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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Weird customer service

46 replies

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:15

I needed my lead flashings replaced around my dorma windows. I contacted a lot of roofers and found a good one - I got a date which was 8 weeks away, as they were a good company with good reviews I decided to wait and go with them. All other roofers had similar availability but were not as well rated. A few days before the agreed date I got a phone call saying the work would start 4 days later than expected, I explained that was ok but I wouldn’t be happy if the work didn’t start on the newly agreed date. I was assured that the work would start 4 days after the date agreed (they made me sign work contracts prior with the initial date and lots of warnings about my right to cancel and my legal obligations to honour the contract). I said I was ok with one pushback but I am eager to get work done as I had been waiting 8 weeks and I was conscious of wet weather forecast. The water had been entering through a gap between the lead and the slate and tracking across the beam so I have brown water stains in my dining room. However, the day before the second date I got another phone call saying the work will start a week after the first initial date. I expressed I was not happy with this, we had agreed a date why has it been delayed twice and why assure me after the first reschedule that there would be no more rescheduling. I got a lot of excuses - they are working on an open roof etc. I explained that someone else’s roof wasn’t my concern, I am only interested in my job - I have water coming in through the gap. I explained I was told explicitly that it wouldn’t be delayed again and I asked how can I be sure they won’t push back a third time. I was told that I wouldn’t and this inconvenience would be reflected in the price. I never asked for a discount, the receptionist suggested this more than once. I asked her to clarify what she meant as she was just saying ‘sorry, this will be reflected.’ She couldn’t tell me how much discount but it was established there would be a discount. The work was carried out a week after the agreed date and 9 weeks after initial booking. I called up for a new invoice as the invoice I had was incorrect and had the wrong dates on it. I was told abruptly I would not get a discount. I hadn’t even mentioned the discount as I was pleased with the work and glad it was watertight. The way the receptionist told me made me really annoyed, I only asked for a reissued invoice and she said ‘we will not be a discount on the bill’ and kept talking over me telling me the delay was due to covid, she had worked there for thirteen years and in that time it is not their policy to discount . I stopped her to tell her I never even mentioned discount but since she brought it up why did her colleague (her supervisor) tell me it would be reflected. She said she doesn’t know and they would need to be clearer about the way they say things. I said I had been given the wrong information three times and they have a really bad attitude, almost accusing me of trying to get a discount when I hadn’t even said anything and it was them a week ago who told me about this ? Now thinking about it i’m a bit annoyed at the way she spoke to me and the misinformation given. Why offer something and then be really rude about it a week after? What should I say? She is a really annoying lady who interrupts and talks over me. When the person first answered phone I explained who I was and I needed an invoice - she must have passed me on to her and said that’s the lady wanting a discount or something to that effect and when she came on she immediately started a tirade about how there will be no money off. That ruffled my feathers as I hadn’t even called about that? What would you think about this? The roof engineers were amazing, it’s the receptionists that are so rude? The lady who said about the date being set back twice would be reflected is off for a few weeks. I asked her colleague why did she say that if it’s not commonplace to offer discounts. She said she did not know and the person is off for a few weeks but left a note on my invoice saying no discount? Seems like they got me to sign a work contract so I couldn’t pull out but they seem to get away with rearranging planned date twice and lying to customers?
Yabu - people say stuff they don’t mean, it doesn’t matter
Yanbu - unprofessional response

OP posts:
MadeForThis · 29/10/2020 14:22

It's extremely unprofessional.

I would email the company and request that the agreed discount be applied.

Changethetoner · 29/10/2020 14:23

Yes it sounds very unprofessional. But what do you want to achieve now? You've had your rant here, so let it go. You have a watertight window now. Unfortunately some people and some firms are unprofessional at times, so we won't use them again. Can you put an honest reference up? Though I don't think 8weeks wait is unreasonable to be honest, and yes Covid could mean other jobs are unavoidably delayed or take longer, which impacts on their schedules. You are being unreasonable. A little bit anyway.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:26

@MadeForThis

It's extremely unprofessional.

I would email the company and request that the agreed discount be applied.

But they didn’t actually agree a % all she said (numerous times) was “it will be reflected?”
OP posts:
Justmuddlingalong · 29/10/2020 14:27

Remember as a customer, you're perfectly entitled to leave a review. Just as those you read influenced you, yours could influence others.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:28

@Changethetoner

Yes it sounds very unprofessional. But what do you want to achieve now? You've had your rant here, so let it go. You have a watertight window now. Unfortunately some people and some firms are unprofessional at times, so we won't use them again. Can you put an honest reference up? Though I don't think 8weeks wait is unreasonable to be honest, and yes Covid could mean other jobs are unavoidably delayed or take longer, which impacts on their schedules. You are being unreasonable. A little bit anyway.
I don’t think I am being unreasonable? I called for the invoice to be issued with correct date (as contract stated I need to pay within 7 days and the date was the original date so the 7 days would be the day the work started) I didn’t want any penalty so I wanted correct date on invoice. She started barking down phone that I wouldn’t get the discount when I called for invoice? How was I unreasonable?
OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:29

I think the delay was that my job was £2000 and they took on full roof replacement and delayed my work (she told me they were working on a totally open roof) I suspect they took on more lucrative work in the week I was meant to be seen

OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:31

@Justmuddlingalong

Remember as a customer, you're perfectly entitled to leave a review. Just as those you read influenced you, yours could influence others.
Very true. I feel bad as the roof engineers were brilliant. It’s the two women at reception I didn’t like. I had a bad taste in my mouth before the work even started as I was assured after the first delay I wouldn’t be delayed again so when she rang to delay me again I felt they were fobbing me off
OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:32

@MadeForThis

It's extremely unprofessional.

I would email the company and request that the agreed discount be applied.

It will be the same women who answers the emails and she will state that no discount will be applied - they are horrible - just talking over me and not listening
OP posts:
Letshavesometea · 29/10/2020 14:40

I haven't voted as I think YABU getting so irritated about the delay by 1 week but YANBU to expect a discount if that was what you were told. I would email the owner and give them a chance to rectify it. Then leave a review if this fails.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:45

@Letshavesometea

I haven't voted as I think YABU getting so irritated about the delay by 1 week but YANBU to expect a discount if that was what you were told. I would email the owner and give them a chance to rectify it. Then leave a review if this fails.
I should add I had expensive interior wall insulation installed before the leak so I was so worried about my lovely fluffy insulation getting damp and mouldy. Would you not be peeved if you waited 8 weeks for a date and then they pushed it back another week and you had the stress of rainy weather bad worrying about further damage caused the longer the water is left to soak in? Like I said I think they took a more lucrative job and that’s why mine way delayed
OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:46

Bad weather! Not weather bad! Typing too fast

OP posts:
UsernameN0Tavailable · 29/10/2020 14:46

You're being unreasonable about the delay. Firms are having to have less workers on jobs to allow for social distancing. The're also dealing with people having to isolate, and if one of their workers has a positive test that can mean several of their team who have been working with them would have to isolate too. Of course finishing a house that has an open roof would take priority over your job. How can you possibly think otherwise?

Yanbu about the staff member being unprofessional, but tbh you come across as a bit entitled in this post so maybe you came across as rude and unreasonable on the phone which lead to her being rude back?

MillieVanilla · 29/10/2020 14:46

I would give them an honest and concise review- say whilst the work carried out was to a good standard, the professionalism was severely lacking, two dates agreed on, one by contract, were cancelled at little notice leaving you with more work to carry out due to he delay (the stains to the wall) and the reception staff were incredible rude to you.
Watch how quick you suddenly get a call offering a discount then.

Coriandersucks · 29/10/2020 14:47

Sounds like you’re best off leaving it then if you’re so certain it’s going to be the same woman dealing with any follow up you make. It was only A week late - really to be expected in current times - and you said yourself they did an excellent job. Time to move on.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:47

I was told after the first delay I wouldn’t be delayed again and I was ok with it. I got irritated when they called with the second delay and I felt they were fobbing me off. It’s stressful having flood warnings issued and you have a leak. But maybe I was being unreasonable? I just don’t think anyone would be thrilled at this?

OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:49

@UsernameN0Tavailable

You're being unreasonable about the delay. Firms are having to have less workers on jobs to allow for social distancing. The're also dealing with people having to isolate, and if one of their workers has a positive test that can mean several of their team who have been working with them would have to isolate too. Of course finishing a house that has an open roof would take priority over your job. How can you possibly think otherwise?

Yanbu about the staff member being unprofessional, but tbh you come across as a bit entitled in this post so maybe you came across as rude and unreasonable on the phone which lead to her being rude back?

I’m genuinely asking how I come across as entitled. When I called I just gave my name and the address and asked for invoice with correct dates as i had to pay within 7 days and the paperwork I had contained the inital date. She snapped down the phone I wouldn’t be getting a discount when I asked for the new invoice - kinda puzzled on how that is entitled? She spoke over me
OP posts:
Letshavesometea · 29/10/2020 14:51

Nobody would be thrilled but they kept you up to date rather than just not turning up and it was only 1 week. I think its time to move on from that but I do believe if the company offered you a discount then that should be followed through.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:52

@Coriandersucks

Sounds like you’re best off leaving it then if you’re so certain it’s going to be the same woman dealing with any follow up you make. It was only A week late - really to be expected in current times - and you said yourself they did an excellent job. Time to move on.
Very true. I just wanted to get a feel from MN whether this is how other people would feel if it was their house. In my workplace if I lied and promised things that would never materialise I would get disciplinary action. Maybe they say a lot of things to pacify people and then don’t follow through? Just seems strange that it was her suggesting it.
OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:53

@Letshavesometea

Nobody would be thrilled but they kept you up to date rather than just not turning up and it was only 1 week. I think its time to move on from that but I do believe if the company offered you a discount then that should be followed through.
True. I just wish she hadn’t offered the discount as I had agreed the price and was ok with it. I just think it’s really flakey
OP posts:
Letshavesometea · 29/10/2020 14:57

I agree that part is wrong. Reminds me of a similiar situation years ago where I didn't ask for a partial refund but was offered it, which I accepted, and then the seller changed their minds. I chased it and eventually got the partial refund. It wasn't about the money, but about the principle that it was offered and then not followed through. Definitely contact the owner.

UsernameN0Tavailable · 29/10/2020 14:59

I expressed I was not happy with this, we had agreed a date why has it been delayed twice and why assure me after the first reschedule that there would be no more rescheduling. I got a lot of excuses - they are working on an open roof etc. I explained that someone else’s roof wasn’t my concern, I am only interested in my job

From your first post this is the bit that came across as entitled. If you've then had another phone conversation where you've got your wires crossed about what she meant about 'reflected in the bill' and kept asking her to clarify what she meant then I can see why they weren't that friendly with you when you phoned about the invoice and presumed you were wangling for a discount.

Petportraits · 29/10/2020 14:59

@Letshavesometea

I agree that part is wrong. Reminds me of a similiar situation years ago where I didn't ask for a partial refund but was offered it, which I accepted, and then the seller changed their minds. I chased it and eventually got the partial refund. It wasn't about the money, but about the principle that it was offered and then not followed through. Definitely contact the owner.
I think I will contact owner. The owner should know if staff offering discounts and not honouring them
OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 15:02

So you would have been fine with it if rain was forecast and you had water coming in and ruining your newly put in insulation. Why did they agree a date and promise hands down that there wouldn’t be a further delay and then delay for a second time. Would you not be eager to secure a date for your house to be fixed. Sorry if it sounds entitled but I don’t care about someone else’s job- i am looking at the drips coming through my ceiling and looking out at more rain pouring down. Maybe I should have said it was ok, I’ve waited 9 weeks so take your time?!

OP posts:
Petportraits · 29/10/2020 15:05

SO for the people saying I was being unreasonable and entitled. I honestly think if it was your home and you saved the £2k for repair and had a date in mind for that to be delayed twice and rain was coming through spoiling your plaster and insulation you would be relaxed and ok with that? How was I to know they wouldn’t delay again? I had to express that this date was arranged and it was urgent - maybe not to them but to me it was urgent. The longer you have water coming in the more chance of rot and damp setting in

OP posts:
LolalovesLondon · 29/10/2020 15:08

We’re having a £6000 job done on our roof at the moment.

We waited 3.5 months for our starting date (they already had a job list) which was put back a week and then another.

They are here now and are working in between rain showers. It’s been raining on and off here for weeks and progress is slow.
I get that it is frustrating but if the weather has slowed them down in previous jobs I get it.

I would rather them work on my roof in the dry rather than do rushed work in the rain because they need to move on to the next job. The next customer’s work will also be delayed because of us presumably.

The only thing they can do is keep people informed.

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