Page 4 | Am I expecting too much of the electrician?

UrAWizHarry · 16/02/2021 22:42

Or purchase the replacement yourself, call out an electrician and if he doesn't need the replacement part you return it. Any sparky will do the job, if you avoid companies who want to charge you over the odds for a replacement part then that surely is the best option.

Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 22:48

@NoSquirrels

it’s the agent who has been contacting the contractors

Do the legwork and ask the question directly of the contractors yourself?

Agents are invested in saving you £90, they’re paid to get someone round quickly to appease your tenant. Usually LLs who use agents do so for the convenience- it all comes at a cost.

If you want to know something, do the calls yourself. Or leave it in the agent’s hands for an extra £90.

This is exactly what I have asked the agent to do-give me the numbers so I can speak to the contractors myself. I’m not convinced the agent is asking the right question. The email I received said “X says the new unit will cost £270 plus VAT. Do you want to buy a new unit or try to fix it? Call out is £90 plus VAT”.

How am I supposed to decide that with no further info?

When I asked for further guidance I was told that X had said they could not forecast the outcome of a visit. So why ask me to make a choice?

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Sapho47 · 16/02/2021 22:50

@HaveringWavering

My flat has a video intercom. It’s gone dead. Flat was built in 2012.

Have been trying to get a contractor to come and take a look but neither of the two who have been contacted will comment on whether these units are ever fixable. They just shrug and say “don’t know till we look at it”. The problem is that a new unit is nearly £300 and a call out will cost £90. If I don’t agree in advance for them to buy a new unit then there will be two call out charges. If they buy a new unit then I have to pay for it even if mine was fixable.

Am I missing something here? AIBU to think that someone who knows about these things could say “I look at a lot of these, most need to be replaced” or “x/y/z is a common fault, we can often fix them”. Obviously not expecting any guarantees.

The flat is rented out and it’s the agent who has been contacting the contractors. My suspicion is that they just want an easy life and think that I will fork out for a replacement without questioning it. I have asked on the building’s tenants’ forum and nobody else has had a similar problem.

Sorry for such a boring AIBU!

There really isn't a consistent model and it could be literally anything from water damage to one of your neighbours drilled through the wire to rats to you press the buttons too damn hard.

iklboo · 16/02/2021 22:51

But your doctor couldn't tell you for certain if the mole she (hypothetically) removed from you was benign unless and until it has been sent for histopathology investigations by a suitably qualified expert. And to tell you yours 'might' be benign before sending you for further investigations would be wholly unprofessional.

And you would be crazy to be reassured that because most are, that yours would be. The doctor would in no way be able to advice you of the absolute percentage chance of benign vs malignant just by her removing them.

So the electrician would not professionally be able to tell you if the particular make & model of your intercom is prone to certain issues or yours has a known issue without coming out to look at it. He could say 'yes, it's A', you spend money repairing A and then it turns out to be B.

Sapho47 · 16/02/2021 22:54

For less than 90 quid you could just buy them a ring doorbell? Less messing about if it needs a new wire as that would be a nightmare

Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 22:59

@iklboo

But your doctor couldn't tell you for certain if the mole she (hypothetically) removed from you was benign unless and until it has been sent for histopathology investigations by a suitably qualified expert. And to tell you yours 'might' be benign before sending you for further investigations would be wholly unprofessional.

And you would be crazy to be reassured that because most are, that yours would be. The doctor would in no way be able to advice you of the absolute percentage chance of benign vs malignant just by her removing them.

So the electrician would not professionally be able to tell you if the particular make & model of your intercom is prone to certain issues or yours has a known issue without coming out to look at it. He could say 'yes, it's A', you spend money repairing A and then it turns out to be B.

Well she said it and she obviously thought it was worth saying. What is wrong with being reassured by a statement that you are statistically more likely to be fine than to have cancer?

You’re missing my point about what sort of information I am looking for from the company and why. Thanks for replying though.

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Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 23:00

@Sapho47

For less than 90 quid you could just buy them a ring doorbell? Less messing about if it needs a new wire as that would be a nightmare

It’s a massive block of flats, I can’t install my own camera at the front door.

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NoSquirrels · 16/02/2021 23:01

When I asked for further guidance I was told that X had said they could not forecast the outcome of a visit. So why ask me to make a choice?

They’ve asked you to make a choice because you’re the client. But I think you’re just overthinking this. It will all go against your tax return one way or another. For the sake of £90 I’d have them out to look, and swallow it if you need to buy the replacement in the end.

Why do you have an agent? To keep things hassle-free, presumably? If you want to do all the legwork yourself, don’t bother with agency management.

I know you’ll say the counter-argument is why pay the agency to not get better information than you could get yourself. But agency management is just like this - annoying and usually bad value for money. Sack the agent and you’ll be able to afford the £90 extra gamble

Obviously if it needs refitting you won’t pay a second ‘call-out’ fee but a price for the job (which they will have been able to accurately quote having looked at it.)

Don’t overthink it. You’ll waste brain space and presumably you’re paying the agency fees because your time and brain space is valuable.

Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 23:07

Thanks @NoSquirrels. I pay the agent because the flat is on the other side of the city to where I live and they deal with the advertising and viewings and check in/check out and deposit admin when tenants move on. I also lived abroad when I bought it and first started to let it out. It hasn’t had anything break or need repair until now, just a couple of routine boiler services.

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Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 23:09

Obviously if it needs refitting you won’t pay a second ‘call-out’ fee but a price for the job (which they will have been able to accurately quote having looked at it.)

I’ve been told that £90 first hour call out fee will apply to the first hour of every visit.

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PhatPhanny · 16/02/2021 23:15

Yes YABU, if he or she turns round and tells you yes, its an easy fix, to then come out and diagnose an issue that means it needs replacing, then your going to be annoyed they told you a porky.

NoSquirrels · 16/02/2021 23:27

@HaveringWavering

Obviously if it needs refitting you won’t pay a second ‘call-out’ fee but a price for the job (which they will have been able to accurately quote having looked at it.)

I’ve been told that £90 first hour call out fee will apply to the first hour of every visit.

Well, that’s where I’d focus my efforts with the agent. There’s no reason the contractor can’t quote for the whole job not an hourly rate after they’ve assessed.

I’ve been a LL without an agent - if you have only one property it’s pretty much money for old rope, even reletting and credit checks etc are pretty easy. It’s only a faff if things go wrong, but as you’re feeling stressed about the repair anyway...

If it were me I’d pay the £90 call-out fee and ask the agent to agree a price with their contractor for a whole job if it’s determined it needs replacing.

Jarstastic · 16/02/2021 23:35

if you lived in the flat, whom would you call?

In my flat in London this would be something handled by the managing agents of the flat (flat owners co own the freehold). They would call out the company who installed and service ours and other buildings they manage. The fault could be in the consumer unit or it could be linked to wiring of central system? In any case I assume they’d have a deal spare handsets of the ones they install most etc.

If this is what you’d do if you lived in the flat, try contacting them first?

Original poster

HaveringWavering · 16/02/2021 23:46

@Jarstastic

if you lived in the flat, whom would you call?

In my flat in London this would be something handled by the managing agents of the flat (flat owners co own the freehold). They would call out the company who installed and service ours and other buildings they manage. The fault could be in the consumer unit or it could be linked to wiring of central system? In any case I assume they’d have a deal spare handsets of the ones they install most etc.

If this is what you’d do if you lived in the flat, try contacting them first?

That’s a good question @jarstastic. I pay a service charge and that definitely pays for the managing agent to maintain the common areas including the outside camera and keypad for the entry system. I suppose they might be able to advise re the internal bit. I posted on the tenants’ message board but got no replies, I haven’t tried the building management directly though. If I was living there I’d just ask at the front desk, I guess I could phone them.

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MissConductUS · 17/02/2021 00:41

You're over thinking this. Make sure the intercom company supports the brand of device you have. Give them the model number. Verify that they will bring a replacement unit. If they can fix it on the spot they will. If they have to replace it they will.

garlicwhorl · 17/02/2021 00:52

Yes, you’re taking the piss. No one has the answer including the electricians you’ve contacted. Fuck me I feel sorry for your tenants if this is how you fixate on anything that means you have to put your hand in your pocket

Livandme · 17/02/2021 07:01

Why don't you contact the company directly and say "Hey company x, I've just moved into a building with transmitter y in my flat. It seems problematic, do they go wrong often as I was hoping it was an easy fix so I can maintain a good relationship with my ll".
Develop the conversation along these lines and you might gleen some info.

Megan2018 · 17/02/2021 07:09

Surely you’d just replace the whole unit anyway?
I’m a LL and my default is always to replace rather than fix, as it all helps the tax return!

CheddarGorgeous · 17/02/2021 07:10

I'm with @gamerchick. Get a screw driver and a YouTube video. You sound clever, I bet you could fix it it or at least diagnose it.

purplecorkheart · 17/02/2021 08:14

Have you googled know faults/issue with model x intercom system?

Original poster

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2021 08:24

@purplecorkheart

Have you googled know faults/issue with model x intercom system?

Yes, I’ve found that method helpful with other appliances in the past but nothing seemed to come up. However I have now seen a reply in the building forum from another tenant who said that the building management arranged for his to be replaced by their regular contractor for £120 so am now going down that route. Thanks to all who replied.

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Original poster

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2021 08:26

@CheddarGorgeous

I'm with *@gamerchick*. Get a screw driver and a YouTube video. You sound clever, I bet you could fix it it or at least diagnose it.

thanks for the compliment! I have done the odd bit of DIY wiring myself in my own house in the past - lights etc - but I don’t want to travel to the flat or expose myself or the tenant to unnecessary Covid risk at the moment.

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solicitoring · 17/02/2021 10:32

Op you are being ridiculous. You would be happy if you were expressly told these units fail all the time it's not worth trying to fix them. On top of that your management agent has gone to a specialist firm who are no doubt only interested in selling new ones and maintaining them for their warranty.

If I was your tenant I would be really pissed off with you for not just fixing it.

ThatLibraryMiss · 17/02/2021 10:51

The contractors aren’t willing to buy and return I don’t think and if they won’t even engage generally I’m not sure they will be interested in advising what unit to buy. They usually want to use their own suppliers and won’t guarantee they can fit something they didn’t buy themselves.

You need different contractors - ones that aren't going to buy at trade prices and charge you full retail.