chaplin

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The gasman cometh

It's 8.18. Steve the plumber has just been round. The shower wasn't pumping. He looked at the pump then investigated the adjoining cupboard where he discovered that we'd crammed so much stuff in there that we'd switched off the power.
His invoice said: "Turned on electricity. £94."
The time is now 8.19. Most people aren't up and I've spent £94 quid already!

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:40 am

    Rule Numer One, David. Before seeking any assistance try switching it off and switching it on again. It applies to showers as much as computers, it seems. As you're being so generous you can expect my invoice for this advice by the next post.

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  2. But we didn't know there was a switch!

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  3. oops! after listening to the last podcast he seems to be on a similar appearnace fee as Paris Hilton, a fag packet sum shows he's on more than a brain surgeon.

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  4. Know the feeling. I got diddled for seventy squid for a plumber coming to turn the knob on my bedroom radiator.

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  5. While it probably would have had little basis in fact, just think how much more satisfying it could have been if the invoice had read,
    "The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles."

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  6. Anonymous10:56 pm

    Are we losing the ability to fend for ourselves? Is this the return of the Fall of the Roman Empire?

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  7. Anonymous11:27 pm

    I'm sure you didn't have to pay, did you? Couldn't you try "you've been here 20 minutes, how about £20?". What's he going to do, turn it off again and leave you stranded?

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  8. Although not a qualified plumber, and therefore offering a discount, I'm more than happy to come around and flick a switch for anyone for £70.

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  9. Let's not moan about how much tradesmen cost, if they do what they were called round to do. Let's instead moan about tradesmen who don't come round. Or come round, look at the job, go away to cost it and never come back. (I'd love to see a plumber's advert in the Yellow Pages that actually said, "Some jobs too small.")

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  10. Anonymous9:24 pm

    Is the plumber problem the most reaction you've had to a blog?

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