Furnace Problems

[OilKiller]

Yeah, so it's supposed to be -29 tonight here in Edmonton and of course our furnace has seemed to stop working. We all of a sudden smelled something like it was burning (fan burnt out?) and now nothing. We call around and it is $220 just for someone to come out and have a look. Talk about kicking people when they are down. $220? Just to come out. B*******.

Ugh...just brutal. I know it is an emergency call, but you know what? -29, would you like us to wait until tomorrow?

Just a brutal night all around...

[Hanni]

I feel for you, had that happen to me when I was going to school. Landlord apparently couldn't get anybody until the next day. I've never slept with so many clothes on, pretty I sure I remember sleeping with a toque on.

[burn_this_city]

Considering its 11:00 at night, $220 is pretty reasonable.

[OilKiller]

No, not it is not. $220 is brutal. People don't control when something like this happens and to screw them over like this...sorry, I don't agree.

[burn_this_city]

I'm pretty sure HVAC guys don't work nights, which means someone is leaving their house/bed at 11 to come fix it. I sympathize with your situation, we had ours cut out one night a few years back, although it wasn't -29 it still sucked.

[OilKiller]

Hey, I realize it's after hours, but still, $220 seems excessive. Again, people get screwed while they are down. Just think it's over the top. I would even be OK with $150, but $220 seems like too much.

[eazyduzzit]

Under Alberta Law the minimum an employer can pay an employee is four hours if they are called into work.

So for a company to call in one of its employees @ 11pm they have to pay him/her 4 hours, reguardless if the job takes only 30 min. Lets say he makes 30$/hour, well theres 120$ right there, thats not factoring in benefits and pensions or whatever else the company might offer it's employee which can easily make that rate of $30 turn into $40. Then the company has to make it's share off the deal so $220 doesn't seem all that steep at all when you think about the big picture.

[sclitheroe]

The box with fire and a pipe full of high pressure explosive gas made a burning smell and isn't working correctly, and we're quibbling over what it costs to have a repair guy come out. Hmm...

[supadaveo]

If you dont like it, dont pay for it. *shrugs*

[KTown]

I think the alternate of your gas pipes freezing would cost more.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by KTown

I think the alternate of your gas pipes freezing would cost more.

Ahh, it's just a gas pipes... lots of room for expansion.

I'd be worried about the water pipes freezing, as they'd burst and then he'd have a flood on his hands. If he didn't want to pay $220, he should go to Wally World or Crappy T and buy 3 or 4 electric heaters for $20 a pop, those would keep the house above zero, until the next day when a regular hours service call would be cheaper.

[jeffh]

Originally Posted by KTown

I think the alternate of your gas pipes freezing would cost more.

I don't think that would ever be an issue. Unless Edmonton gets to -300'F.

[puckluck]

I've got 99 problems, but a furnace aint one.

[OilKiller]

Yeah, thanks for all the "contributions" guys...

Just venting OK. $220 seemed excessive IMO and it still does, but if people think it's worth that for someone to come out when those of us have an issue and no choice, well, so be it I guess. Still think it's a complete ripoff.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Yeah, thanks for all the "contributions" guys...

Just venting OK. $220 seemed excessive IMO and it still does, but if people think it's worth that for someone to come out when those of us have an issue and no choice, well, so be it I guess. Still think it's a complete ripoff.

so what in your opinion would be a fair price?

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Zethrynn

so what in your opinion would be a fair price?

Read message #6 in this thread.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Read message #6 in this thread.

oops,reading comprehension not working today

At 150 dollars the worker would have to be paid pretty cheap for the company to make any money.Though i guess if it happened to me i probably would be pissed as well.

[OilKiller]

I can see both the company and the guy coming out, needing to make money. Perhaps if it was something silly that could be fixed without much effort, then a $220 call fee at late hours would be acceptable. As it stands, something needed to be replaced. The entire bill, including the $220 service call was $492.00. So IMO, if the service call included parts and something to be repaired, maybe the actual service call could be reduced in price.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

I can see both the company and the guy coming out, needing to make money. Perhaps if it was something silly that could be fixed without much effort, then a $220 call fee at late hours would be acceptable. As it stands, something needed to be replaced. The entire bill, including the $220 service call was $492.00. So IMO, if the service call included parts and something to be repaired, maybe the actual service call could be reduced in price.

Did the $220 cover the first hour of work? If not that is even more absurd.

[Rathji]

Was the rest of the work done at the normal rate? or was it doubled due to being out of hours? If it was at the normal rate, then this is basically the equivalent of overtime. Otherwise, it is a bit harsh, because you are essentially paying quadruple OT, depending on how much the parts were).