Service call fees are crazy rant!

[GC7]

Be glad it was only $100. In this economy companies can charge a lot more and most people will pay.

 

[saddlebum]

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

culligan in okc don't work for free either, they ain't doing it cause they love you it's how the make a living
P.S. you don't work for free either

 

[Bocephus123]

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!!

tell them to go pound sand!

 

[Bocephus123]

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.

nobody in there right mind would pay you that and you should be ashamed of taking people for a ride!!! been in the business a long time that aint right.

 

[OKRuss]

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.

Understood. He finished a job early and was heading back to Chickasha. I wasn't on their schedule. Kinda made it sound like doing me a good 'ol boy favor. Bad assumption on my part.

 

[TinkerTanker]

Those $100 repair bills aren't just irritating you, Russ

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...d5b934774e79|DD2A1824B2B95BFEE0530100007F50EC

 

[OKRuss]

culligan in okc don't work for free either, they ain't doing it cause they love you it's how the make a living
P.S. you don't don't work for free either

You're trying to twist things around and I never asked ANYONE to work for free. Just merely stating I thought it was a bit extreme of a charge. It's not just the charge but also the attitude of the person in their front office prompting me to look at other shops.

I also get it that they don't want to try and walk me through a check of possible issues over the phone. If someone had said to check the default settings, I would've done that. Instead, I was told it could be many issues and a tech call was necessary.

 

[OKRuss]

Those $100 repair bills aren't just irritating you, Russ

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...d5b934774e79|DD2A1824B2B95BFEE0530100007F50EC

More the principal of it than the actual cost. $100 won't change anything about today, tomorrow or the future and definitely won't get anyone shot! Guess it seems to me we're losing/lost most anything that resembles customer service.

Recently went to a tire shop. Had one tire that was out of balance. They fixed it and charged me for it. They checked the other 3 tires(lost time, resources that could be working on another vehicle) but didn't charge me for it. Seemed like a reasonable way to keep a customer.

 

[XYZ]

We have a service plan on our aerobic system. Have had it for the past 5-10 years since we moved in here. Pre-Covid it was $75 and usually didn’t get charged for any small parts replaced.
It’s $175 visit now. I’m thinking it’s time to shop around.

 

[BobbyV]

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!!

Sheesh. Sounds like they need to find another person to answer the phones.