ᐅ Invoice for Heating System Replacement – Switching from Oil Heating to Pellet Heating – Question
Created on: 13 Dec 2012 16:27
H
HansiHHello everyone,
I’m not sure if this is the right place, but we recently replaced our oil heating system with a pellet heating system. In the offer, we were told that the conversion would be straightforward and very quick (I was told it would take half a day). The quote included 2 installers with 8 hours each and a technician with 2 hours. In the end, the system had to be carried from the garage to the basement. The old oil heater was removed (I took care of disposal), the new one was mounted and connected (including new pipes to the existing buffer tank, new sensors on the buffer tank, etc.).
Now the invoice arrived. The installers worked for 2 days. Four people were needed just to move the system to the basement. In total, the installers spent 42 hours and the technician over 6 hours on site!!!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t home during the days of the work, only arriving in the afternoons, so I can’t fully track who was there when. On the last day, I arrived at 3 p.m., just as the installers were leaving. I stood nearby while the technician was reading the manual and lightly tapping the heater, since it was heating up very slowly. Around 4 p.m. he left, returned at 5 p.m., and left again at 7:30 p.m. because he wasn’t sure if the heater was running properly. He told me that these new heating systems tend to warm up very slowly the first time. But he basically didn’t make any changes and mostly just waited.
Do I have to pay for all of this? To be honest, the technician didn’t really seem to know what the problem was. Even if there was an issue with the heating system, do I have to pay because he was unsure what was wrong during the first startup?
I would appreciate your feedback!
Thank you very much!!!
I’m not sure if this is the right place, but we recently replaced our oil heating system with a pellet heating system. In the offer, we were told that the conversion would be straightforward and very quick (I was told it would take half a day). The quote included 2 installers with 8 hours each and a technician with 2 hours. In the end, the system had to be carried from the garage to the basement. The old oil heater was removed (I took care of disposal), the new one was mounted and connected (including new pipes to the existing buffer tank, new sensors on the buffer tank, etc.).
Now the invoice arrived. The installers worked for 2 days. Four people were needed just to move the system to the basement. In total, the installers spent 42 hours and the technician over 6 hours on site!!!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t home during the days of the work, only arriving in the afternoons, so I can’t fully track who was there when. On the last day, I arrived at 3 p.m., just as the installers were leaving. I stood nearby while the technician was reading the manual and lightly tapping the heater, since it was heating up very slowly. Around 4 p.m. he left, returned at 5 p.m., and left again at 7:30 p.m. because he wasn’t sure if the heater was running properly. He told me that these new heating systems tend to warm up very slowly the first time. But he basically didn’t make any changes and mostly just waited.
Do I have to pay for all of this? To be honest, the technician didn’t really seem to know what the problem was. Even if there was an issue with the heating system, do I have to pay because he was unsure what was wrong during the first startup?
I would appreciate your feedback!
Thank you very much!!!
C
christoph198321 Dec 2012 17:19HansiH schrieb:
Do I have to pay for all of this now?
Thank you very much!!!YES! Because you have obviously received the service stated in the contract. Whether you like it or not.
christoph1983 schrieb:
YES! Because you obviously received the service stated in the contract. Whether you like it or not. Therefore, quotes or estimates would be relatively useless -> quote low; charge high – the argument that the service was delivered would then justify the additional costs...
Quotes are ultimately professional estimates; naturally, the final invoice may differ. However, in my opinion, acceptable deviations are limited. As far as I know, deviations of up to 20% (?) are generally accepted.
Therefore, it always makes sense to agree on a fixed price. In my case, several items in the quote were supposed to be billed "based on time and materials." An invoice should only deviate from the quote by a certain percentage. What use is a quote if the final invoice varies significantly? A quote is binding – the contractor must adhere to it. Some deviation (10% ???) is, as far as I know, permissible.
Regards
Regards
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