people

[Leo21]

I did change my attitude before I used to take it and hate my job not wanting to upset customers now I will take a good load of grief but when they say something its like a trigger and I tend to walk away if they follow carrying on they then get what I think.

Yesterday I went out to an external oil boiler went off on the 7th the people wanted it servicing even though it wasnt working as they didnt want to pay for the first half hour (£55) to diagnose the problem as they only wanted a service the job could only be fitted in on the 12th I went out to service it and the pump was seized and low pressure in the boiler I said I will order a pump (I had already used my 15-60 during the day and it was 5.30) so I topped up the pressure and freed the pump all started circulating. I left in the morning had a phone call bloke going mad at the 18 year old girl in the office who is always very friendly and helpful she was quite obviously affected. I went back out and they had had a pipe burst in the evening due to a pipe being frozen. I didnt have Hep fittings on the van and again it was gone 5 so had to rebook itfor the next day I told the wife this and explained I would be back the next day. The next morning he phoned up first thing and went mad again at the girl in the office. I went out fitted new pump and repaired leak filled the system and the heat exchanger had obviously frozen and pin holed I said to the customer "I am very sorry but the boiler is beyond economical repair and recommend replacing it but unfortunately we would not be able to fit it in before christmas" She then started moaning at me that they had been without heating and hot water for a week my reply was "If it was a breakdown then we would have got out to you within 24 hours as that is what our company does in cold weather which would have prevented the pipework freezing and the boiler freezing I would have also got out to you during the day and not left it so late so that I would have been able to get the parts in and not left it to the evening" She responded with "You are a heartless B and you have ruined my christmas" My reply was I have been here after I finish work every night to get the job done I can say nothing more" and walked away

I believe in treating people as I would like to be treated myself but if they treat me or the girls in the office like dirt I think they deserve the same

Its when people try to get clever with me they lose out. Serves em right.

 

[jase158]

and thats the hardest thing, drive round the corner, go mental at a lamp post. scream and shout.
get back in van, drive home with music blaring (stops you thinking)
get home and forget all about it.

Don't let it get to you.

(easier said then done)

 

[jase158]

The thing is the customers think that we should care. we do not care and we have no reason to care.
They have not looked after there system, they have left it until the last minute, so why do I care when they call me panicking about the system not working.
you have to be thick skinned in this job or you will have a melt down

 

[Leo21]

I'm pretty loyal to my customers, but iff there not loyal to me I don't care. I'll do it for the price I want and when I want. A lot of them just don't get it, why should you put yourself out for them?

 

[jase158]

I occassionally get a call every so often.

"hi I have a toilet that wont flush, do you know whats wrong with it?"
"no I can not see it, I can come out in 2 weeks"
"ok can you give me another plumbers number please?"
"no sorry I do not know any"
"you are so helpful, not, I will not be using you again, i have completely wasted my time, thank you for nothing i.e."

Like I am suppose to be all knowing and have a yellow pages sat next to me at all times

 

[Millsy 82]

I occassionally get a call every so often.

"hi I have a toilet that wont flush, do you know whats wrong with it?"
"no I can not see it, I can come out in 2 weeks"
"ok can you give me another plumbers number please?"
"no sorry I do not know any"
"you are so helpful, not, I will not be using you again, i have completely wasted my time, thank you for nothing i.e."

Like I am suppose to be all knowing and have a yellow pages sat next to me at all times

Thats where you want one of the number of a company that charge a fortune and just laugh as you gie them the number.

 

[dancinplumba]

with an attitude like that i am surprised you get any work at all

 

[Millsy 82]

The thing is the customers think that we should care. we do not care and we have no reason to care.
They have not looked after there system, they have left it until the last minute, so why do I care when they call me panicking about the system not working.
you have to be thick skinned in this job or you will have a melt down

I like to think I care I will always try and help people out but a lot expect us to be miracle workers.

 

[jase158]

I really dont care!!
I care that my bills will be paid, my rent will be paid.
My son can have that toy he wants and I care about seeing my family on a sunday

 

[hammers4spanner]

I think my problem is taht i am to laid back and easy going , you need to be thick skinned in this game and let all the grief ride over your head

 

[dancinplumba]

how sad, maybe you should change career and become a salesman or a banker

 

[Millsy 82]

with an attitude like that i am surprised you get any work at all

I do 6-10 jobs a day and in the past 2 years I have worked for the company I work for now I have had 3 complaints 1 about my driving which was funny as it was him who cut me up then said I cut him up. 1 because I got to the customer after the agreed time because I was held up on another job and the last was by a landlord who I basically called cheap as he didnt listen to my advice and phoned me out of hours and moaned that his heat exchanger had blocked up and was going to cost him a fortune.

On the other hand I have many satisfied customers alot who have rang, emailed or sent letters in complimenting me on my good work polite manner and good time keeping, There are alot who will always ask for me to go and look at there boilers.

 

[Rickster123]

I think I started off laid back and care free but over the years it can wear abit thin.

 

[dancinplumba]

how sad, maybe you should change career and become a salesman or a banker

to jase158 not the other posters

 

[Millsy 82]

to jase158 not the other posters

Just noticed that lol.

 

[jase158]

how sad, maybe you should change career and become a salesman or a banker

Really, can you give me one reason why I should care?

 

[jase158]

how sad, maybe you should change career and become a salesman or a banker

There are people who are homeless, got no money and work 10 hours a day just to live in squats and pee in the street.
There is 20 children at school in america that got shot for no reason.
but god help you if somebody hasnt got there central heating working even though they have an immersion heater for there hot water, blankets and dressing gown to keep warm and a fireplace to heat there front room

 

[jase158]

The things that annoys me the most is that anybody who moans about a few days without heat are always trhe ones who dont service there boiler. have signs of leaks in the airing cupboard and blatently dont look after there systems

 

[dancinplumba]

because they are your customers and you are a plumber (?) if you treat all the people like the one in the example you quoted they are not going to come back to you and you give our trade a bad name

 

[Leo21]

You need some satisfaction in your work to operate surely.