, sorry my view is that it is not a professional approach

Thank you for your replies, I am glad that the matter is settled but will warn everyone about their practice, this is my personal opinion.

Can I ask who you think should pay for the resourse of allocating an engineer to attend on your sons instructions?
It is irrelevant as to whether the engineer actually turned up as they were willing and able to attend and your son cancelled too late.  You should pay as ifr they sue you they will win.

Raffine

Thank you for your advice. I am not denying that they should receive a compensation but £102 is too steep for not attending anyway and for not saying to my son that we would be charged if he cancelled too late.
As I said we came to an arrangement my son had a lot on his mind at the time and he genuinely forgot as the gas leak had been fixed and his parents were warm.
i can see both sides and understand that we should have cancelled, it was an oversight. I also think that the business should be more clear and say you will be charged £102 if you don’t cancel within 24/48h as they wish and that should be standard practice for each appointment. Clarity would avoid this type of situation.