Charging for boiler fault finding

[cr0ft]

Folks,

Do you charge for time spent diagnosing boiler faults? I believe it should be charged for but it seems a lot of customers expect me to be doing this for free like quotes.. Clearly there are two appointments involved, diagnosis and repair usually.

What do you all do?

 

[rpm]

Charge for the diagnosing but don`t say exactly what the problem is otherwise the customer goes and buys the part(s) but tell them the visit is foc or at a reduced cost if they accept the quote and you return to complete the job then factor it in to your quote.

 

[quality]

for me its my hourly rate

 

[rpm]

for me its my hourly rate

I try and offer the carrot to entice the donkey to come my way. lol

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Charge

 

[Best]

Charge for it! You don't go privately to a consultant for diagnosis of your illness and then expect only to pay for the next visit for treatment, - do you?

 

[rpm]

Charge

I`m saying charge and offering the enticement to get the job then adding the reduction made back in to the quote in such a way that the customer can`t see it so it`s a win win situation unless you don`t want the job of course.

 

[quality]

when boilers are broke and your there looking at what the problem is its very rare (never in my experience) that you don't get the job of repairing it

 

[rpm]

when boilers are broke and your there looking at what the problem is its very rare (never in my experience) that you don't get the job of repairing it

Good on yer however how many times have we heard of customers buying and fitting the part themselves or getting their friend to do the job once they know what the fault is if anyone is daft enough to tell them which I`m sure you don`t.

 

[quality]

that's not unheard of. I posted the other day about a similar scenario which end with a boiler change

 

[rpm]

Hope you got the boiler change mate.

 

[quality]

I did mate after a bit of a stand off from the DIY specialist

 

[Millsy 82]

Good on yer however how many times have we heard of customers buying and fitting the part themselves or getting their friend to do the job once they know what the fault is if anyone is daft enough to tell them which I`m sure you don`t.

I can't recall ever having that once.

 

[rpm]

I can't recall ever having that once.

It does happen though doesn`t it, once they know which part is faulty.

 

[REDSAW]

i dont charge for looking with my eyes.

if i take the cover off or get it working then i have worked on the boiler which is a flat hour charge!
if its then a quote for repair say fan, then i knock it of the price then add the hour to the part price.