experience with tv installer

2012paddy2012

View(s) appreciated. I asked a TV installer for a quote for a job. The job was to run a cable from sat dish, which already had an octo fitted and connect it to a humax stb in the sitting room. In the attic the previous different installer had connected all the TVs (4) through a series of components, sending signal to the four TVs. (This is an important aspect to note). There was never a problem of ANY sort with this set up. However there was an old sky pace box plugged into the mix in the attic which fed two upstairs TVs. I basically wanted the sky box taken out and replaced with a distribution system that would work as this set up had for years, if this could be done. I felt that having this box plugged in was using electricity needlessly. The job was looked at, and priced (expensive) and I was told it was no problem and it could be done. Based on this assurance I agreed to go ahead. That was nearly six months ago. The work was second to none, neat and the installer very courteous and competent. The owner who you deal with is a different matter. This is a long story; I will cut it short, being fair to both parties. The evening that the job was completed, the saorview in the sitting room went "NO SIGNAL" and after a while I changed the set top box (stb) to another saorview box , I had upstairs and reinstalled it from new installation menu. It worked. .fine ...I put the stb that had showed the no signal fault in the sitting room, back upstairs and it worked no problem. That evening I contacted the owner and I told him the problem had occurred. The original view taken by him was that the box was the fault and not the job, completed a couple of hours earlier. This continued on and off and intermittingly without warning for the last six months. On the majority of occasions I went up and down the stairs swopping set top boxes, I eventually formed the view that it was not the box. The problem was confined to the sitting room saorview feed from attic only. In fairness after continually, I mean continually trying to get this guy back he did send his installer back 5 times(over 6 months)  However it was a case he says of trying to find the issue causing the problem. This involved just changing the new cable, switching around to see if it's a cable fault. Then changing one set of combiners with another. That is reasonable. I have all the texts and emails documented as I was about to go the small claims court to try resolve the matter. The reason for my frustration is because the matter was occurring infrequently , Murphy's Law  the odd time i sat down to watched it , it went NO SIGNAL , I had to leave the room and watch the program in another room. I kept owner abreast of these issues continually. No one likes bothering someone continually, but this is typical of the response....ah sure we will be over next week and sure..if not maybe the following week!!Bad as that is on two different occasions I was told a note  was taken of my call and they would be over , weeks and weeks pass , I contact him ....reply...ah sure i forgot to mention it to the installer or similar...Imagine after paying a professional to carry out a job, paid him full and up front ..This is what you get, when he leaves you with a fault he caused during his installation...again the point is ...Never a problem or issue before he came near the place. What comes across to me with this couldn't care less attitude is...I got your money now "feck" off. The final straw yesterday was after weeks of trying to coax him back again ( I had decided before the installer called yesterday, and the continual unsuccessful attempts to solve the issue , i wasn't go to contact them again life is just too short) I was sick of trying and trying to get him back...his lax attitude, coupled with inability to solve the problem.  I asked the owner, would he not come and view the work his installer did? No not a hope. It's a sort of double act talk to one and the other comes to do the job...it's a... he didn't tell me i didn't tell him sort of set up. Yesterday I got the shock of my life, installer swopped aerial and put a new filter in..Ran a new cable.. This in the hope that this might or might not sort the problem. He gives me a bill for another 80 quid on top of the original fee, for this work hoping that it might resolve the issue...this is the issue that never existed prior to him carrying out the work in the first place!! I think he has a cheek. If I was a service person and carried out work for someone and it didn't fulfil a basic criteria i.e. that it works properly...I would be embarrassed and repair immediately , I don't think continually fobbing off and  forcing the customer to try and cajole me to call back would be satisfactory or indeed good working practice. Bottom line is the job was completed with a fault, it's not my problem I am not a TV installer , therefore I employed an installer and expect the job as quoted be completed as agreed.   Appreciate views.....P

amdaley28

I always believe that if someone does a poor job they should get a chance to put it right.
If they refuse or start taking liberties they should be named & shamed.
Cut your loses with this lot & get someone decent to fix the job.
Don't pay them another penny.

Unfortunately there are people like this all over the country.
The only way to hurt them is in their pocket. Tell everyone you know what they are like.
Never ever pay for a job up front no matter what it is.
I worked for myself for many years & I never asked for money up front except if it was to pay for the materials required to carry out the job & then only if the material cost was large.

You can always start a new thread elsewhere in Boards asking for recommendations for a good installer in your area.