Just been accused of being a rip-off merchant.

[Resolute]

Just talking to a woman in the street where we been working and she just asked me for a price to fit a cooker, tells her £45 if its one in one out and you would have thought I'd just asked her for a blowie!! "It'll only take you 5 minutes!" she says. I said "Have a phone round love and get some prices then pop back along and tell me what they said" Saw her an hour later and she wanted to book the job in so I said "It's gonna be £60 cos I'll have to come all the way back tomorrow just for 5 minutes!"

Priceless - did she go for it?

 

[GQuigley67]

I had that when a woman phoned up about a cooker, told her it would be £45 minimum and I'd preferably do it n 1 day, she wanted me to come disconnect and then go back another day and reconnect, i refused and said no it will be cheaper for you and easier for me to do it in the 1 day, she said oh its ok I've got someone doing it for £40 for 2 visits thanks anyway ! well good for you !!

 

[CES]

I had that when a woman phoned up about a cooker, told her it would be £45 minimum and I'd preferably do it n 1 day, she wanted me to come disconnect and then go back another day and reconnect, i refused and said no it will be cheaper for you and easier for me to do it in the 1 day, she said oh its ok I've got someone doing it for £40 for 2 visits thanks anyway ! well good for you !!

Ill listen out for the explosion..

 

[glenno1]

so thats 4 minute tightness test and 1 minute to fit cooker.she needs to phone a magician

 

[GQuigley67]

typical woman, no sense of how long things take, not all of them of course:stuart:......... (better put that part in to keep the PC brigade happy):6:

 

[yorkshiregasman]

Sign of the times though don't you think - more and more lately I've got people calling me wanting stuff done but they are quick to say how skint they are! Had some refuse to pay me once the job was finished. Price agreed up front and only if I don't get any vibes they aren't going to mess me about. Only way to go....

 

[leelister6]

Just read this on Sheffield forum and had to post it on here!


I am just interested as I have finally managed to receive a quote for my new boiler after all the recommended Boiler men on here have never got back to me, the quote is for £2,500 + VAT, I have looked the boiler up which they have recommended this is £716 + VAT to purchase let's assume another £300 + VAT is required in pipework which I doubt this leaves £1,500 + VAT labour for one days work, does this sound about right?

This is the rubbish we all have to deal with so I replied thus:

I suppose you could spend 5 years at college part time while doing an apprenticeship then buy a van and insure, tax and test it, buy 2 or 3 grandsworth of tools then throw £4500 at a gas training course then £500 to register with gas safe, then you could do it yourself and tell us all we're charging too much eh?!

I despair sometimes, I really do! :rolleyes4:

 

[armourer]

Nice reply.
I think that's half the problem Joe public just do not understand the overheads just to be in this business.

I think they still compare us to other manual trades. While most of them are still skilled, they have no where near the legislation we have to follow.

 

[dontknowitall]

I bet the £716+VAT for the boiler doesn't include the flue, programmer, possible new stat and/or zone valves, possible wiring centre, possible new wiring, cleanser with visit, inhibitor.

I except it's around £500 more than would be charged around where I live but much of my pricing also depends on the customer - the nicer and more patient/co-operative they are the lower the price. For example if they ask if it could be done in 3-4 weeks as opposed to in 4 days my price will be lower. If they offer a cuppa when I first look at the installation, that goes down well.

 

[SimonG]

.........or any profit.

Customers forget that not only do we want a wage out of it but also for the business to be profitable, not to mention pension, money aside for when you are off on your hols not getting paid etc.

 

[mikegas]

A lot of plumbers don't even understand this and wonder why there barely staying afloat

 

[dontknowitall]

.........or any profit.

Customers forget that not only do we want a wage out of it but also for the business to be profitable, not to mention pension, money aside for when you are off on your hols not getting paid etc.

I thought money put aside was for registration fees, bank account fees, accountant fees, enforced public liability insurance, saving up for the MCS and nothing to do with holidays.

Maybe this is why I can't afford to go on hols, let alone eat?

 

[SimonG]

That was the etc.! 🙂

Much on?

 

[dontknowitall]

Much on?

Fantastic week!

Hardly anything, which is great during school hols.

Jobs appearing in pipeline for start of term, which is good.

Have you had some sensible customers asking you to do their boiler service? Had quite a few recently so now they're set up for winter.

 

[SimonG]

Had a couple, picked up a few new ones as well on my travels. But it seems as though more people are deferring the service until it goes pop.
I try and educate people that it's a good idea to have a service in July/August/September rather than silly season, but it's hard work.
I have a spare day next month when I have 6 to do. When people's boilers do go pop though the ones who have regular services will be top of the pile.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Just read this on Sheffield forum and had to post it on here!


I am just interested as I have finally managed to receive a quote for my new boiler after all the recommended Boiler men on here have never got back to me, the quote is for £2,500 + VAT, I have looked the boiler up which they have recommended this is £716 + VAT to purchase let's assume another £300 + VAT is required in pipework which I doubt this leaves £1,500 + VAT labour for one days work, does this sound about right?

Should have told them to get a quote from BG then seen what here response was

 

[mubesjnr]

Not only have I been accused of being a rip off merchant but they won't pay.....called to replace a leaking indirect cylinder. Nothing special a 900x450 open vented on an s-plan C/H set up. Thing was the cylinder had been jammed in an airing cubpoard with all the C/H motorised valves and the pump right in the front so they all had to come out to gain access to get the cylinder out. This was explained to them and the fact that this would all have to be done in that sequntial order.....no magic wand! Quoted the reactive maintenance hourly rate of a figure, including new parts of approximatly £500. Took two full days in the end as new pipework had to be fabricated to satisfy the new orientation of the primary coil F/R and the fact that the existing set up kept leaking when powered back up and twice the female 1" x 22mm coupler on the return of the primary coil kept weaping. Obviously, not being able to pinch up the union I had to drain down, remove motorised valves and pump just to manipulate the effing coupler every time. So have presented a bill at the installation rate of £280/day plus the parts FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR THEM DIRECT FROM THE SUPPLIER and the c**t won't pay. No sound reason has been given other than the final figure is high than was quoted for. How the hell do you get your money from these types of people?

 

[leelister6]

Extreme violence? Filler foam in stopcock hole?

 

[CES]

Not only have I been accused of being a rip off merchant but they won't pay.....called to replace a leaking indirect cylinder. Nothing special a 900x450 open vented on an s-plan C/H set up. Thing was the cylinder had been jammed in an airing cubpoard with all the C/H motorised valves and the pump right in the front so they all had to come out to gain access to get the cylinder out. This was explained to them and the fact that this would all have to be done in that sequntial order.....no magic wand! Quoted the reactive maintenance hourly rate of a figure, including new parts of approximatly £500. Took two full days in the end as new pipework had to be fabricated to satisfy the new orientation of the primary coil F/R and the fact that the existing set up kept leaking when powered back up and twice the female 1" x 22mm coupler on the return of the primary coil kept weaping. Obviously, not being able to pinch up the union I had to drain down, remove motorised valves and pump just to manipulate the effing coupler every time. So have presented a bill at the installation rate of £280/day plus the parts FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR THEM DIRECT FROM THE SUPPLIER and the c**t won't pay. No sound reason has been given other than the final figure is high than was quoted for. How the hell do you get your money from these types of people?

Send them an invoice in writing with your terms and conditions. I would also advise them that goods supplied belong to you until paid for in full, so if they wont pay then threaten to reclaim your materials back. Obviously dont wade in with the spanners going but I would strongly advise them to settle the bill, failing that accept part payment of your quoted figure and pursue them through the courts for the rest. The only thing I would say is that some people will act upon the doorstep selling regs where you need them to sign off their 7 days cooling off period. If you havent given them that opportunity then it could get nasty. Good luck

 

[WaterTight]

I had the exact opposite experience today. Went round a 90-odd yr old man's house. Him and his wife both very much feeling their age, but friendly, happy. He was an ex-gas fitter so knew about pipes and joints and stuff but was "too old" to sort out his leaking WC. Replaced inlet piping, added isolator, re-alligned float valve which had been twisted until it didn't work. £50. They were delighted with price, she said she'd "recommend me to anyone" and he gave me a £20 tip. And you could tell from the house that was no small amount for them. Customers come in all types.

 

[GQuigley67]

I've had quite a few good customers recently, long may it continue !! no questioning prices, and my prices have been higher than usual as I'm doing overtime/weekends.

 

[mubesjnr]

Send them an invoice in writing with your terms and conditions. I would also advise them that goods supplied belong to you until paid for in full, so if they wont pay then threaten to reclaim your materials back. Obviously dont wade in with the spanners going but I would strongly advise them to settle the bill, failing that accept part payment of your quoted figure and pursue them through the courts for the rest. The only thing I would say is that some people will act upon the doorstep selling regs where you need them to sign off their 7 days cooling off period. If you havent given them that opportunity then it could get nasty. Good luck

Thanks CES. Took online legal advice last night and have sent, as I intended to prior to legal advice, a hard copy of the invoice and the e-mail via recorded delivery with a cover letter requesting full payment within 7days of the date of the letter. If I get no joy then I'm going to pursure it using the following: https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

I'll give him an opportunity to settle before court action with a figure of £700 (which for me will be the minimum of £250/day plus the price on parts) PLUS an agreed wavier of all rights afforded him under the Goods and Services Act 1982........I'm not having that person try getting me back to fix spurious associated with my installation. Failing that all the way to SMC to get that which I'm owed.

Thing is this miserable person is selling his house. So he resents spending a single penny on a piece of **** property that he knows is falling apart. The number of unfinished diy bodges I observed would have kept Nick Knowels and his fake tight-top-lip accent and his team of polo shirted monkeys happy for a double series. And his Misses is an estate agent who seems to think that by sitting on her arse all day long promising the moon on a stick to the unsuspecting public, qualifies her to comment on the ease or otherwise of plumbing in a cylinder in a cupboard where no prior consideration has been given to later maintenace or upgrade. I ******* dispare sometimes.......but I'm absolute.......I WILL NOT TOLERATE NONE PAYMENT AND WILL INVEST ALL MY TIME AND EFFORT IN RETREIVING THAT WHICH IS OWED..I'll let everyone know the out come. Thanks anyway to all those that replied........including the Stop-cock hole foam fix!!!!

 

[fuzzy]

Emergency call. Leak coming through ceiling. 40 gallon CWSC sitting on chipboard buckling so bad it probably had minutes left before it came through their ceiling. Didn't discuss price, just set about draining it pronto through taps and through syphoning via hose into buckets. Cut cold in, add isolator so they can put water back on. Remove connections to cistern, pull to one side, confirm base crumbling to pieces. Measure up for replacement. 1hr 15mins.

£50.

"Really? That's a bit steep isn't it?"

its demorilising isnt it, you feel youve done well for somebody and they say that

 

[AmritPedersen]

Emergency call. Leak coming through ceiling. 40 gallon CWSC sitting on chipboard buckling so bad it probably had minutes left before it came through their ceiling. Didn't discuss price, just set about draining it pronto through taps and through syphoning via hose into buckets. Cut cold in, add isolator so they can put water back on. Remove connections to cistern, pull to one side, confirm base crumbling to pieces. Measure up for replacement. 1hr 15mins.

£50.

"Really? That's a bit steep isn't it?"

Actually, thats more than fair.

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Well it was a couple of years ago, prices must have gone up now??