Service call fees are crazy rant!

[OKRuss]

Just a rant here to let off a little steam. We bought a water softener from Culligan's in Chickasha a little over 5 years ago when bought our home. Tech guy was great. Price was reasonable. Fast forward to last December and I noticed we're going through salt like crazy. Called for a tech to come out. They said it'd be 2 weeks or so...busy. Just a couple days later I get a call from a tech who says something along the lines "I know we're not scheduled but I finished a job about 5 mins away and wondering if I could come by now just to take a quick look.". I work from home so said sure - would save you from making another trip from Chickasha to Tuttle. He stopped by, noticed our settings had defaulted back to factory, made a quick change to our default settings and done. No tools. Took maybe 5 mins at our home. Great guy and mentioned again was in the area for another call. He says up to office if billed anything.

Well, I just got a bill for $100 for a service call. I called them asking about it and got a very rude lady on the phone who stated just as soon as I mentioned it that "EVERYONE PAYS THE $100 SERVICE CALL FEE". I stayed calm and tried to explain I saved them from having to make another trip but she just blasted me this is how it is and has been for over 10 years. Told her I hadn't had to have anyone out yet so didn't realize. Didn't matter. Her panties were in a wad long before I called! Must be the Monday blues for some. I even told her I wasn't disputing that I needed service and had an appt in a couple of weeks just felt $100 was steep since tech was just around the block. She then informed me that plumbers charge $120 for a service fee so there's was below going rates. Wow. Honestly had no reply so hung up. Going to have to get my wife to call them back for payment info as there's no way I could do it. Going to put on a credit card vs check so they'll have to at least pay the cc charge to the business! That'll learn 'em!!

I'll just use the Culligan's from OKC going forward as they will service Tuttle also. Rant over!!

 

[bink98xcab]

To me, it is what it is. No matter if he was in your area or not. If I show up and do nothing it's $1,200 minimum. You have to realize, insurance, fuel, overhead, employee pay etc. It's not this one day, it's all the days around it. I'm in a totally different industry, but the concept is still there. They couldn't stay Above water if they only did $100 house calls, that's for sure.

 

[sklfco]

According to story, made no attempt at self repair, complains about cost after repair.
Seems rather ironic to me............

 

[TinkerTanker]

Just a rant here to let off a little steam. We bought a water softener from Culligan's in Chickasha a little over 5 years ago when bought our home. Tech guy was great. Price was reasonable. Fast forward to last December and I noticed we're going through salt like crazy. Called for a tech to come out. They said it'd be 2 weeks or so...busy. Just a couple days later I get a call from a tech who says something along the lines "I know we're not scheduled but I finished a job about 5 mins away and wondering if I could come by now just to take a quick look.". I work from home so said sure - would save you from making another trip from Chickasha to Tuttle. He stopped by, noticed our settings had defaulted back to factory, made a quick change to our default settings and done. No tools. Took maybe 5 mins at our home. Great guy and mentioned again was in the area for another call. He says up to office if billed anything.

Well, I just got a bill for $100 for a service call. I called them asking about it and got a very rude lady on the phone who stated just as soon as I mentioned it that "EVERYONE PAYS THE $100 SERVICE CALL FEE". I stayed calm and tried to explain I saved them from having to make another trip but she just blasted me this is how it is and has been for over 10 years. Told her I hadn't had to have anyone out yet so didn't realize. Didn't matter. Her panties were in a wad long before I called! Must be the Monday blues for some. I even told her I wasn't disputing that I needed service and had an appt in a couple of weeks just felt $100 was steep since tech was just around the block. She then informed me that plumbers charge $120 for a service fee so there's was below going rates. Wow. Honestly had no reply so hung up. Going to have to get my wife to call them back for payment info as there's no way I could do it. Going to put on a credit card vs check so they'll have to at least pay the cc charge to the business! That'll learn 'em!!

I'll just use the Culligan's from OKC going forward as they will service Tuttle also. Rant over!!

I see what she's saying, but dang $100 bucks for 5 minutes. I'd sure be taking a picture of those settings right now though so this never happens again, and if it does I can fix it myself! I might go get myself somethin purty with my $100 service call money afterward too!

 

[Rustytigwire]

You have to realize, insurance, fuel, overhead, employee pay etc.

or buy an extended warranty.
or fix it yourself.
(guess thats why all my stuff doesnt work lol)

owner gets paid last. or defaults bank funding.

 

[bigred1]

Is it true a water softener makes your hair shinier more manageable?

 

[OKRuss]

According to story, made no attempt at self repair, complains about cost after repair.
Seems rather ironic to me............

HUGE assumption on your part sklfco about not trying self repair just because I didn't explicitly state such. SMH.

To me, it is what it is. No matter if he was in your area or not. If I show up and do nothing it's $1,200 minimum. You have to realize, insurance, fuel, overhead, employee pay etc. It's not this one day, it's all the days around it. I'm on a totally different industry, but the concept is still there. They couldn't stay Above water if they only did $100 house calls, that's for sure.

I fully get the part about insurance and costs etc... but they didn't drive 30 miles to work on my softener. Guy was in the area so no special trip. IMO, I don't think it warranted a full $100 service charge. If there were parts involved or more tech time than 5 minutes, I would expect it to be more than $100 and gladly pay.

I now know what the issue was and can fix myself if ever happens again. I wasn't that knowledgeable about it prior to him coming out.

Is it true a water softener makes your hair shinier more manageable?

Not sure about more manageable as I use a leave in conditioner.

 

[bink98xcab]

I understand the part about it n9t being a special trip. But on most accounts that doesn't apply. Again, I'm in a different industry and we're a small business. But your situation could result a special price. That being, we set it up that way. Like, well do it for X amount if we're in the area and you're available when we call. But that's gonna be setup before hand with a small window and all the stars align. I understand the frustration with it being $100, but you did learn how to fix it for the next time. So take part of it as tuition and a lesson learned.

 

[saddlebum]

I see what she's saying, but dang $100 bucks for 5 minutes. I'd sure be taking a picture of those settings right now though so this never happens again, and if it does I can fix it myself! I might go get myself somethin purty with my $100 service call money afterward too!

paying for what he knows not how long it takes him..

 

[bink98xcab]

One other thing to take into account. If there is more work to be done at a different job. They could in fact be losing money by missing a higher paying job. Tying an employee up on minimum jobs does cost the owner money if that employee could have been somewhere else working. That's why the minimum charge is set. They can't operate on a loss or break even scenario.