To think I shouldn't have to pay this?

[MidniteScribbler]

One of my washing machines was being temperamental, so I called a repairer yesterday morning. When he asked if it was urgent or not I said that it wasn't, and so we scheduled an appointment for next week (I wanted a late in the afternoon appointment as I'm a teacher). He rang yesterday afternoon and said that he had a cancellation so he had finished early and lived around the corner from me and he could stop and do the job on the way home. I agreed. He came by and fixed it, then handed me a bill, including a line item for $150 for 'same-day fee' (in addition to his regular "minimum call out/labour fee" line item charge. I paid him cash for the job, less the same day fee and said that my appointment had been booked for next week, not today, it was his choice. He said that he had come today so I had to pay for it. I refused again and said that I was not paying. He began screaming at me and I told him to leave or I would call the police. He left, shrieking out the car window that he was going to sue me.

Was I wrong to refuse to pay the fee? He didn't have to come that day, next week would have been fine, and if he'd told me on the phone that he was going to try and charge me an extra $150 for coming yesterday afternoon I would have told him to stick to the original appointment.

[Birdsgottafly]

He rang you and offered you the cancelled appointment, so, no, you don't have to pay the fee.

He's filled his day and freed up his time, that can now be used.

He was being incredibly cheeky.

[MuffinMaiden]

He sounds like a right cheeky git to me, expecting you to pay extra because someone else cancelled!

[headexplodesbodyfreezes]

Let him sue, there's no way that's going to stand up in court!

[Charlesroi]

I wonder how often he gets 'cancellations', enabling him to charge such a whopping fee? my money's on frequently I presume if he'd had a free appointment today you'd have turned it down if was going to cost an extra $150.

I call piss-taking chancer.

[PegsPigs]

YANBU The same day was at his convenience not yours. Why should you have to pay for someone else cancelling?

[ChickyChickyParmParm]

That is awful - and so aggressive. Hope you're ok, I would have been rattled by that.

And no, YANBU. Let him sue.

[MattDillonsPants]

Is he on social media? SHARE this crook's behaviour today. What if he did that to an elderly person. What a terrible man.

[chumbler]

Yanbu. And I agree with others, make a shout about this, he's a crook. Is there a body you can complain to where you are? Like trading standards or watchdog

[FishWithABicycle]

Yanbu. What country are you in though? I can't see this charge ever being upheld in a UK court but don't know much about other countries.

[Creampastry]

Yanbu, cheeky git!

[ZenNudist]

Yanbu

Google review?

[Bellygirl]

YANBU but I really think you need to share what he did, does he have somewhere to review him? It's awful to think he could do this to people who would believe they had to pay it

[CanadianJohn]

Good grief. Our washing machine cost only about $450 (=£225), I certainly wouldn't pay £150+ to fix it.

Of course, washers over here have a simpler design - they don't heat the water, for instance, and are mostly top-loaders.

[nonamenopackdrill]

One of my washing machines was being temperamental

As a matter of interest, how many do you have?

[topcat2014]

I'm guessing Australia?

[BalloonSlayer]

There are plenty out there like this. Good for you for standing up to him.

Our Satellite dish is on the flat roof of a big ground floor extension, large enough to stroll about on quite safely. When we had the flat roof replaced we had to get someone round to adjust it so it worked again. Five minute job for which we were quoted £65 < wince > by a largeish local company. Guy came round, it duly took 5 mins, tried to charge me £70. I said I had been quoted £65. He rolled his eyes and said the office quoted that for "simple jobs" but my dish was so hard to reach he charged more. How could it be any easier to reach? Most people have them on chimneys! Plus 'the office' had asked where the dish was and I had told them! I pointed all this out. He was clearly unimpressed and kept harrumphing when I wouldn't pay more. It left me feeling awful and worried and of course because of that I'll never use that company again and will badmouth them to everyone I can. All because he just had to try for that extra fiver.

[MidniteScribbler]

As a matter of interest, how many do you have?

I have two. My dad and I both brought new washer/dryers at the same time to get a good deal. He passed away not long after, so I decided to keep both and have one for the dog blankets and towels. It was the dog one that went on strike, so it wasn't really urgent getting it fixed. Total first world problem.

I'm going to write a review on our local facebook page about him, as that's where I got his details from. It's still pretty small town mentality around here, so word will get around.