Hi
Anyone been in this position and can advise?
I was called to replace some components on a fan flued gas fire and when I arrived it became apparent that there were other components missing that would affect it's safe and proper use (I won't bore you with the details). Also, the customer had bunged the flueway up with newspaper to 'stop the draught when I'm not using it!'
To cut a long story short, as it's an old fire I advised that the best thing to do really would be to replace it but if it was to be repaired I would need to isolate it from the gas supply to make it safe until it can be repaired properly with the correct parts, pretty standard situation at this point.
Things, however, got ugly at this point with the customer refusing to listen to reason and insisting that if I couldn't carry out the work as she requested there and then I was to leave it functional and replace the newspaper in the flue! No matter what I said, she wouldn't hear a word of what I had to say about safety and procedure and then accused me of bullying her!
At this point, I decided that I would have do as requested (apart from the newspaper), issue a warning notice declaring it ID and accordingly notify the gas emergency service. I can honestly say it was a horrible experience and the first time I have had to report someone in 18 years of being a gas engineer.
But my problem is, she refused to pay me of course! It took a couple of hours out of my day and of course that means I'm out of pocket. Any ideas on how I can get them to pay my bill? Or will I just have to put it down to experience. I always find it difficult to get people to pay when the outcome isn't what they want which is far too often.
Any ideas gratefully received, thanks.
Anyone been in this position and can advise?
I was called to replace some components on a fan flued gas fire and when I arrived it became apparent that there were other components missing that would affect it's safe and proper use (I won't bore you with the details). Also, the customer had bunged the flueway up with newspaper to 'stop the draught when I'm not using it!'
To cut a long story short, as it's an old fire I advised that the best thing to do really would be to replace it but if it was to be repaired I would need to isolate it from the gas supply to make it safe until it can be repaired properly with the correct parts, pretty standard situation at this point.
Things, however, got ugly at this point with the customer refusing to listen to reason and insisting that if I couldn't carry out the work as she requested there and then I was to leave it functional and replace the newspaper in the flue! No matter what I said, she wouldn't hear a word of what I had to say about safety and procedure and then accused me of bullying her!
At this point, I decided that I would have do as requested (apart from the newspaper), issue a warning notice declaring it ID and accordingly notify the gas emergency service. I can honestly say it was a horrible experience and the first time I have had to report someone in 18 years of being a gas engineer.
But my problem is, she refused to pay me of course! It took a couple of hours out of my day and of course that means I'm out of pocket. Any ideas on how I can get them to pay my bill? Or will I just have to put it down to experience. I always find it difficult to get people to pay when the outcome isn't what they want which is far too often.
Any ideas gratefully received, thanks.
