Sneaky, cheating, thieving scrotes!

[Masood]

Just fitted a Vaillant as customer insisted. Went to register the warranty and whilst I was there decided to have a look at my profile and history as Vaillant recently changed the Advance scheme and website.

On every boiler I installed prior to the scheme update, they have changed the service reminder option from "Installer" to "Pass to Vaillant Group Services"

Sneakey thieving b&^%$ds! That's in excess of £2K a year in servicing income they've potentially nicked off me. Fecking Ba^%$£ds! I've never trusted boiler manufacturers promise to send reminders "on the installer's behalf" and this just proves my point. And my local rep is useless as well. Going to give someone a proper bollocking!

Check your profile lads - they could have done it to all of us!

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I never tick that "we'll remind your client for you" on the ideal site... as you say... never trust'em.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

That's still rotten.

 

[Masood]

I never tick that "we'll remind your client for you" on the ideal site... as you say... never trust'em.

When I went on Ideal training they said that if you leave that box unticked, they WILL pass details on to Homeserve as they assume that you're not interested in the servicing work...

 

[Atouchofgas]

Thief's, manufacturers are a nightmare we spend thousands as gas engineers and they still try and nick are business

 

[townfanjon]

Oohhh , tut tut , shakes his head , i would be seething

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Under hand & not right. Vote with your wallet & tell them you changing to another provider because of this, they may change if enough do it

 

[Ray Stafford]

Here's an idea.

Start a chain letter to the MD, which you post here, on facebook and elsewhere on social media. In the letter, make it politely clear that you find this behaviour disloyal and underhand, and that should it continue, you will stop recommending their boilers.

Anyone who cares can download it, print it on their letterhead, and post a copy. (Not email - it doesnt have the same effect). If you can get it to go viral across the various networks, you might get thousands. Write the same open letter to all the trade press - RGE, Installer Mag, but also HPM, HandV News, BMJ, BMN, etc.

Just a thought.

 

[jonnyswamp]

Have'nt had many service enquiries this year yet now you mention it
Can't log on to Advance cos I've lost my details
I'll be finding out Monday and if it's the same for me, the rep is going to get a warm ear
Doesn't really bother me if I fit Vaillant, Baxi or Ideal now, warranties are the same, it's usually left up to me as to what boiler I fit
May be giving Vaillant a miss

 

[julesverne]

I never tick that "we'll remind your client for you" on the ideal site... as you say... never trust'em.

Tick it Ian they send the details like Mas says to homeserve.

 

[Ermintrude]

That letter is an excellent idea.

 

[Ermintrude]

Dear xxxxxxx

I write to you with reference to the domestic boilers I install. As part of your warranty registration homserve are provided with my details and those of my customers.

Firstly I object to homserve having any of my customers details, in that you are facilitating the transfer of my business transactions and clients to a competitor.
I find the whole process repugnant.

Secondly when I have made it abundantly clear that I will be providing the on going service and maintenance ( customer retention) your agents make a concerted effort to secure the annual service at moths 10 and 11.

I am asking that you provide a written assurance backed by financial compensation should this unfair business practice continue. Failing this I shall stop recommending your products and persevere with brands who are not paid millions of pounds a year for passing details to homserve.

Finally it is a personal belief that this constitutes unfair and unlawful business practice ; and contravenes the competition commission approved codes of practice. As your literature leaves very little doubt in the mind of my customers that they can retain their warranty if not serviced by you.



Any thoughts? Walking the dog so not re read it?

 

[Ermintrude]

Oh if any one wishes to add that this was rays baby feel free

 

[Dotty]

Dear xxxxxxx

I write to you with reference to the domestic boilers I install. As part of your warranty registration homserve are provided with my details and those of my customers.

Firstly I object to homserve having any of my customers details, in that you are facilitating the transfer of my business transactions and clients to a competitor.
I find the whole process repugnant.

Secondly when I have made it abundantly clear that I will be providing the on going service and maintenance ( customer retention) your agents make a concerted effort to secure the annual service at moths 10 and 11.

I am asking that you provide a written assurance backed by financial compensation should this unfair business practice continue. Failing this I shall stop recommending your products and persevere with brands who are not paid millions of pounds a year for passing details to homserve.

Finally it is a personal belief that this constitutes unfair and unlawful business practice ; and contravenes the competition commission approved codes of practice. As your literature leaves very little doubt in the mind of my customers that they can retain their warranty if not serviced by you.



Any thoughts? Walking the dog so not re read it?

Just how many moths are there? And why are they numbered?

 

[Ermintrude]

Haha. Walking the dawg

 

[Ray Stafford]

Dear xxxxxxx

I write to you with reference to the domestic boilers I install. As part of your warranty registration homserve are provided with my details and those of my customers.

Firstly I object to homserve having any of my customers details, in that you are facilitating the transfer of my business transactions and clients to a competitor.
I find the whole process repugnant.

Secondly when I have made it abundantly clear that I will be providing the on going service and maintenance ( customer retention) your agents make a concerted effort to secure the annual service at moths 10 and 11.

I am asking that you provide a written assurance backed by financial compensation should this unfair business practice continue. Failing this I shall stop recommending your products and persevere with brands who are not paid millions of pounds a year for passing details to homserve.

Finally it is a personal belief that this constitutes unfair and unlawful business practice ; and contravenes the competition commission approved codes of practice. As your literature leaves very little doubt in the mind of my customers that they can retain their warranty if not serviced by you.



Any thoughts? Walking the dog so not re read it?

I think I would go for something simpler. If you get too specific, there is a danger of being defeated in detail - for example, the competition commission has not existed for over a year now, and I don't think that what the manufacturers are doing would breach the competition act anyway. I don't think its illegal, I just think its arrogant and disrespectful to their installers, and foolish in that it antagonises the very people who they want to recommend their products.

How about this

Dear Sir

I am writing to register my deep concern about your company's business practices in respect of service and maintenance.

When I recommend a product to my customer, I do not expect the manufacturer of that product to use the information that I supply as part of the warranty registration to compete with me for the ongoing service and maintenance business. Neither do I expect them to sell that information to a third party with the same intent. I expect that information to be used solely for the purpose for which it was supplied.

I understand that there is an "opt out" process, but I have little faith that it is honoured, and in any event I object strongly to the onus being placed on me to prevent you from acting dishonourably.

It is possible that you have managed to convince yourself that what you are doing is fine, and that there are just a few whingers. I can absolutely assure you that this is not the case. I appreciate that you have the right to run your business, subject to the law, however you choose. However, I should make it clear that if this practice continues, I shall cease to recommend your products to my customers, and if someone asks for one, I will actively seek to persuade them to choose an alternative brand. I shall also encourage my fellow tradesmen to take a similar stand.


Yours with regret

A N Engineer

 

[Masood]

The letter is an excellent idea Ray, and a couple of good examples above.

I was planning to hit them with the very specific, and undeniable fact that having opted to keep the service work when registering the warranty, they actually reversed my decision!

Pretty blatant and disrespectful.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I thought Vaillant got pulled for this in the past?

 

[lame plumber]

might find the data protection act is being abused by the manufacturer, ie taking your data and using it for their gain?

 

[Ermintrude]

U consent I think lame it's in T&C

What has the C C been replaced with now some wild quango

 

[Ray Stafford]

U consent I think lame it's in T&C

What has the C C been replaced with now some wild quango

Competition and Markets authority. Same people, same job, nicer offices and twice the pay. Allegedly.

 

[Ermintrude]

Self serving wazzocks

 

[Ray Stafford]

Self serving wazzocks

As the old joke goes...

"Why is there only one monopolies commission?"

 

[Masood]

Same people, same job, nicer offices and twice the pay. Allegedly.

Didn't that happen recently at a large independent merchant? 😛

 

[Ray Stafford]

Didn't that happen recently at a large independent merchant? 😛

Except for the pay thing. 🙁

 

[Ermintrude]

Wouldn't say PTS was indi.

Staffordshire changed?

 

[Masood]

Staffordshire changed?

There was a coup in Staffordshire. The monarch was replaced by a benevolent dictator...

You've not been missing off the forum THAT long have you Guy???

 

[Ermintrude]

Pretty much. Ray was sweeping up in the stores when I was last here. He had dropped an avocado chamber pot and was on probation... What's he done now bloody spotty little tyke - - was making remarks as bout my Austin van other day.... young kids these days!!!!!!