Do you charge for replacing something that goes wrong within a year??

[bennythedip]

Hi all,
I'm just wondering what you do if something goes wrong before it's warranty has run out. I've had to replace several groundfos circulating pumps in the last while that have only been in for a couple of months(apparently they don't work too well on solid fuel system) . I haven't charged for them but was wondering should I charge for my time in replacing them or do you just take the hit?? Any thoughts..

 

[mfgs]

If you supplied the pump then its up to you to sort it out. If the customer supplied the pump then you should be charging them.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

You really should be on the phone to the manufacturer if it fails within a year....

 

[hammers4spanner]

agrre with chappy

get on phone to manufacturer get them to sort it

then watch themn turn up and tell you that its your fault as you have not done this n that

 

[mfgs]

Just swap the pump, its an hours work max. Take it back to merchants and get it swapped. Much quicker solution for your customer, which makes them happy and makes you look good.

 

[lame plumber]

I make sure if I do a boiler swap that there's a portion of my bill thats around£100 or so more than labour or profit to cover call backs, so if I have to return I do so knowing I have been paid up front as it were

 

[SimonG]

Thats why i have 30% on my materials. Cant charge when within the 12 months imho

 

[kirkgas]

The customer has a contract with you, so if there's a problem with material you supplied in the first year it's your job to fix it, whether it's by you or manufacturer depends on what is faulty, boilers get done my manufacturer, the rest is down to you, get the problem solved and the customer is happy with the service, then go back to manufacturer with the problem, ask them to pay your reasonable labour charge or you will stop buying their gear, they can decide whether you are worth it or not, as it's a pump we are talking about, if it's a brand new system, then a above, however it you are connecting to an old system and haven't been paid to do flush/cleanse etc get it in your T&C's that any problem caused by the old system sludge etc, then it's a chargeable job, just because they haven't paid the full amount to get everything cleaned doesn't mean you need to do freebies, and as already said, if the gear is supplied by the customer that should also be in your T&C's that all work related to their material is chargeable

 

[Best]

Keep a small percentage on top of your cost price of the pump towards any call backs.
If it is a one off faulty item, then just accept that, but if it is happening with the same make of part on different jobs, then send a reasonable bill to your wholesalers for the extra cost to you.

 

[Best]

The pump should work on solid fuel heating just like oil or gas. Only thing to worry about is crud in the system & might be worth checking the pump inside & photograph it if it is clean.
I notice pumps on the return tend to last longer generally, obviously due to less heat.

 

[village idiot]

however it you are connecting to an old system and haven't been paid to do flush/cleanse etc get it in your T&C's that any problem caused by the old system sludge etc, then it's a chargeable job, just because they haven't paid the full amount to get everything cleaned doesn't mean you need to do freebies, and as already said, if the gear is supplied by the customer that should also be in your T&C's that all work related to their material is chargeable

It is your responsibility to ensure that the system is ''clean'' before you leave the said installation up and running. If you decide to fit a boiler on ''the cheap'' just because custard doesn't want to pay to have the system flushed/cleanse is your problem, not the customers. If the customer is not prepared to pay to have the system flushed/cleansed, then you should walk away from the job. What happens if HE fails within TWO months and manufacturer is called to sort it out under warranty? They will blame the installer, SIMPLES.

 

[kirkgas]

It is your responsibility to ensure that the system is ''clean'' before you leave the said installation up and running. If you decide to fit a boiler on ''the cheap'' just because custard doesn't want to pay to have the system flushed/cleanse is your problem, not the customers. If the customer is not prepared to pay to have the system flushed/cleansed, then you should walk away from the job. What happens if HE fails within TWO months and manufacturer is called to sort it out under warranty? They will blame the installer, SIMPLES.

To a point I agree with you, however, not everyone is in a position to knock back every job they get offered, some customers will not pay for what should be done, either because they won't or can't, either way the boiler needs renewed and someone needs to do it, it isn't unsafe to connect to an old system, just not best practice, so those who do these jobs need to protect themselves from getting caught up in freebies

 

[kirkgas]

To a point I agree with you, however, not everyone is in a position to knock back every job they get offered, some customers will not pay for what should be done, either because they won't or can't, either way the boiler needs renewed and someone needs to do it, it isn't unsafe to connect to an old system, just not best practice, so those who do these jobs need to protect themselves from getting caught up in freebies

Re the point of the HE, if it fails due to sludge and the manufacturer, quite rightly refuses to cover it then that would be a chargeable repair by either the installer or the manufacturer, as long as it's detailed in the T &C's and not against the regs I would do the work if it was all that was available, and I needed the money, without blinking an eye

 

[village idiot]

You may look at it that way.
Just because you have included a clause in your contract that: 'Customer declined a flush and so any probs etc will be chargeable'', and get the customer to sign the contract does not mean it is enforceable.
in a court of law, the said statement will hold no water. As a matter of fact, the judge will take a dim view at your approach. Regardless of what clauses you include in your contracts, the courts always go for REASONABLENESS. The manufacturers require you to flush/clean the system. Best practice is to do that. The commissioning check list ensures you do that.
Is it reasonable to expect the HE to block up within months of a new boiler being fitted? NO. So to claim it is chargeable by you or the manufacturer is not true. Chargeable by the manufacturer, yes. By you, no. Had you installed the system as adviced by the manufacturer, the problem wouldn't have presented itself