Giving information

[parkesy_plumb]

Another rant from me ...

got a call yesterday from a guy to investigate water hammer noises when flushing his toilet. Said no problem but wanted me at his house at 6.30am as he was working all day. It was dead local to me so I obliged.

went round this morning and said straight away what was wrong (new inlet as it was a grubby torbeck). He asked am I hundred percent sure and how I'd go about doing it. I gave a quick run down and said I'll go out n grab one and come back in the eve to fit. He agreed and I was off.

Got a text an hour later said he wanted to cancel the appointment said he's having a go himself

the git obviously just wanted to know what was up for free info grrrr! Learned lesson now not to give anything away

anyone else have any similar stories?

parkesy

 

[Ermintrude]

When your mid poo in a really echoey skitter

 

[chris watkins]

It depends on whether you are graphing for "reasonableness" or "unreasonableness" assuming you use the standard assumption on a bell curve that the tested variable increases in frequency on the vertical axis and
intensity on the horizontal axis

You lost me Ray, you have to remember I am just a mere plumber. Never mind, I just took it that it could be read both ways. lol

 

[tomplumb83]

Have I missed something here? Why didn't you do the job? Is it because he didn't have time as he was going to work?
Whilst I can totally understand your angry about this man wasting your time, I never go to a job to see what the fault is. I go to correct the fault. I don't charge a call out as every time I go to a job I correct the fault and get paid or I don't correct it and I don't get paid.


I do service work on a particular tap. Magnet rang me today. Can you go and look at a customers tap as its not working?
(The tap definitely need parts changing) I can come and change parts and fix it for you but I won't go and have a look.
The woman at magnet told me that there fitter might have not fitted said tap properly, that's why its not working.
I laughed and explained that its up to magnet to fit the tap correctly, not me and that she should make sure the tap is fitted correctly before asking me to go and have a look. That way, I won't waste 2-3 hrs of my time and diesel for absolutely no pay.
She was totally confused by this for some reason...

 

[mfgs]

How can you possibly know the fault or carry every single part required to cover everything with you. Its impossible to always turn up and have the part and fix it. I often go to a job to diagnose a fault, I then order the part and return to fit it.

 

[Ermintrude]

How can you possibly know the fault or carry every single part required to cover everything with you. Its impossible to always turn up and have the part and fix it. I often go to a job to diagnose a fault, I then order the part and return to fit it.

U can guess and take what u think u will need. We do no fix no fee. Thermocouples on apollos / flow worm house warmer.
Leaky nut kits pcb flow turbines plates..... 5 mins on phone can save u hours and ££££

 

[tomplumb83]

You might need to go and get a part. Fairly unusual for me to need to get parts but If you were to need a part I leave my tool bag on the job, get the part and fit it.
If it was just a plumbing fault, most parts are in the van for this very reason.
I can understand the boiler experts not having all the parts

 

[Ermintrude]

U know any boiler "experts" were recruiting

 

[tomplumb83]

I don't know how you can make it work going twice to a job.
The op was only 5mins away but if you go to do a leaking ceramic lever tap for example you can't charge twice.
I find it hard enough to get the one payment. I have afew types of cartridges and a spare tap. The customer is told before they mayneed a new tap before I go out
Showers are a tricky one I suppose. I keep a triton electric and a bar mixer. Anything else and id have to order it and go back

 

[mfgs]

U can guess and take what u think u will need. We do no fix no fee. Thermocouples on apollos / flow worm house warmer.
Leaky nut kits pcb flow turbines plates..... 5 mins on phone can save u hours and ££££

You can guess, but half the time the fault is nothing like what the customer describes to you. There is only so much van stock you can have on you to cover plumbing, heating and boiler faults. I have most common bits on the van, but its not possible to have everything or even get everything that same day especially with boiler spares.

 

[tomplumb83]

U know any boiler "experts" were recruiting

Experts are hard to come by.
Can you train me to be one?

 

[Leo21]

I don't know how you can make it work going twice to a job.
The op was only 5mins away but if you go to do a leaking ceramic lever tap for example you can't charge twice.
I find it hard enough to get the one payment. I have afew types of cartridges and a spare tap. The customer is told before they mayneed a new tap before I go out
Showers are a tricky one I suppose. I keep a triton electric and a bar mixer. Anything else and id have to order it and go back

You must an awfully big van, or not repair boilers! Have you got any idea how many different boiler parts you'd need to carry and the cost?

 

[tomplumb83]

Whilst were on the subject, have any experts ever been successful changing to diapragm on a torbeck valve?
Can you share you wisdom

* leo, read my previous post regarding boiler experts

Besides I think I'm going off subject here - it started off as a float valve change!

 

[mutley racers]

I can always get the parts the same day for any boiler (unless I am 15 miles away, next day jobby). Just pop in to adlink and get a new or reconditioned part. Not once have they not had a part in stock. Oh, once they did for an old water heater, so I just gave them the faulty pcb and they fixed it. Great service. I always charge 2 hrs for repairs like that.

 

[PhoenixServices]

I can understand carrying generic float valves, cartridges etc. but you could never carry the cartridges for the taps you would need.
Sometimes it takes weeks to get stuff in from Italy, if you can identify the manufacturer.

 

[plumben]

Whilst were on the subject, have any experts ever been successful changing to diapragm on a torbeck valve?
Can you share you wisdom

* leo, read my previous post regarding boiler experts

Besides I think I'm going off subject here - it started off as a float valve change!

The last torbec I did was in a concealed cistern but I can't remember it being to much trouble just disassemble replace and reassemble

 

[jim fennessey]

a case like this happened in scotland about 9 years ago, a plumber got an emergency call, so went out to out to customer mid winter out in the sticks,when he arrived it was something to do with central heating being goosed and needed replacing the plumber spent an hour odds going through the system with the customer explaining all what was wrong,cut a long story short the plumber invoiced,customer did not pay as he said plumber did not do anything, blah blah , plumber took customer to court, customer was ordered to pay plumber call out charge and the fee he was charged for the advice, sheriff aka judge ,said to customer you would not walk into a lawyers office and expect free advice and what do you think the plumber was doing to you,advising so he was made to pay the full invoice.

 

[parkesy_plumb]

Have I missed something here? Why didn't you do the job? Is it because he didn't have time as he was going to work?
Whilst I can totally understand your angry about this man wasting your time, I never go to a job to see what the fault is. I go to correct the fault. I don't charge a call out as every time I go to a job I correct the fault and get paid or I don't correct it and I don't get paid.


I do service work on a particular tap. Magnet rang me today. Can you go and look at a customers tap as its not working?
(The tap definitely need parts changing) I can come and change parts and fix it for you but I won't go and have a look.
The woman at magnet told me that there fitter might have not fitted said tap properly, that's why its not working.
I laughed and explained that its up to magnet to fit the tap correctly, not me and that she should make sure the tap is fitted correctly before asking me to go and have a look. That way, I won't waste 2-3 hrs of my time and diesel for absolutely no pay.
She was totally confused by this for some reason...

he called me to investigate water hammer noises originally. As for spares I carry water inlet valves but this particular sized cistern could only fit the thinnest type (green one can't remember name) so couldn't offer a there and then fix.

 

[parkesy_plumb]

Whilst were on the subject, have any experts ever been successful changing to diapragm on a torbeck valve?
Can you share you wisdom

* leo, read my previous post regarding boiler experts

Besides I think I'm going off subject here - it started off as a float valve change!

swap em out .. Cheap crap

 

[Best]

I agree ^^^ Replace Torbecks for something better, like a Fluidmaster Pro with brass tail.
Torbecks used to be good & if treated carefully they lasted for many years - even 20 years.
New ones seem hopeless & I have a few brand new Torbecks I won't fit as lost confidence in them
Strangely I can't fix them with a new washer anymore when they pass water.

 

[kris]

U know any boiler "experts" were recruiting

Me sir ermis im good with a 41b hammer and telling customer boilers knackered and theyl need a new one or all parts are discontinued on this 6 year old boiler . Do i make the grade ...? Soz i thought you was BG LOL

 

[tomplumb83]

Torbecks were the fluidmasters of the noughties. They must have made a fortune, then.....
What happened?! I remember swapping handfuls of brand new ones at pts years ago that didn't work until I got fed up of them. Used to fit their drop valves too.
Before my time, but, maybe they were never actually good.
Mind you, fluidmaster probably are made by torbeck

 

[wetdrip]

Experts are hard to come by.
Can you train me to be one?

Phd in Sarcasm and Titillation?
[h=1][/h]

 

[wetdrip]

Another rant from me ...

got a call yesterday from a guy to investigate water hammer noises when flushing his toilet. Said no problem but wanted me at his house at 6.30am as he was working all day. It was dead local to me so I obliged.

went round this morning and said straight away what was wrong (new inlet as it was a grubby torbeck). He asked am I hundred percent sure and how I'd go about doing it. I gave a quick run down and said I'll go out n grab one and come back in the eve to fit. He agreed and I was off.

Got a text an hour later said he wanted to cancel the appointment said he's having a go himself

the git obviously just wanted to know what was up for free info grrrr! Learned lesson now not to give anything away

anyone else have any similar stories?

parkesy

One only has to view tab:Quick links > Who's online, in order to see just how many are trying to avoid paying a plumber to sort out their problem.
So many Guests!

 

[downthesouth]

a case like this happened in scotland about 9 years ago, a plumber got an emergency call, so went out to out to customer mid winter out in the sticks,when he arrived it was something to do with central heating being goosed and needed replacing the plumber spent an hour odds going through the system with the customer explaining all what was wrong,cut a long story short the plumber invoiced,customer did not pay as he said plumber did not do anything, blah blah , plumber took customer to court, customer was ordered to pay plumber call out charge and the fee he was charged for the advice, sheriff aka judge ,said to customer you would not walk into a lawyers office and expect free advice and what do you think the plumber was doing to you,advising so he was made to pay the full invoice.

100% agree. It seems that our trade is treated as a commodity to some people.

 

[southcoastboile]

I say the same thing on every call before we go out.
"we charge £42 plus VAT to diagnose the fault and if we can fix it within the hour it will just be £42 plus VAT. If it needs part we will advise on cost and you can then say yes or no"
then I will try to get an idea of the fault so I can try and bring correct parts. Still would charge 100% if I were you.
drop them an invoice and sign up to thomas Higgins solicitors. It costs you £2 for a solicitors letter and you can take them to court for around £15 I think it is if they ignore the first 2 letters.

9 times out of 10 they will pay as soon as they see a solicitors letter. If not they pay when they get the court summons.

By by then I have charged admin fees and interest on late payment.

the last one was a ll who wouldn't pay an £80 bill for a llgs and repair a gas leak.

He he ended up paying over £190 before it went to court.

 

[andyplumber2009]

Didn't Mrs Tara Plumbing post a while ago about having to give "cooling off" periods and quotes in writing etc?
What if punter says either:
- I did ring you but you never showed so i fixed it myself
or
- you did come out but you never quoted me for the work so i fixed it myself

My gut instinct would be that he thinks you are a sucker so whenever there is another problem he will call you straight away you can make up any lost monies as he will think that he is getting one over on you again, and you could always generate a "call back" problem while you are there.

 

[parkesy_plumb]

quick update on what i have done about this situation. Followed advice off here and popped an invoice through the door of his property that he rents out. (the house i attended)

I didnt bother with leaving terms on there IE payment required within 30 days etc, I just simply put on the invoice

"Call out to investigate noise when flushing toilet .... £25.00" with my bank details at the bottom.

99% chance hes not going to pay it but hopefully when i sees the invoice (when the tenant tells him) hell realise that he actually did something cheeky that caused offence.

 

[Barry98]

Another rant from me ...

got a call yesterday from a guy to investigate water hammer noises when flushing his toilet. Said no problem but wanted me at his house at 6.30am as he was working all day. It was dead local to me so I obliged.

went round this morning and said straight away what was wrong (new inlet as it was a grubby torbeck). He asked am I hundred percent sure and how I'd go about doing it. I gave a quick run down and said I'll go out n grab one and come back in the eve to fit. He agreed and I was off.

Got a text an hour later said he wanted to cancel the appointment said he's having a go himself

the git obviously just wanted to know what was up for free info grrrr! Learned lesson now not to give anything away

anyone else have any similar stories?

parkesy

Its ts always the flux sensor relay