One of the 'good guys' (girls)- tradesmen/women
By Wizzywig
@Wizzywig (7847)
May 3, 2010 7:40am CST
Today (a Bank Holiday here) my gas boiler decided that it didnt actually want to give me heat or hot water. I checked the user manual and pressed the appropriate buttons but the lights were still flashing. I rang the gas engineer but there was no reply... so I tried his mobile and that was on answerphone. I didnt leave a message other than that I would call back. About 20mins later, he rang me (even tho I hadnt left my name or number). I told him the 'symptoms', he told me it was something I could fix myself and talked me through what to press/turn and what else to do following that. So, no Bank Holiday call out fee
Now, THAT's what I call good customer service. He could've nipped round and faffed about looking technical and presented me with a big bill. Good on yer, Nigel!
Have you been ripped off by tradesmen doing minor repairs/adjustments or do you also have one of the 'good guys'
Now, THAT's what I call good customer service. He could've nipped round and faffed about looking technical and presented me with a big bill. Good on yer, Nigel!
Have you been ripped off by tradesmen doing minor repairs/adjustments or do you also have one of the 'good guys'2 people like this
4 responses
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
3 May 10
Hiya Wizzy,
Good on Nigel he could well have faffed about and presented you with a nice bill too so he was being really honest.
I have not been ripped off by these tradesmen as such. Although they have had to come round to fix the Gas Heater they have charged me the minimum. The minimum they could and they did a really good job of it considering the state it was in. So now I am knocking on wood (not my head) and crossing my fingers for having mentioned the Gas Heater which works when it wants to but most of the time it does it´s best to do all it can.
One time a painter was supposed to paint all the doors in another House I was living in and after two days the paint started peeling off. So when I told him he just shrugged his shoulders and even though we had paid him a certain amount I said in no uncertain terms that he was not coming back through the Door again to "paint" any kind of Door in that House. He glared at me when he went through the Door all because I challenged him about it. I thought yes two can play at that game. Thank goodness he got the message and never daunted that doorstep again.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
3 May 10
Sometimes its a matter of trial and error isnt it. Our previous gasman was good so, when I found that he'd sold his business, I reckoned he wouldn't have sold to someone who wouldn't offer good service. We've had Nigel out before and he saved us money on that occasion too - and serviced the boiler whilst he was here. We were ripped off by painters once... never again!
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
4 May 10
Oddly enough, they could both talk for England - which is ok by me 'cos I'm a pretty strong contender myself
. I remember the previous one (quite a big gentleman) being half way into the eaves cupboard space with his bum sticking out and telling my son and I all sorts of stuff about an argument he'd had with his teenage step-son. My son nudged me, pointed to the stairs and we legged it. We could still hear him talking - then the floorboards creaked and we heard him say "Oh!, you've gone then?". I felt a bit guilty but we really didnt need to know that much detail. He was a lovely bloke tho' & you could have a laugh with him.
. I remember the previous one (quite a big gentleman) being half way into the eaves cupboard space with his bum sticking out and telling my son and I all sorts of stuff about an argument he'd had with his teenage step-son. My son nudged me, pointed to the stairs and we legged it. We could still hear him talking - then the floorboards creaked and we heard him say "Oh!, you've gone then?". I felt a bit guilty but we really didnt need to know that much detail. He was a lovely bloke tho' & you could have a laugh with him.1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 May 10
Hiya Wizzy,
Now that is a very sensible person if ever I had heard of one. He must have been very dedicated to his Job. It sounds like Nigel the one you have now is too. That is really lucky there. I know painters are very hard to find good ones I mean. With the flats being built the way they are you have to be a good painter yourself or get someone to do it for you.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
5 May 10
R pretty much does all that stuff himself, so we've been pretty lucky...
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
3 May 10
I feel fortunate that the people we call out for repairs generally seem honest and do not charge more than reasonable. Yes, they will tell us how to do some of the things ourself and save quite a bit of money.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
3 May 10
That's good. We are always seeing horror stories of people being charged for things that were unnecessary or charged ridiculous amounts as labour costs. There have even been cases of older people being driven to the cash machine to withdraw silly amounts to pay unscrupulous "Cowboys"
@laglen (19759)
• United States
3 May 10
I have been ripped around but our current guy is very good. He came out to replace a censor on our hot water heater, gave us an extra for free, showed us how to fix it. Noticed that one of our registers was bent, so he replaced that for free. Very nice guy and usually gets out here with in an hour of calling him!
