Advice on dealing with tradesman (aircon)

plumb1_2

Getting off topic about debt etc.
Back to Op issue. Most air con cassettes I’ve seen installed the entrance for the pipes have been on the right/left , never central. With the op marking the wall they might have thought that’s where he wanted the hole drilling? And with the Op saying it was ok after they’ve fixed it to the wall.
id say he’s on a loser. Best he can hope for is an agreed discount. Plus also have to consider if the unit goes faulty are they gonna rush round to carry out any repairs.?

Eldi_Dos

@Chrism899
                          Look at this from a installers view.

A different industry from who you have employed, but when I was installing equipment and coring holes if a site agent or customers representative pointed to general location and gave instructions I would follow what I had been instructed.If they came back later and said it was in the wrong place by a few mm, the answer I always gave is it cannot be in the wrong place if it is not accurately and clearly marked or a detailed drawing issued.Once the opening is made it is too late to change.

Personally I would pay the bill and put the rest down to experience.

ThisIsWeird

Eldi_Dos said:

@Chrism899
                          Look at this from a installers view.

A different industry from who you have employed, but when I was installing equipment and coring holes if a site agent or customers representative pointed to general location and gave instructions I would follow what I had been instructed.If they came back later and said it was in the wrong place by a few mm, the answer I always gave is it cannot be in the wrong place if it is not accurately and clearly marked or a detailed drawing issued.Once the opening is made it is too late to change.

Personally I would pay the bill and put the rest down to experience.

'General location'? 'A few mm'?

If your customer had come up to you, Eldi, and said "I want it positioned exactly there, please, central along that wall - I've even marked it for you!", where would you have placed it?

FFHillbilly

I think it's too late for the OP but lessons can be learnt from this. mainly, if you are so bothered about the precise positioning of equipment then you ought to go to the trouble of providing detailed plans and drawings before the work starts. 

benson1980

FFHillbilly said:

I think it's too late for the OP but lessons can be learnt from this. mainly, if you are so bothered about the precise positioning of equipment then you ought to go to the trouble of providing detailed plans and drawings before the work starts. 

they asked for it to be centred. Since when does that need a detailed drawing?

lesson learnt for the tradesperson as they are £400 down.

Risteard

benson1980 said:

FFHillbilly said:

I think it's too late for the OP but lessons can be learnt from this. mainly, if you are so bothered about the precise positioning of equipment then you ought to go to the trouble of providing detailed plans and drawings before the work starts. 

they asked for it to be centred. Since when does that need a detailed drawing?

lesson learnt for the tradesperson as they are £400 down.

The tradesmen won't be down the money though, nor should the company be. They literally sought approval beforehand.

ThisIsWeird

FFHillbilly said:

I think it's too late for the OP but lessons can be learnt from this. mainly, if you are so bothered about the precise positioning of equipment then you ought to go to the trouble of providing detailed plans and drawings before the work starts. 

A clear instruction coupled with a pencil mark on the wall wasn't enough?

I suspect the installer knew what was required, but messed up, possibly by centring the duct hole rather than the unit, but that's purely a guess.

But, the instruction was clear, very clear. And they still got it wrong.

ThisIsWeird

Risteard said:

The tradesmen won't be down the money though, nor should the company be. They literally sought approval beforehand.

I'd say the chances of the company recovering that £400 are extremely slim.

They also deserve an honest review, especially concerning their response.

Chrism899

Thanks all for the advice, it seems to vary. However I think TIW makes some points that I was trying to get across. 

Yes I did say the position was okay, but as I said I was stood at an angle, all my furniture was moved and a blank wall is hard to judge. I literally said at the start "in the centre of the wall" and therefore believed that a competent tradesman would have put it, in the middle. I didn't get a tape measure out and check his work as I believe that would come off as extremely rude, however lesson learned and I will do that in the future. 

My issue is I spoke to him 3 times on the day about the problem, told him how much it was annoying me and he constantly apologised and suggested ways in which it could be moved at another time. He even said he was in America on holiday for a month an so wouldn't be able to return until after that at the very earliest which I said was fine as I was in no rush. I haven't withheld the money maliciously, I did it to ensure he actually comes back and makes good on what he said he would do. Which it now seems he isn't going to do. What really riled me was the end of the email calling me on my integrity and stating he was going to immediately commence debt proceedings without even discussing the issue. 

My plan moving forward is I am going to send another email, as polite and courteous as possible, requesting he returns at any time suitable for him to move the unit, as he promised on the day. I'm also going to send over £100 to prove that I am not withholding the money maliciously and I literally just want it moving. 

I am yet to leave any reviews on the company as I'm not that type of person to jump to negative reviews without discussions. 

Thanks all for the comments.

Risteard

ThisIsWeird said:

Risteard said:

The tradesmen won't be down the money though, nor should the company be. They literally sought approval beforehand.

I'd say the chances of the company recovering that £400 are extremely slim.

They also deserve an honest review, especially concerning their response.

I'd say that there chances are exceptionally high. And I don't really see what there is to review negatively - clearly it would have caused an enormous amount of extra work to move it after it had been ducted out. And the OP literally authorised the new position.