Feeling ripped off

[bluebaron]

Did you check if he's a member of MLA?
http://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/complaining-about-a-locksmith/

Yep I did no joy there.

I spoke to Citizens advice and they advised me he could be in breach of the consumer rights act 2015 under the 'reasonable price' clause. Basically says that if no price was agreed then any goods/service has to be of reasonable price. so ill get some quotes and compare and then send him a letter.

 

[Doggit]

Well done Blubaron, so many don't follow up with trading standards, but I suspect you may need to go as far as threatening with the small claims court. Oh, and add to the social media after you've finished to really stick the knife in.

 

[Notch7]

Emergency trades to avoid if you can: locksmiths and drain unblocking services

What a rip off, I hope you get your money back. If it was paid by credit card can you get them to refund? -I suppose you cant as its not a financial card fraud.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Emergency trades to avoid if you can: locksmiths and drain unblocking services

What a rip off, I hope you get your money back. If it was paid by credit card can you get them to refund? -I suppose you cant as its not a financial card fraud.

Bloody cheek! I always give a fixed cleared price over the phone.

Andy

 

[Notch7]

Bloody cheek! I always give a fixed cleared price over the phone.

Thats because you're a professional.

I got caught out years ago with a blocked toilet. I booked on of the guys out of the yellow pages. I didnt read the small print, call out charge plus so much per 15 mins etc etc. He jetted it out and then told ne he needed to use 'chemicals' to unblock, I was busy, so just agreed. All fine until he presented me with a bill for just shy of £500. A bit of research soon discovered, 'chemicals' werent generally used, just a mythical item to add onto the bill

 

[Ian H]

drain unblocking services

Cheek!!! But yeah, there are some bad'uns around.

 

[motorbiking]

Yep I did no joy there.

I spoke to Citizens advice and they advised me he could be in breach of the consumer rights act 2015 under the 'reasonable price' clause. Basically says that if no price was agreed then any goods/service has to be of reasonable price. so ill get some quotes and compare and then send him a letter.

Sorry, but that advice is going to lead you nowhere, but good of them to try to help you.

sec 51 of the above act - is what they were referring to and we've already covered the scenario in this thread. Once your mrs paid, she had no rights under sec 51.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/51/enacted

 

[Mottie]

?...Once your mrs paid, she had no rights under sec 51

Just like I said in post #28.

 

[Nige F]

Cheek!!! But yeah, there are some bad'uns around.

The bad uns will clear a drain with rods then run the pump for a while to run the bill up. The other day I saw a drain clearer - obvious to me they were doing a buchan trap - they were there a while. But what made me LOL was the guy was wearing one of those double filter paint sprayer's masks. I think I'd rather have had a face protector on a hard hat. No idea if they were good or bad guys.

 

[securespark]

being huge and keen to get off

 

[durhamplumber]

you have the right to change your mind and get your money back even in an emergency call out situation. You can demand your money

Change your mind??.. so the fitter would could back out and remove his lock would he???.All for free....

 

[gasbanni]

Change your mind??.. so the fitter would could back out and remove his lock would he???.All for free....

Yep .........no cancellation rights legislation

 

[FiremanT]

Bloody cheek! I always give a fixed cleared price over the phone.

Andy

TBF, Andy, a couple of years ago I had a blocked drain. I have rods, but not enough , and I was busy.
Being SE, my first call for anything is to small firms. I phoned s few and ALL of them neglected to mention the additional VAT. It is an offence to quote retail clients a non VAT inclusive price. NONE of them Mentioned possible additional charges for cameras until I prompted them.
I ended up using DynoRod on their "fixed" price system, and even then I had to argue about the charge "band"

 

[securespark]

You're very harsh not even a drop of KY ?

If it was a locksmith, that would be graphite spray.
But he'd probably charge £50 for it.

 

[bluebaron]

UPDATE:

I took the guy to small claims and won the case. However Ive got no chance of getting the money as ill have to pay for bailiffs and judging by my research they have limited powers to retrieve the monies. (good money after bad?!)

I did get £300 from my insurance so I'm happy with that anyway.

On a side note I was contacted by Trading standards as the guy is being investigated over a number of similar things. This will be a criminal prosecution so he will get whats owed.