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AIBU?

to be peed off with DH for spending £100 on having our boiler fixed

26 replies

PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:01

There is an 'error' a simple 'error'. It is just out of warranty, and our 'plumber' wants to charge £100 to come and fix it.

The error comes from time to time, and is fixed by resetting it, and then after a couple of weeks it comes back.

Now, DH has not got off his backside to get this sorted in any capacity other than to find out our plumber will charge us £100 to come out and fix it.

It happens that he overhears the builder saying he is going to fit the radiator upstairs, and DH decides to try to get plumber to do it for free (we all know he is expensive for central heating, so this is unlikely). I told DH it is not rocket science to fit a radiator, he could do it himself if he so desired, so why do we need a specialist plumber over our builder who had done it before?

Anyway, he ignores me when I say I would prefer to see if we can get a cheaper plumber. He says he is calling on the premise of the new radiator.

He calls up our plumber who is now booked to fix our boiler (which is currently working fine) for £100, and he has also told DH that 1) he would charge to do the radiator, and 2) its easy to fit and the builder can do it no problem.

I have asked him to cancel the job until we see if we can get a cheaper plumber. And he said 'no, he is our plumber, he is reliable, we know him, he fitted our boiler blah blah'. But he is not having a baby and is greater need of our money than us is he? .

DH has not even bloody looked up the fault on the internet to see how simple it is to fix.

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AnyFucker · 22/06/2009 21:03

errr, our boiler cost 2.5 grand to fix

100 quid seems like a bargain to me.....

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:05

Even without checking out anyone else first? Would you just use someone to fix something because he fitted your boiler once apon a time?

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:06
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rubyslippers · 22/06/2009 21:07

i would use a plumber i knew and trusted every time

once you find a good one, you hang on to them

£100 sounds reasonable, considering a call out charge can be anything from £40 upwards

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AnyFucker · 22/06/2009 21:08

yes, if he had done previous work and you trusted him

much better than sticking a pin in the Yellow Pages and possibly getting yourself a cowboy to do the work

trustworthy plumbers, joiners, plasterers, builders etc etc are worth holding on to, believe me

have you never seen that tv programme about dodgy tradesmen?

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:08

I am sure you are right.

waves goodbye to new pushchair for baby.

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:09

We have other plumbers we know. DH just won't ask them for a price. The plumber says he knows what the problem is and it will be £100 to fix.

I guess, at least it is something.

I just needed to vent as DH just went a did his own thing. Pisses me off.

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SomeGuy · 22/06/2009 21:11

Why don't you find a more DIYish forum somewhere and research what the problem is. Or try to found out from the plumber for next time.

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PussinJimmyChoos · 22/06/2009 21:12

Yes but better to have a working boiler and get it sorted before autumn - you won't fancy a cold house with a newborn around - especially if it was as damp and cold as last Sept/Oct

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AnyFucker · 22/06/2009 21:13

but you wanted to spend the money on a new pushchair (possibly not essential), instead of fixing the boiler (essential, IMO)

look at it from his point of view

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:14

someguy it is an electrode fault or something. I know the fault number. But DH does not beleive in learning stuff, he would rather chuck the money away.

But jimmy you are right. I know, I know

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TrinityRhino · 22/06/2009 21:15

where do you live?

I know my dh is honest and bloody good at his job

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AnyFucker · 22/06/2009 21:15

oi, I am right too

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:16

Trinity - am in Devon.

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HecatesTwopenceworth · 22/06/2009 21:16

It is really hard to find a good, reliable, trustworthy plumber/electrician/builder/mechanic...

If you have, then hang onto them!

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TrinityRhino · 22/06/2009 21:17

bugger, we used to live in devon
now we are in scotland sorry

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:17

anyfucker you are right too. Apart from the £100 being money that I made selling old baby stuff etc etc for the new pushchair.

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 22/06/2009 21:17

Send him down will ya?

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Wonderstuff · 22/06/2009 21:19

The plumber that did our boiler charged £400, all my christmas money gone, puff, I was going to go to the sancturary for a day BUT they did a good job, we know other people who had the same fault and got charged the same money by differnt plumbers, and having hot water and central heating is nice. I would get the same plumber out again. Problem with boilers is you need someone who is corgi/gas safe registered, you can't just get any pumber to do it.

YANBU to be upset at having to part with £100 but I really don't think it is your dh's fault.

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SomeGuy · 22/06/2009 23:26

someguy it is an electrode fault or something. I know the fault number. But DH does not beleive in learning stuff, he would rather chuck the money away.

Ok, so why not go find out about it and fix it? Seems like you're more capable to fix it than him.

Or take charge of this sort of thing if you don't like the way your husband does it?

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Merrylegs · 22/06/2009 23:30

"DH has not even bloody looked up the fault on the internet to see how simple it is to fix."

So I guess you have?

If it's that simple, can't YOU fix it?

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1dilemma · 22/06/2009 23:32

oh I'm sorry if it cheers you up I once paid £100 for a company which advertises no call out charge to come and look at our boiler and say he couldn't do anything to fix it!!

(I had a 2 day old baby!) but I realised after he'd left that I'd just been legally mugged

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nametaken · 22/06/2009 23:42

I think the best thing here would be for you to sort the boiler out, as you obviously think it's something simple and can spend less than £100 getting it fixed

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HolyGuacamole · 23/06/2009 00:12

Sorry but I think YABU. Your DH might have the capability of fixing it if he looks into it a bit more etc. However, it's not worth messing around with boilers unless you are qualified to do so. Imagine of your DH made an attempt at fixing it and then either made it worse or unsafe?

I know it is a pain to pay £100 but what you will get is peace of mind and a properly working boiler. Also, if you know a guy who has done work for you in the past and has been good/reliable etc, the it's is common sense to use him.

(I have in the past been victim to many a shoddy workman and have also twice had boilers left 'illegal to use' by Transco after they were left unsafe by said dodgy workmen)

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MrsBonJovi · 23/06/2009 00:17

you wont be regretting him spending this in the middle of a cold winter! £100 isnt bad for a boiler repair.

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