Charging when you condemn an appliance?

[Scott_D]

Had this twice this month - What do you guys do in this situation?
Asked to service or gas safety check and the appliance is At Risk or Immediately Dangerous so needs switching off/ gas capping and paperwork filled out.

Todays example is asked to service a boiler.
I say £75.
Get there and the flue has a hole, by the time I cap the gas, tightness test, explain the situation, paperwork. It’s taken longer than a service would but I haven’t done the job they wanted and the don’t have any heat.
Both times I charged £40 and have lost out as I only arrange 3/4 little jobs for a day.

 

[rpm]

I try and charge the agreed amount and offer the sweetener of £75 off when you return to replace, how much you do actually credit them is up to you.

 

[Aquarius]

Still need to cover your costs Scott, and the way I’d be looking at it is, you may have saved them from CO poisoning or worse. Like rpm says, can always say it would come off a new one?

 

[SimonG]

Serviced two oil boilers in a working mens club a couple of years ago. Fired them up to do the combustion and the room filled with smoke and poc. Condemned them, and give them the bill for the servicing.

 

[oz-plumber]

The problem is not your fault and you can't guarantee that when you go to do a service that the boiler will be in safe working order.

I would have at least charged them the agreed service call fee - if not more if it took you longer to do the works.
You don't replace a part on the boiler during service without charging for the part - do you?

You have to make a living at the expense of your customers.
You don't have to be greedy, but you have to be paid for your time, knowledge and experience.

 

[mfgs]

You still need to charge for the service. You are there to ensure the correct and safe operation of the appliance. You have done your job and made sure they are safe.

 

[Stanios]

" A landlord certicate is a record of the condition of the appliance at the time of the check. It is not a pass or fail certificate"

This is from the last Gas Safe magazine

Not sure if you have to cap the gas if there isnt a gas leak or just turning off boiler and taking fuse out or turning gas cock off on boiler is enough.

 

[king of pipes]

Had this twice this month - What do you guys do in this situation?
Asked to service or gas safety check and the appliance is At Risk or Immediately Dangerous so needs switching off/ gas capping and paperwork filled out.

Todays example is asked to service a boiler.
I say £75.
Get there and the flue has a hole, by the time I cap the gas, tightness test, explain the situation, paperwork. It’s taken longer than a service would but I haven’t done the job they wanted and the don’t have any heat.
Both times I charged £40 and have lost out as I only arrange 3/4 little jobs for a day.

Bad as you may feel Scott you still need to charge for your time you may well of save their lives mate 😉😉

 

[Scott_D]

I need to toughen up.
I always like to agree costs before starting so there is no confusion. When the job changes it throws me off guard

 

[oz-plumber]

When a job changes it throws me 'on guard'.
I don't look for it, but I do make it known that charges are applicable.
Small changes can blow out, at my expense.

Be on Guard and 'toughen up'.