To not pay this fee?

@femfemlicious im presuming you didn’t read this bit

When you might not get a cooling-off periodYou don’t automatically get a cooling-off period if:

• you have something specially made - for example, made to measure curtains, windows or a conservatory (some traders voluntarily offer a 7 day cooling-off period for these products, but they don’t have to)
• you invite the business into your home for urgent repairs or maintenance - for example, when you ask a plumber to come and mend a burst pipe

I think there might be a lot of scams like this around. I found a firm online. The person they sent walked in, said the job was impossible and asked for £150. No call out change had been mentioned or agreed to - I had asked for a quote for the job. He was in my house less than 2 minutes, but kept asking me to pay. He then tried to negotiate half of the money because he had come from a distance of about 1.5 hours away. I told him I had been assured that the firm was in the next town over, 20 minutes away. I called his office, was told someone would call me back (I never did hear from them). In the meantime he kept demanding money. It was quite intimidating, and I just planning to go and get the man next door to help me throw him out when he got up and left. I was half expecting to hear back that they were going to invoice me/take me to court. But never heard anything. It occurred to me after he left that this tactic could be quite the money spinner. I got a local guy in the following week, job took 15 minutes and cost £100.

According to that she has a 14 day cooling off period.

Ignore. You have done nothing wrong they probably won’t come round & quite Frank it’s tantamount to bullying.

Yes, if they call again, threaten them with the Police. You cancelled in good time and nobody came, it's just extortion.

A lot of apparently local companies aren't, they're national agencies, which may have a pool of workers, or actually have locals on their books, with a fat fee. We had a pipe burst on a Sunday evening and I had an £80 call out charge, which I didn't really object to; it was well out of business hours.

They gut gave me his card and said if I needed plumbing work, to call him and dodge the fee.

I had something a few weeks ago - i booked a 9 seater cab and they sent me the invoice (2 weeks in advance) along with the TOB's, which i didn't agree with (very one sided), so i called them the next day and said that we weren't proceeding with the booking and they said that i had to pay 40%!

Of course i didn't, because i hadn't paid, hadn't signed anything and thus hadn't entered in to a contact with them.

They sent me a few threatening emails which i ignored. Comanies like this prey on people who are cowered and intimidated.

OP does not say that so where are you getting that from? In fact OP mentions “the call out charge” so sounds like it was mentioned to me. I would also expect that it would be mentioned on an emergency call out for a water leak.

My experience of decent trades companies when I have booked over the phone is that they tend to read you the Ts and Cs (including the cancellation policy) as they confirm the booking. I would imagine that this may be a legal requirement so you could have a good reason to withhold payment if they did not
make their policy clear.

So what would you do on a weekend if your roof was ‘leaking water excessively’ into your flat?

I must be very fortunate then because I have never - and would never - pay that amount for a simple call out without any work agreed.

OP wasn’t made aware of any charge until after cancelling through.

£150 is clearly a scammy amount for a call out change. It’s obscene.

And as an employee on call your contract is generally that you get paid for call outs- doesn’t make any difference if you turn around you’ve still been called out and had to leave your home to work. Employees don’t work for free

Unfortunately it’s not an extortionate call out fee for a contractor, it’s probably lower end! And they’ve potentially turned down work
but tbh it’s all irrelevant because from the CAB advice she’s agreed the contract, doesn’t look like she fulfils the criteria to back out and is now liable for the costs outlined

Somebody got in their car and drove for 15 minutes then had to drive home again, so another 15 minutes. They might have turned down another job in the meantime. In any case, if OP agreed the charge then it is entirely plausible that she needs to pay it.

You’d want paying £150 to get in the car, drive a bit then turn around and go home?!

Thats an extortionate call out fee and they didn’t actually turn up or do anything, the appointment was cancelled so fast and they said they were still an hour away anyway!

@cooroocoocoo
youve got the wrong section there https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/cancelling-building-or-decorating-work/

OP has agreed the contract verbally, she can’t necessarily cancel

Unless it stated upfront there was a booking fee regardless of whether you cancelled they are pulling a fast one.

When did they say they were due to arrive? It may only be 15 minutes later you cancelled but they might have already notified the on duty person and they’d left home by the time you rang back and cancelled. If I was on call and got told to go to an address, got ready and left the house I’d expect paying tbh. I would t be so sure you’re not liable to pay as you booked and confirmed an emergency call out. Was there any confirmation/ t&c’s and how long was the emergency window?

Scammers. Block them and ignore them. If they turn up, do not open the door.

You have a record of the second call on your phone, so don't let them bully you.

Make sure you leave a Google review with 1 star! Scammers.

If they contact you again state that you cancelled because of the reviews saying they were a scam. They're basically proving they are scammers with this £150 charge

They are wrong. If you feel threatened pls do report them to non emergency number.

Here is citizen advice on cooling off after booking a service:
Citizen Advice site

There are some exceptions but the one you mentioned is not one of them.

You are under no obligation to answer the door but if you do you calmly state that if they don't leave you are calling the police.

Block them and if they carry on, phone the police.

Fuckers.