Now Is this a Rip-Off?

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 14:58

Got a quote for our friends` house to replace a couple of tiles on a roof and repair a small hole, to seal a leaking joint on a water tank and to repair a gate post wall. Guess how much? He wants 800stirling and when he starts the job he wants 500 stirling up front (for what I ask?) and the balance on completion of work.

I think he`s having a laugh or he has so much work already he doesn`t want the job.

Any plumbers out there willing to do the job without ripping us off.?

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:26

Whistler he is having a laugh!! Is he local? .....

LondonCypriot


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 426

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:30

The best thing to do is go to a repubable estate agents and ask them for help in finding a good tradesman.

cronos


Joined: 26/10/2008
Posts: 2093

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:30

Come on Whistler.....blow the whistle !.....name names....or at least tell us whether it was a "local" or a Brit preying on other Brits.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:32

It's a rip off!



if he was a local guy and allowing for maybe a translation mix up and he meant Lira instead of Pounds then it's still a rip off.



Ask him if he would be willing to supply an Official Fatura and Makbuz (Invoice and Receipt) then see what he says. If he agrees then the Government is going to get a lot of that money in taxes. But personally I suspect that he see you as the usual Ex-pat "Cash Cow". Don't 'Moo' to his tune!!!

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:34

Was it a proper company .

Ailletoo


Joined: 24/01/2009
Posts: 1003

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:37

Come on londoncypriot.... where do you find one of those here? (a reputable Estate Agent)?!



And, dizzycows, he probably is not local. The only time Someone here has tried to 'rip me off' it was a Brit!



The quote is obviously outragiously inflated. Drop it like a hot potato. Look elsewhere.

racoonchic



Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3223

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:49

i can help you with a good plumber call me on 05338384636 for his no

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 15:55

high we are bracey builders visit our web site to get our company details we are regestered and have no end of recomendations and also if you want can isue you a fatura witch not many that comes on here can do http://www.braceybuilders.com look forward to giving you a quote with gaurentees

exnavalperson


Joined: 22/07/2009
Posts: 224

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 16:07

Kirk Bracey has done much work for us. His work is excellent and his prices very reasonable. I cannot fault him.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 18:15

Thanks for all your replies.

To answer your questions. Cronos and Ailletoo. He is a local. I was given his name by an ex-pat, who was actually horrified when I told him the quote. I also dont know of a reputable estate agent here.

Timothy Cadman - There was no language difficulty. He actually wrote the quote down on a piece of paper

and he wanted 240stg to repair the wall. 390stg to replace the tiles and mend the hole. And 170stg to seal the water tank.All comparatively small jobs. Total at the bottom 800stg. Racoon Chick and Gates I will follow up your recommendations on Monday. I even thought 800ytl was a bit steep until I realised it was in stirling. Hope he rings to ask when he can start!!!!!!!!!

Cyprus Joker - What`s your name? Gary Robb(er)?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 18:58

gates will sort the job for you and charge you a reasonable rate.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 20:42

RE msg 1, Whistler: If you had written your complaint in msg 1 this way: Who?, What?, Where?, When? and Why? - it might have been an interesting thread. We could have learned something from it.



Now - sorry - it's just a boring, uninteresting piece of text.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 20:44

RE msg 14: Well said, DutchCrusader!

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 20:52

Ailletoo



'Come on londoncypriot.... where do you find one of those here? (a reputable Estate Agent)?!'



They do exist, Ian Smith's is one of them. So please do not tar all with the same brush.

AJ

ocean



Joined: 20/08/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 20:52

have you tried A to Z services? they are good and a very good reputation

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 01:39

DC/ Do you usually applaude yourself? Messages 14 and 15.



dc

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 01:42

DC. Incidentally, If you find it boring and uninteresting, then its your prerogative not to read any more!!!!!



DC/ Do you usually applaude yourself? Messages 14 and 15.



dc

geronimo


Joined: 30/08/2009
Posts: 296

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 12:49

Dutchcrusader does actually have a point here. If we had an itemised quote to go by this would help. Exactly how many tiles need replacing, how big the small hole is, where exactly is the leak in the tank (ie does the tank have to be removed to be resealed?) and what does "repair a gate post wall" actually involve? - Is the wall based in concrete, or has lack of foundation (as we have had on our wall) caused this problem and is proper foundation required, which would mean rebuilding part of the wall (as, again, in our case). Would be interested to know.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 13:08

Whistler, I happen to know how to write a 'shorty' (100 words or 1000 characters) in a news paper - and it's not any different on a bulletin board. I didn't want to be offensive, but - after reading your reaction - I now realise I'd have left "boring" and my little joke out of my reply. Sorry.



But "Who?, What?, Where?, When? and Why?" remains. The basics of an informative post.

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 13:48

DC you are such a boring old fart! how old are you? 12 or 92 yrs as sometimes I just do not know which. lol xx

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
30/08/2009 14:57

Dizzy Cows. It makes you wonder doesn`t it?

DC. I do not need an English lesson thankyou. I think this has gone way off thread now and I dont feel the need to justify either my command of the English language or the posting of the exorbitant quote I was given.

I think the best thing for the Moderators to do is now close this thread. I was merely trying to point out that if you are gullible how easy it is to get ripped off. We`ve all probably been there before but I, for one, do not intend it to happen again.

geronimo


Joined: 30/08/2009
Posts: 296

Message Posted:
01/09/2009 10:27

Didn't get a reply to my query.Word of advice -- if a quote is too high get another and another or do it yourself.Billboards filled with hot air only crystalise the opinion of the locals that all Brits are ungratefull whingers.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
01/09/2009 13:59

Geronimo." Didn't get a reply to my query.Word of advice -- if a quote is too high get another and another or do it yourself.Billboards filled with hot air only crystalise the opinion of the locals that all Brits are ungratefull whingers."



Didn`t feel the need to answer the post. However, there was no itemised quote just some figures scribbled on a piece of paper totalling 800 gbp. We have now sorted this. To answer your question re the roof - the job is being done for 40gbp. The (leak) on the tank was from a valve joint, which has been stopped free of charge.

The gate is being left on hold for now to check insurance. I am not an ungrateful whinger, just dont like being ripped off. I think you would agree.