Call out charge dispute

redved

Hello

Not sure if this is the correct forum but anyway...

I called a roofing contractor earlier this week about a possible leak in a shared drain between our property and our neighbours.
Before making the appointment I asked the lady was there any call out charge. She informed me that there was not.

Anyway the guy arrived this morning on site to inspect.
he took about 15 mins looking at the roof and said that as the drain/gutter was internal he could not say where the leak was coming from and left it at that.

About an hour later i recieve an invoice from the company with a bill for €90 for the call out charge.
I have disputed this invoice as I was informed there was no call out charge.

I have since been informed that its discretionariy applied if the company does not get any work from the initial survey

What do people think, is this charge justified?
There is no mention of call out charges any where on the website either

Many Thanks,
redved

whomitconcerns

i would say its reasonable if he doesnt get any business..you asked for his skills and experience for an assesment, so this has to be paid for.

billy few mates

So you called him earlier this week and he turned up today and tries to stick you with a "call out" charge...?
This is crazy, I can understand having to pay a call out charge if (for example) you call someone out of their bed at some ungodly hour to fix your plumbing/heating/roof or whatever, but having someone call for a prearranged appointment a few days later hardly qualifies as a "call out". I've had this very discussion with tradesmen in the past and I've told them I'm not paying a call out charge if they're not coming immediately, most of them (reluctantly) accepted, those that didn't were told not to bother.
Besides he's a roofer, it's not like you have the option to bring your roof round to him, travelling to assess people's roofs is part and parcel of his occupation, why should he be allowed to pass on his travelling expenses to the customer?
I would refuse to pay that call out if you haven't agreed to it (in writing) and as a consumer I would advise everybody to refuse to pay call out charges for anything....

billy few mates

I have since been informed that its discretionariy applied if the company does not get any work from the initial survey

Rubbish! So if you refuse their outlandish quote or doubt their bone fides in any way they can stick you with a fine for exercising your freedom of choice...?

donegal.

should there be a call out charge? - yes.
But you where told there wouldn'd be one, not that there was a €90 charge that would be wavered if it led to further work.

billy few mates

donegal. wrote: »

should there be a call out charge? - yes.

Why...?

donegal.

billy few mates wrote: »

Why...?

there are costs involved in calling to your house, petrol insurance their time etc. etc.
do you think this should be free? why?

redved

whomitconcerns wrote: »

i would say its reasonable if he doesnt get any business..you asked for his skills and experience for an assesment, so this has to be paid for.

The problem I have with this is I explicitly asked was there a call out charge only to be told this was not the case.

The logic being applied by the roofing company is that if somebody calls for someone to look at the roof there is a very good chance that work needs to be done.
People aren't calling others out to admire their roof.

I believe the whole thing is disingenuous.

billy few mates

donegal. wrote: »

there are costs involved in calling to your house, petrol insurance their time etc. etc.
do you think this should be free? why?

Yes I do, they're a rip off and I refuse to allow myself to be ripped off.

How can a roofer, a plumber or any other tradesman charge for a "call out" when the nature of their business dictates that they can only do their job by 'calling out' to your premises, it's not like you can avoid the charge by dropping the roof round to them! Let them come and quote for the job, if the customer is satisfied with that quote they can then charge for their services. What's to stop an unscrupulous tradesman who for whatever reason can't be bothered with the job giving a ridiculous quote and pocketing the call out charge for nothing?
As I said earlier call out charges should only be applied if someone is called out of their bed or drops everything to respond immediately to your call.
I once had to call a tradesman out to repair the central heating in the middle of a really cold snap, it was about seven o clock on a Tuesday evening, one guy told me he would call round the following Saturday morning to have a look and I would have to pay his €150 "standard call out" charge for this service...! Needless to say I told him where to go but I would have quite happily paid the charge if he told me he'd be straight round....