New boy questions (another one)

[scottlwl]

HI guys, thanks for adding me into this section as i have some embarassing questions....

!) I did a kitchen last week and quoted day and a half to tile. but cracked on and finished in a day.I didnt reduced my price and took the money, she was really pleased and tbh it did look pretty good.

But yesterday i get a call saying "i know your only just starting out but i missed loads of things like i should have sealed at the top of the splashback....and a few tiles werent straight.!! My question is...Should i have sealed a top the splashback?...this was above the hob btw. I am confused as she was so happy when i left, and she didnt want me to go back and snag....just said i should lower my prices!!

Really knocked my confidence.

2) i had a visit today from "National Trade Register" does anyone use these chaps. They promise me work from the My Home Connect section of it....i am nervous as they want like nearly £400 to join....please help

Scott

 

[wivers]

Sounds to me like the customer is trying it on coz she knows your new to the game.

Get TJ to go round with a hammer.... he'll straighten her tiles out alright.... and possibly her teeth too

 

[IvegotsTILE]

I would never use anyone like that mate,my friend shelled out alot of money on 'THE MASTER CRAFTSMEN' so he could put there badge on his van,promised him loads of work,good contacts and discounts for various things.He says its been a complete waste of money so personally I wouldn't bother mate.
As for the bint I wouldn't let it bother you,she was happy with it originally so she was just being fussy,you offered to go round and snag so if she said no she wouldn't have been that bothered by it otherwise it would have been her insisting on you coming round.

 

[scottlwl]

thanks guys, you have definatly helped, i did think it a bit of sour grapes on her part

and the bassa's from the trade register didnt tell me there was a charge until the guy came to my house today...he also tried to sell me a mortgage on the side

 

[Varley]

Steer well clear of people like that mate, that's my advice.

 

[scottlwl]

i did kind of get the impression when he was 3 hours late and then it all seemed like he was selling me double glazing, at least he left me to think about it.

Thanks for the advice guys really helped put my mind to rest
----
just an update, turns out this customer does this to every tradesmen that works for her to get money back!!!

psycho

 

[DHTiling]

if she rings back , tell her theres a call out charge lol lol lol.. dont think she'll ring back....

 

[tjsmiler]

You will get alot of crap like that Scot but more often than not most customers are good as gold........don't ever lower your price just cos you finished sooner than you expected (unles you think it might benifit you in some way) if a customer moans about it ask them if they would give you extra if the job took longer than you said!!! if they still moan stab em then burn the house down.

TJ

 

[BrhTiling]

You guys are so tight! I would have knocked 10% off as a sweetener.... but then I am a total push over, apologizing for breathing when I am in a customers house half the time.

Tbh I think if the customer was genuinely unhappy they would have said so before paying...or more than likely not paid until they were satisfied... this sounds like someone is trying it on.

Don't get me wrong, I would offer to go back and put good the wonky tile/s and seal up for free, but I wouldn't be handing cash back at this late stage. .... I would have spent it already :happy:

 

[GazLC81]

Have to agree with the above comments!

She is very clearly trying it on! She know you have just started out and are not as confident as you will be in the near future so she thought she could get some money out of you.

Could even be that someone has come round afterwards and started saying "well he should have done this and should have done that!" Idiots!

You did the right thing in offering to go back mate! If you hear from her again just tell her not to take the p*ss and you have already offered to go back round to sort it out! As DH said tell her there is a £50 call out charge as she was happy with the job after it was finished!!!

£400 to join the national trade register? You may as well give it to a drunk hobo and he can tell all his mates about you! lol

Gaz

 

[scottlwl]

Thanks for the support guys....She hasnt rung back so i feel this is over, really knocked my confidence, but hey the only way is up!!!

 

[BrhTiling]

Thanks for the support guys....She hasnt rung back so i feel this is over, really knocked my confidence, but hey the only way is up!!!

Keep up the good work m8... she was obviously happy anyway.

I would be happy to get some work in myself, ad in the local rag for two weeks now with no calls!

Can I ask you how you are finding work?

 

[christo]

keep ur chin up mate,things can only get better,don`t get conned by these trade registers,and watch out for people ringing you about advertising,i got conned by a few,someone rang me saying they were doing a safety ad for the fire brigade i got conned fo £90 ,if anyone phones, ask for their phone numbers and address and if charity get their ref number you can check it online

 

[scottlwl]

i advertise in the local rag and Yell.com seems to work

 

[BrhTiling]

Hi, is your local rag a daily paper or a weekly one? My advert is once weekly in the freeby paper, cost me £51 for 4-weeks....

I might have to switch to the daily paper (which costs 35p or so to buy in shops.....but would also cost me £260 to advertise for 28days!

PS> I agree about those bloody con men advertising sales people... I had one company phone up and it took me 10mins of conversation to realise they wanted me to buy services from THEM!
They called me up and made out like they were a company asking if I had spare time to take on work, asking about my experience, portfolio, etc etc.... b*st*rds