Call last night - thought I'd share it

[raustin]

Morning guys

OK so I get this phone call yesterday evening about 8ish. This guy is at his dads house and none of the downstairs lights work. The house has the old style fuse board and lights are split upstairs and downstairs.

He goes on to tell me that he has removed all the bulbs from downstairs swapped the lighting fuses over. He then tried to fit a buld in the downstairs toilet, the bulb flickered and then he dropped it in the toilet.

He went on to say that he doesn't have any spare bulbs to try (not sure why he can't use one from upstairs). He then mentioned that there are black scorch marks around the downstaits toilet light but not to worry about that as they were caused by a fan heater.

I couldn't make any sense out of him as to whether the upstairs lights were still working since he swapped the fuses over.

I then also got from him that the kitchen strip light bulb wasn't fitted as this was knocked out recently when they were having some building work carried out.

He wanted me to go out last night, so I told him that was fine & that there would be a call out charge.

Strangly enough he delcined and said that he may call me back tomorrow.

You'll have to excuss me as I'm fairly new to this, but it sounds to me that this guy is having a bit of a laugh & wanted someone to sort more than his downstairs lights.

 

[pushrod]

. This guy is at his dads house .

I would also be very wary of doing any work for somebody who is not the owner of the property!

 

[Newsome3]

And also someone who doesn't have spate lamps!!!! Haha

 

[flyingsausage]

It sound s as if he wanted a the job done for nothing

 

[RexT]

Hi raustin,
Sounds like its a bit odd and your are not being told the full facts. Your caller sounds as if he has had a few too many.
I would agree with the other comments. I would suggest it is best to get the ground rules straight first as to what he is actually wanting you to do and for how much.
There are a lot of people out there who seem to think that its a free service and calls are done as a favour.
Easier to not drive miles for nothing and waste your time.
Best wishes
Rex

 

[raustin]

Cheers for all the advice guys.

Rich

 

[nick182]

good for tellin him about the call out charge.. i think that this guy was just wanting some free advice. I have had that in the past where they will call me to fix their problems but not actually wanting to pay. just only advice.

if he calls and you go around make sure u get payment on all materials before hand.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Evening call from someone who cant give a proper story.....p1ssed up or stoned...lol..

 

[i=p/u]

driving for miles happens... have to get tough on these punks myself..

 

[baldelectrician]

Had a call today
Now wise to the can't pay / won't pay brigade

To sum up, call around 10am, left no message but a sigh and hung up
I called the number back (got the no from the message) to find out they have no power on part of their sockets

I gave them the option of £35 per hour after 8.30 Monday morning or £75 per hour (no call out fee!!) at the weekend
I was getting it in the kneck for not being at home with the missus and our 3 month old son (child no 4).

I take payment for the first hour in advance on debit card out of hours as it seperates the wheat from the chaff

Gladly they declined the offer

So a happy missus and a peaceful Saturday