Opinions on a oil boiler service bill please

[astronaughtee]

Hi

I recently had our HRM Wallster serviced with a few light repairs. It was done by a friend of a friend who is registered (oftec etc).

I was a little shocked when we received the bill today (via post), and to me it seems a little high. I did ask him when he was doing it to warn me for any possible shocks in the cost, but he gave me no warning, or even a ball park figure until i received the bill today.

I should say my suspicion is aroused as the tradesman in question has asked me to do a quote for him (web work) whilst i was waiting for his invoice and his bill is a just a little short of what i quoted him (a at (shown) discounted rate i should add, which i don't feel replicated).

I could be totally wrong with all this and hence i thought i'd ask some fellow professionals for your opinions on the cost.

All the invoice says is :

Work carried out:
• HRM Wallstar service and repairs
• Materials used:
- Oil pump
- Fire and non return valve
- Nozzle
- Sealing rope
- Ignition box

Cost: £436.20 (inc vat)

He was here between 1-2hrs

I have no complaints with the work and he seems to have done a good job. So in theory i shouldn't be complaining. Its just the cost being very similar to what quoted (which is going to take me around 4 days to do).

So can i ask, do you think i got shafted or the cost is ok, or i got a bargain.

Thanks you for your opinions.

 

[astronaughtee]

Also i should say this is our first oil boiler. Before this we where always used to combi boilers, which may be cheaper to service, repair install etc. So i may be a bit ignorant on the costs for an oil system.

 

[dontknowitall]

You don't say where you live (which does have a bearing). I wouldn't be happy charging that price - for example I serviced a boiler a couple of days ago for £110 (about 3 hours).

Yesterday I spent from 9:20am to 3:30pm leaving home, visiting house again, changing flexi line via a new connection, return home for an old burner, re-visit and change photocell then return home again. Boiler still not working properly and customer said he'd put in a replacement fire valve (which in his case was causing boiler to cut out after 5 minutes of running) and new filling loop (his one was letting by). Because the boiler wasn't working properly I charged £100 for this. If I'd fixed (or been given the opportunity to fix!) I'd have probably charged £275. (Part of my £100 included a discount for turning his Aga off by mistake!)

If all had gone to plan I'd have charged a total of £385 (vat not chargeable for me - don't earn enough).

You do have to bear in mind that items, equipment, training etc have got expensive these days. Our analyzers (which we have to use) cost £500 to buy and this year one of mine cost £375 for it's annual calibration and checking. Public liability insurance is a good £300. Training is around £250 per year, averaged out and OFTEC registration is nearly that price too. There's also the cost of other tools, another £120 for the books we have to own, and then we need a vehicle to carry the stuff around in and at 40p a mile that mounts up too.

In addition, knowledge and experience costs money and there's much else that we look for (and have to) apart from cleaning the boiler and changing a couple of pieces. Your oil tank needs to be checked for safety, the oil line for safety and leaks, etc, etc, etc.

So £400 is more than I'd charge but I'm sure there are technicians where I live who charge similar prices to this where I live. The only thing that makes me wonder is how he can do a proper oil boiler service (according to OFTEC rules) in 1-2 hours. Makes me wonder with that timing how he knew both the pump and control box (or ignition) required changing and how he changed them within that time (as well as the service).

 

[markproperjob]

I charge £75 all in for an oil service.
I'm oftec registered with a FULL oftec card, unlike
Many with just servicing ticket.
I live in cornwall.
I have 22 years experience.
I charge less than the rest as it guarentees a steady flow of work.
£75 for an oil service inc nozzle, 1 1/4hrs, analyser printout, calibration, filter clean, tank dip, etc.
I charge the same for vapourising.
The bill you had was a bit heavy, £200 tops for parts....
But what do you do for a living to warrant charging him almost the same?
I would say that oll technicians are as specialised
As , say, solicitors, if you need our skills, you have to pay for them...

 

[benjibilly]

A bit on the expensive side, a service would normally take me 2 hours.
Was the boiler not working when you had him round? If he's changed the pump and the control box I would assume it wasn't.
I always inform my customers of parts that need replacing or look like they're on their last legs.

 

[Rickster123]

Blimey Benjibilly how did you find this thread?! It's an old one mate.

 

[benjibilly]

Maybe I'm feeling nostalgic for the heady days of 2011
I need to look at the dates posts were originally posted.

 

[Bunker]

Lol, I was about to answer too

Its another thread where the op never returned and said thanks....peeves me off when they log in, write a thread, read the answers ad never come back with even a 'ta'......pah.