FabSwingers.com forum: Have I been diddled?

By *eacreste OP Man
2 weeks ago

hart village - Hartlepool

Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fittingvit.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ffervescentMan
2 weeks ago

winfrith

Gas engineers make big bucks because they have to be certified you'll just have to pay unfortunately.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ouple in LancashireCouple
2 weeks ago

in Lancashire

"Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fittingvit.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

Yes, would say it is reasonable..

It's his time and qualifications after all..

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *Silver-Man
2 weeks ago

Mold

Unless he said there would be an extra call out fee, then I wouldn't pay it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *endalshaggersCouple
2 weeks ago

Lake District

Hmmm. Depends. I'd maybe call, query and ask the question as you wouldn't have been charged an additional fee if he'd had the part on him already. The fact (as per your pot) it sounds like they maybe do carry it as standard but he didn't have it, isn't on you.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ornLordMan
2 weeks ago

Wiltshire and London

A part he normally carries and didn't this time? If you're paying for his callback, I wouldn't use him again.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *rHotNottsMan
2 weeks ago

Dubai & Nottingham

By law they have to tell you the charges upfront and you have to have agreed to them, otherwise there’s no basis of a verbal agreement.

I pay £85 to get mine serviced every 2-3 years & still feel ripped off!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *obilebottomMan
2 weeks ago

All over

If it required a part that he should have with jim, he should not be charging a callout fee.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ohn.Wick.Man
2 weeks ago

The Continental

I wouldn’t be paying for a return visit if he carries the part usually.

It’s not your fault that his inventory is mismanaged. I’d pay for this time to fit, as you’d have done that on the first visit anyway.

I wouldn’t be paying a call out fee for it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ucka39Man
2 weeks ago

Newcastle

If he didn't have the part that he would normally carry, it's no fault of yours and you shouldn't need to pay for a following call out fee

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *eacreste OP Man
2 weeks ago

hart village - Hartlepool

Yep I think I'll just pay up and look elsewhere for an engineer.

He's charged £80 for the call out and £4.90 for the part

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ucka39Man
2 weeks ago

Newcastle

"Yep I think I'll just pay up and look elsewhere for an engineer.

He's charged £80 for the call out and £4.90 for the part "

Wow that's very steep

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ophieslutTV/TS
2 weeks ago

Central

I wouldn't pay for an extra call out fee, unless terms were agreed in advance.

I'd speak with CAB, for support.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *anonfire96Man
2 weeks ago

Mansfield

Nope definitely not, it's all part of the same job that he failed to complete due to lack of parts. You should only have to pay for the part and his time fitting it. He shouldn't be charging another call out on top.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *orthern StarsCouple
2 weeks ago

Durham

I wouldn't expect to have to pay a 2nd call out charge. I would pay for the part and the labour time it takes to fit the part, but that's it.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *TinRedCouple
2 weeks ago

Reading

Why are people not wanting to pay for the guy to come back? He didn't have the part on his van... He can't be expected to carry everything all of the time!

If you had decided not to pay him to come back, you'd of paid the original engineer to diagnose the problem, then another engineer to come out and work out what was wrong, AND still have the potential to have to pay a 3rd time if the 2nd engineer didn't have the part!

To be honest, you'll probably be doing him a favour by finding yourself a new engineer. Smh

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *obilebottomMan
2 weeks ago

All over

"Why are people not wanting to pay for the guy to come back? He didn't have the part on his van... He can't be expected to carry everything all of the time!

To be honest, you'll probably be doing him a favour by finding yourself a new engineer. Smh "

Just wow

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *he Silver FuxMan
2 weeks ago

Uttoxeter

"Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fittingvit.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

He shouldn’t have told you that it was a part he usually carried in the van. Pay the guy. If it was a part he didn’t have and had to get it, return the next day, you wouldn’t be moaning. You’re not paying the guy for 30 minutes work, you’re paying him to go to a supplier, get the part, drive to you, fit the part, and drive away. His tools, his time, his expertise, his qualifications, his van, his mileage, liability insurance, gas analyser calibration….

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
2 weeks ago

"Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fittingvit.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

You sir are my hero.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ild_oatsMan
2 weeks ago

the land of saints & sinners

"Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fittingvit.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

Paying for the initial call-out, time taken to diagnose fault and fit part is fair and reasonable.

Charging a customer a customer a second call out fee and time taken to source part that is a normal stock item for him is not. Because he can’t manage his inventory.

I would be questioning the charges…. This in my view is unreasonable charging.

A nationwide company tried this on with me in the past me but didn’t get very far when I argued that point with them.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ornucopiaMan
2 weeks ago

Bexley

Never forget a tradesman's expertise and qualifications and, of course all his working overheads.

Especially if it is a tradesman who you are forced by law to use.

One such came to fit a gas fire which I had bought in a fireplace adjacent to a capped off gas feed point.

Instead of usung a decent well fitting spanner, he tightened the installation by graunching the chrome fitting with serrated jawed pliers.

Expertise and correct tools,my arse.

What he did remember to do was add the removed cap to his junk box so I would have to endure a new call out fee should the fire need removing and the supply capping off again.

I'm sure he wouldn't say "I just happen to have a spare part which I nicked off you previously".

I realise that somebody needed to help pay for the sign writing on his van boasting said professional qualifications.

At least I could be satisfied that it wasn't an amateur cutting corners!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ansoffateMan
2 weeks ago

Sagittarius A

No it's not reasonable.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *AYENCouple
2 weeks ago

Lincolnshire

It seems he thought he may have had the necessary part but didn't - I expect there's hundreds of 'parts' necessary for various appliances and makes, so I don't think an engineer should be required to carry every part for every appliance, especially if he's visiting for routine maintenance.

An £85 charge to spend his time and money collecting the part and then his time and money returning to fit it sounds reasonable to me. K.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ickleTheWonderSchlongMan
2 weeks ago

Ends

[Removed by poster at 17/01/25 05:56:24]

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ichelleCDTV/TS
2 weeks ago

Stratford upon Avon

When we book our plumber to come and service the boiler, he charges us for servicing the boiler. No call out fee, because it was in his diary at a time of his convenience. When he came out to investigate a dodgy tap and came back the next week to replace it at a time that suits him, he charged for labour.

Why is a callout fee even involved? Surely that's only an emergency fee?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *cotshusb7777Man
2 weeks ago

Bellshill

There should never be a call out fee for a routine service or repair, only for an emergency

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
2 weeks ago

The Town by The Cross

Have you gone with an independent bloke ?

Did you agree to pay a call out fee every time he comes to your door ?

I'd say query it at least. Surely the 'call out' charge is for the first visit so that he wouldn't use his time for nothing.....

If he won't budge - give him your bill that has charges for :-

Leaving your home on day 1 AND again on day 2.

Taking LONGER than one visit

AND don't forget the charge for his van polluting your air.

Then bung a bit on for wear and tear on your carpets.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
2 weeks ago

The Town by The Cross

I copied this from a well known Money Saving site......

... but this is the consumer rights board so what matters is the law* - which says that it's legal for the trader to charge a fee if they attend the property as long as the customer was informed and agreed in advance that there would be a fee for attendance which would be separate from the cost of any work which may or may not be carried out/parts which may or may not be required.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
2 weeks ago

"Have you gone with an independent bloke ?

Did you agree to pay a call out fee every time he comes to your door ?

I'd say query it at least. Surely the 'call out' charge is for the first visit so that he wouldn't use his time for nothing.....

If he won't budge - give him your bill that has charges for :-

Leaving your home on day 1 AND again on day 2.

Taking LONGER than one visit

AND don't forget the charge for his van polluting your air.

Then bung a bit on for wear and tear on your carpets."

I hope he cuts your gas off.

That's why I don't do domestic jobs.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *aughtystaffs60Couple
2 weeks ago

Staffordshire

This is nothing to the pain I had to endure a few years back.

I had a service contract with British gas and for several years it went well. my boiler ran efficiently and well then one day the guy service it and said. Sorry mate, I've got to condemn this boiler as it's doesn't comply with current regulations and we cannot service it any more or something along those lines. So the boiler was immediately condemned and although working perfectly and efficiently I could not get it legally serviced. No one would touch it as it had a big yellow sticker on it.

This meant I had to replace my perfectly working, very efficient boiler with a new condensing one which of course I was assured would save me money with lower bills.

Well of course it didn't my bills actually went up so not only did I have to fork our £ 2.5K for a new boiler but my bills went up. Now where is the sense in that.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
2 weeks ago

The Town by The Cross

"Have you gone with an independent bloke ?

Did you agree to pay a call out fee every time he comes to your door ?

I'd say query it at least. Surely the 'call out' charge is for the first visit so that he wouldn't use his time for nothing.....

If he won't budge - give him your bill that has charges for :-

Leaving your home on day 1 AND again on day 2.

Taking LONGER than one visit

AND don't forget the charge for his van polluting your air.

Then bung a bit on for wear and tear on your carpets.

I hope he cuts your gas off.

That's why I don't do domestic jobs.

My gas ?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
2 weeks ago

Yes yours.

Another armchair expert.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
2 weeks ago

The bloke is trying to earn a living and you want to charge him.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *stwo80Couple
2 weeks ago

yorkshire

"Got my gas fire and central heating serviced and was told that a new part was needed for the gas fire which was working fine.

He rummaged about for a replacement part but said he'd have to come back.

So he left, ab the following day he'd returned and spent 30 mins fitting it.

I've now been charged for the original service, plus an extra call out fee for him returning with a part he usually carries with him.

I accept I'd have to pay for the part itself but is that reasonable for him to charge for an extra call out fee?

You can't expect a tradesman to come and have all spares that you possibly might need one day.

If it needs parts it's perfectly reasonable for him to go away and source a part and return to fit it.

You need to pay him for travel to and from you and to go get the part then to fit it and do his tests.

You refer to it as another call out fee,surely it's just paying for his time ?

If you have had to pay £80 for all that then you are getting a bargain and you need to stop being a tight wad and pay the man what you clearly (from what you have said) owe him .