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Thread ID: 138095	2014-10-03 21:51:00	Trades people common practice?	Nomad (952)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1385588	2014-10-03 21:51:00	Dad's leaking gas water heater. First guy came said try this part. Second guy fitted doesn't fix. Asked to buy a new unit too expensive. He gets billed for 50 first guy 30min probably a minimum charge and a callout fee 60. Second guy 50 for his labour and a 30 for second call out fee. GST on top of all arrives to about 200 with no work actually performed.	Nomad (952)
1385589	2014-10-03 21:59:00	Certainly not a builders common practice. I would be seeking advice from a CAB. With no work done, no service has been carried out. I would see it as a consultation visit, or possibly as an opportunity to quote for a job.	Krakka (17266)
1385590	2014-10-03 22:08:00	Their told you it needs new unit?	plod (107)
1385591	2014-10-03 22:33:00	Their told you it needs new unit? Yep but theirs was more expensive so went with different plumber gas guy. Yep told us after that part didn't work.	Nomad (952)
1385592	2014-10-03 22:37:00	Their told you it needs new unit? LOL - that definitely had a ring of Nyahhh nyahhh to it.	Krakka (17266)
1385593	2014-10-03 23:23:00	You first need to make it more clearer what actually happened. First guy came said try this part. Second guy fitted doesn't fix. Asked to buy a new unit too expensive. Did the first guy come, and just have a quick visual look, or did he dismantle sections to locate the problem ? Question1: Second guy was he from the same company as the first guy, or from some other place ? MANY places in the repair business will charge a service fee even if its just to locate the problem -- For example if they have to spend time locating the problem (unless its obvious like a window broken and need replacing) then time will need to be charged for that work. Usually called an inspection fee. Question 2: Did your father ask for what the charges are to get someone out, or did they advise before coming ? Note: A high percentage of calls I get to do a service that's the first question they ask -- Example: "How much is it to fix my computer" OFTEN when working on peoples computers you may have to spend an hour or more just locating a problem, esp if its hardware -- that time has to be charged for. Question 3: Further your comment no work actually performed. Really ? so how does this come into play ? Second guy fitted doesn't fix. See this type of thing all the time. The repairer can spend time looking for faults, sometimes it can be fixed, other times parts may need to be replaced. Often a replacement part / repair is more than a new unit, so a option is given -- Repair at cost of X Amount $, or new at X amount $. LOTS of times when this is given its not the reply they wanted to hear, so the person then thinks they shouldn't have to pay for any work done to get to the options. Look at it from another perspective -- you do some work that you would do every day, in the end the boss says we are not going to use that work you have just spent the last week working on, do you still expect to be paid for that week ?	wainuitech (129)
1385594	2014-10-04 00:33:00	Dad's leaking gas water heater . First guy came said try this part . Second guy fitted doesn't fix . Asked to buy a new unit too expensive . He gets billed for 50 first guy 30min probably a minimum charge and a callout fee 60 . Second guy 50 for his labour and a 30 for second call out fee . GST on top of all arrives to about 200 with no work actually performed . Part? What part on a leaking cylinder? They can tell straight away if it's leaking out of the actual tank or if it is a valve or something . As for callouts etc, well some do, some don't . Husband doesn't .	pctek (84)
1385595	2014-10-04 00:49:00	Part? What part on a leaking cylinder? They can tell straight away if it's leaking out of the actual tank or if it is a valve or something.As for callouts etc, well some do, some don't.Husband doesn't.Nomad is meaning instant hotwater if im not mistaken	plod (107)
1385596	2014-10-04 01:24:00	You first need to make it more clearer what actually happened . Did the first guy come, and just have a quick visual look, or did he dismantle sections to locate the problem ? Question1: Second guy was he from the same company as the first guy, or from some other place ? MANY places in the repair business will charge a service fee even if its just to locate the problem -- For example if they have to spend time locating the problem (unless its obvious like a window broken and need replacing) then time will need to be charged for that work . Usually called an inspection fee . Question 2: Did your father ask for what the charges are to get someone out, or did they advise before coming ? Note: A high percentage of calls I get to do a service that's the first question they ask -- Example: "How much is it to fix my computer" OFTEN when working on peoples computers you may have to spend an hour or more just locating a problem, esp if its hardware -- that time has to be charged for . Question 3: Further your comment Really ? so how does this come into play ? See this type of thing all the time . The repairer can spend time looking for faults, sometimes it can be fixed, other times parts may need to be replaced . Often a replacement part / repair is more than a new unit, so a option is given -- Repair at cost of X Amount $, or new at X amount $ . LOTS of times when this is given its not the reply they wanted to hear, so the person then thinks they shouldn't have to pay for any work done to get to the options . Look at it from another perspective -- you do some work that you would do every day, in the end the boss says we are not going to use that work you have just spent the last week working on, do you still expect to be paid for that week ? Rinnai Infinity hot instant water . They opened the case up and checked inside . . . Q1 - yes same company different guy . Q2 - he didn't ask up first what the charges were . I guess he was just expecting the "norm", not complaining about the charges he would probably jut pay it but is this normal practice? Q3 - no problem .	Nomad (952)
1385597	2014-10-04 03:33:00	Rinnai Infinity hot instant water. They opened the case up and checked inside ... Q1 - yes same company different guy. Q2 - he didn't ask up first what the charges were. I guess he was just expecting the "norm", not complaining about the charges he would probably jut pay it but is this normal practice? Q3 - no problem. Q1. He shouldn't have been charged a second call out fee. The first visit sounds like an inspection, with the second being a possible fix. Q2.Depending on the company, they may or may not charge an inspection fee, that should have been either advised by the company or should have been asked. (different hardware) but places Like HP will charge a fee just to book in a job which includes an inspection, regardless of whether the fix goes ahead or not. Q3. EH ! not to sure what "No problem" actually is referring to ? Mentioned "Second guy fitted doesn't fix" If something was fitted (like a value or something) and it was then found it wasn't the problem, then sure no charges for the components, but a labor charge - yes. (Refer to my previous remark "you do some work that you would do every day, in the end the boss says we are not going to use that work you have just spent the last week working on, do you still expect to be paid for that week ?") Sounds a bit like the fix may have been rather expensive, so thats why a suggestion was made to buy a new one. Many people seem to think if a cost of a repair is to great or more then they think they shouldn't have to pay for work already done. Often finding a fault can take a lot longer than the fix. A plumber mate of mine spent 2 days once trying to find a plumbing fault, a lot of work went into locating the problem, the owners didn't like the outcome to the fault and said NO to fixing it, it was going to cost a LOT, they claimed because he didn't fix it they went going to pay him-- they forgot about the piles of dirt blocking their drive ;)	wainuitech (129)
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