Wonder if anyone else can help -

The engineer turned up on the Friday with the part and spent over two hours trying to get the boiler working again. After still getting no life in the boiler and my husband telling him he wasnt leaving until the boiler was fixed he telephoned his boss. He explained he couldnt get it to work and he didnt know what else to do. He said we were furious and could he suggest anything he could try as we couldnt be without hot water or heating over the weekend. That would make it nearly a week in total.

The boss suggested the only thing to be done was to replace the boiler and the engineer went off to get one.

This company were eager to sell us a boiler in the beginning as they said the one we had was rubbish. We could pay £300 down payment and the balance of £1000 could be paid over the next 12 months. My husband explained that as he is out of work and we have no spare cash available we couldnt possibly take on any finance agreement in todays economic climate. This is why they proceeded to do the repair.

At no point did either myself or my husband instruct this company to replace the boiler in our house. There is no signed credit agreement stating we will accept the repayment plan offered by them. They are totaly aware of our financial situation as my husband told the boss he wasnt working and couldnt afford a new boiler.

My boiler was working before this company got involved and I only requested they service the appliance.

I am not refusing to pay any bill to this company but they have just sent me a bill for £1300 and requested I send my payment by return.

Where do I now stand? There is no way I can find that amount of money and Trading Standard suggest I write the company a letter asking them to reduce the amount charged. Is this correct and would anybody have a template letter to start with.

I would apreciate any help that anyone can offer.

Thanks.

let them fix the problem they have caused and then ask the engineeer to ring his boss and relay ur concerns to him, asking for a reduction in price, not satisfied with his response, dispute the bill, but do not refuse to pay,tell them u will pay when the dispute is settled. good luck?

I have had a local company out last week to service my boiler as it wasnt running continuous hot water and hadnt been done in 4 years. The engineer came out and hoovered it out and said it needed two new parts. He came back on Friday last week and put the parts in. The boiler still didnt run hot water continuously and he said it needed another part. He would try and get back the same day but could not guarantee it. Alas he never turned up.

On Monday another engineer came with the part and decided that the main circuit board had gone. He said something he had done had blown it. He would order the part and give us a ring when he got it. He left us on Tuesday with two little heaters, no hot water and no heating. It is now Thursday and despite several telephone calls to his office, we are still without heating.

Trading Standards say that the company cannot leave us in this position, little help when they go home to a warm house. I have just had a telephone call from the company assuring me they will be here first thing tomorrow with the part.

Does anyone have any information regarding shoddy service like this?

What do I do tomorrow if they cant fix it? Can they leave me all weekend with no heating or hot water?

When they present me with their bill can I ask for any allowances for all the days off work my husband has had or the telephone calls to his office?

How do these people stay in business when they treat their clients so bad?