Central Heating

Being charged for specialist driving to stockist to check part availability and cost for a quote for repair; Paying without recieving the invoice;

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.42 PM

I recently organised for a specialist to come and look at my friend's boiler, which wasn't working. (My friend is out of the country). I wasn't in the house, but could arrange for someone to be there. Typically the company would take payment at the house, once the work was done, but they agreed I could transfer an amount (£200) into their bank account prior to the diagnosis going ahead, and the balance could be later resolved. No paperwork was left at the house. The company tell me they will not send me an invoice until I pay the outstanding balance of £16. First question, is this legal? Typically would I not be invoiced (ie if I was at the house) then I pay on that invoice? Second question. I am questioning an amount that was charged for 40 mins of time when the specialist took the removed part to the warehouse, in order to check availabity and cost. My thinking is here, once he found the malfunctioning part, could he not make a phone call? (He told me over the phone which part, so using the boiler model, serial number, I called the boiler manufacturer, got the part number, then used the internet to find a replacement part). Thanks for any help on either question. Kind regards, Julie