AIBU

Poor customer service is unfortunately not uncommon, it's like some businesses don't need the income. It's not just you.

No I totally agree with you. I always use Checkatrade when I need some work doing in the house but I've lost count of the number of times the phone hasn't been answered so I've left a message but nobody calls back. Like you I assume they have so much work they can pick and choose the jobs they want to do. My daughter recently phoned a gardener to revamp her garden and was told unless it is going to cost more than £10, 000 I'm not interested!

Not just me then. I've been trying without any success to find someone to come and replace my kitchen cupboard doors, worktops, sink and taps. I've contacted local tradesmen; Trusted trader; Checkatrade and they either promise to come and "have a look at it", and then never turn up, or they do turn up, promise to send a quote and then I never heard from them again. I don't want a complete new kitchen because there's nothing wrong with the carcass, or the layout, it just needs updating. Really frustrating.

Checkatrade is a big con. Check them out on Moneysavingexpert.

I have a new gas boiler waiting to be installed. The old boiler is on its last legs but still working. My DH arranged a date in January with a local engineer. The new boiler is still in my dining room! The summer is coming so fortunately we may not need the heating on much longer. The engineer's mother lives next door, and we're quite friendly, perhaps that has something to do with it.

Well, I'm glad it's not just me, but rather sad that this is the level of service nowadays. I have just rung the firm again for the third time to be told that they couldn't find me in their system.This is despite giving them my number twice,as well as to the fitter who seems to freelance. Couldn't they have owned the problem and rung me back? I'm now having to wait at least another ten days as the goods hadn't even been ordered. I could scream!

I agree with you Megram. Our LA now charges £30 per year to empty our green bins (garden waste). I reluctantly paid up.

The bin is in the correct position, with the handle pointing outwards and the PAID collection sticker is clearly in view. (so many rules, you would think they didn't want to do it )

First collection date April 4th. No collection. Rang up and complained that bin is full and they did not collect only to be told that "they will collect it tomorrow" they didn't.

Second collection date April 18th.... No collection. Rang up again. Complained, that the bin is still full and DH has had to make trips to the tip to dispose of grass cuttings etc. A service that I am paying them to do !

Fobbed off again with... "oh they are just getting used to the various rounds and must've overlooked your collection..... I will make a note to make sure they come on 2nd May"

I said that this was their last chance and that if they do not collect on 2nd May I want a full refund. I was told that they do not have a refund policy ! WHAT????????

So basically I pay for a sevice, they do not perform the service and I can't get a refund? They must be having a laugh. Bloody council.

Gillybob, our green waste collection from a brown bin, is £60.00 per annum. It used to be free, with garden waste going into tough green plastic bags. I paid up the first year, and as the bin is so huge, only really used it 3/4 times. The council say it is uneconomical to collect unwanted bins, so we now have a useless container taking up space. We can buy strong brown paper bags, for about £1.00 each, that are collected fortnightly, and they do hold a lot. But now we have artificial grass, there is no need for a regular collection. I think £60 per year is taking the proverbial......

Auntieflo all I can say is that I would be skipping if all we had to pay was £60. I have paid £36 (January sale!) for May- early October grass cutting collection. It is nearly £80 for annual fortnightly service. This is London.

Charleygirl, not London, but Royal Berkshire. Posh eh?

Apologies, I meant to sympathise with the exhorbitant cost, but got button happy.

Oh Gillybob, I would be furious !! It's just so frustrating especially when you have done everything that you were asked to. You have my sympathies.

DS has been trying to get details of changes to the bus route because of ongoing road works. After a series of phone calls, to people who promised to call back but didn't, he gave up and called the construction company which is based a couple of hundred miles away. Surprise, surprise Someone clled him straight back with the answer. Why is this beyond the bus company that is bsed just down the road?

Chewbacca, try the company 'Kitchen Restoration'. They are based in Birmingham but have local agents who price up and give estimates. They are brilliant and reasonable too. They will use your present kitchen frames and fit new doors, tops and fittings so the kitchen looks new at a fraction of the price or they will do units from scratch and to measure. We have had both done by them and couldn't be more pleased. They used proper cabinet makers to do the work who are skilled workmen and they make a lovely job of it.

A lot of skilled tradesmen prefer to work on new build properties now. If people don't ring back we move on to someone else,

Every new area I've lived in I've found one tradesperson on recommendation from a neighbour/work colleague. Once I have used (and now trust) them, I get them to recommend the next person (from a different trade). I always then push the 'X recommended you' bit.

Oh yes, I've had this trouble with plumbers. They book a date and time then don't show up. The last one had these excuses - double booked me, job before running late, emergency call out, car broken down, and hadn't brought his diary so didn't have my details! [Shakes head sadly!] I could to with one again for a small job but I can't be bothered with all the hassle!

Megram I thought it was just me thank you I was getting quite paronoid

Find a Polish tradesperson. I am told by my friends in the UK that they the only ones that respond, turn up and do a good job. Heaven help you all when Brexit kicks in.

Mind you, finding someone in France is nearly impossible, having said we would only hire French workers, we have had to resort to English! No Polish around here.

I can't understand why they don't just say 'sorry I don't want this job' but no, they say, 6 weeks wait list and I agree and no one turns up and then have to start process again.

Mind you, when they do turn up they over charge and under listen and no nationality seems any better than any other.

I used a guy from checkatrade once, and he was trying to find me a rating card to fill out in the back of his van - but couldn't because his mate had already filled them all in! He even told me this.
He also left the gas with a leaky pipe. Thank goodness I've now found a terrific guy for my boiler/gas, and a great electrician. Now all I need is a plumber and a general handyman (though I could use my carpenter - she's very handy!)
Like others I've posted so many jobs on MyBuilder or wherever, and nobody wants to do the work

I have had success using MyBuilder, if you post an accurate description of the job, you get responses from people who are actually interested and available!

Perhaps it's a bit different round here, being a rural area?

I asked two different people to call to see a bathroom job last year - still "waiting" for them to come, even asked someone who lives across the road - he came in, still waiting for his quote after a year as well, even though he has worked on other neighbour's houses. Gave up.

We used Care and Repair to arrange for a handyman to do small jobs. Our local one stopped arranging this, but don't know if it is still going in other places.
Luckily, the handyman they used to employ set up in business on his own, and has continued to do jobs for us brilliantly, and reasonably priced.