Tradies Fees

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Yorkshirekid

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#229028 4-Feb-2018 14:10

I've just had a job done at home on the heat pump - it needed a replacement part - $250.

Two things nark me about the bill;

i've been charged for two people - the main guy and the apprentice.
I've been charged a Health and Safety Compliance fee of $10
The inevitavle transport fee - which is enough to get the van well over ten times further than they actually drove; the are just down the road from my place.

Do readers think this is reasonable - I'd be inteested in your comments.

Cheers

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#1951415 4-Feb-2018 14:24

Tradie should just have put "Fixed Heat Pump" $250.Instead of all that breakdown of costs they do sometimes

chevrolux

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#1951416 4-Feb-2018 14:26

Yes absolutely.

Did you take the heatpump to them to get it fixed? Nope. Distance is irrelevant, they need to standardise fees.

Health and safety costs money. So yes.

Linux

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#1951417 4-Feb-2018 14:27

What is the break down of total invoice?

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Aredwood

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#1951418 4-Feb-2018 14:29

Presumably the part cost is listed separately on the invoice. As for the other fees, added together is the overall cost reasonable? As it wouldn't make any difference if they had rolled those costs into a single fee.

As for the 2nd guy, was he needed on the job? Sometimes you actually do need 2 people to do the job.

Back when I was still an employee, if the boss told the apprentice to go with me for the day. I would consider how much longer a job would take if I didn't have them with me. And that was how much extra time that would get billed to the customer.

As for the van fee. Did they only drive to your house, or did they drive to the part supplier as well?

tdgeek

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#1951419 4-Feb-2018 14:30

Transport isn't just fuel, its the total cost of ownership. For everyone 5 minutes away there is another 40 minutes away. Plus it probably accounts for unbilled labour as well

xpd

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#1951420 4-Feb-2018 14:32

Dont forget as well, 90% of invoices are computer based now, so the travel fee is probably just an automatic charge - I'm sure if you spoke to them about that, they may adjust it.

If invoice was a hand written one, dont think they'll waive it ;)

XPD / Gavin

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toejam316

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#1951427 4-Feb-2018 14:59

I would not be happy about being charged full rates for two men if one of them was an apprentice.

If they can justify it with verifiable proof the apprentice sped the job, I could understand a reduced rate charge, otherwise, they can take a walk frankly.

Were you advised the apprentice's time would be charged to you? Did you agree to it? If not, I'd refute the charges, and advise them that if they wish to charge full rate, they should send out a fully qualified service technician.

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Stu1

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#1951429 4-Feb-2018 15:04

I really feel from recent experiences and quotes tradies are milking the boom or over pricing as they have too much work on and can pick and choose the work

Batman

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#1951432 4-Feb-2018 15:10

apprentices are paid less than min wage

Aredwood

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#1951445 4-Feb-2018 15:30

Batman:
apprentices are paid less than min wage

Once you add in ACC fees and put aside money to cover their holiday pay. They cost the employer far more than min wage per hour.

And we don't even know if one of the guys was an apprentice. They might have both been fully qualified. But if one of them was only there to hold the ladder, then it wouldn't matter if They were qualified or not.

Andib

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#1951449 4-Feb-2018 15:50

Batman:

apprentices are paid less than min wage

Fully depends on the industry. I have a family member who is an 2nd year building apprentice who is on also almost double minimum wage. Employers usually cover costs of training & exams to get the apprentice fully qualified.

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Yorkshirekid

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#1951450 4-Feb-2018 15:51

The TOTAL cost was over $500; the part cost $245. The apprentice did the job and the other guy watched over. I had no idea an apprentice was coming along.

I get that the fuel cost cover the van etc. But TEN TIMES what is required; that's not on. If I'd live three times the distance away I think the fuel cost would have been exactly the same. It should be adjusted for distance. And they came twice - once to spec and the second to fix. I know another business in town who's standard fuel fee is $20, so I guess I should be happy :-)

To my mind, health 'n safety is a government cost to the business, not the customer. Will we be paying their ACC fees next?

I'm happy to pay the trade fee; skilled ppl should get paid. It's just the add-on's that are the nark. Nobody pays me to drive to work.

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blackjack17

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#1951458 4-Feb-2018 16:09

The health and safety fee is a bit of a joke, what next an accountants fee, ACC fee, a computer fee, tools fees...

It is just part of doing business and be taken into account with the hourly fee.

Had a situation where an electrician charged us for the full time he was there when the apprentice was doing the work and he was inside asking for Heath and safety advice (my wife is a health and safety compliance manager).

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Aredwood

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#1951492 4-Feb-2018 16:54

How many hours were charged? And were those add on fees charged per job? If so, then that company might actually have quite good pricing for bigger jobs.

Myself, I just have a callout charge, which is an extra $20 on top of the first hour of Labour. It is actually to cover my invoicing costs. As they are pretty similar per job. As such a charge is fairer than increasing my chargeout rate $5 per hour, to people who get me to do bigger jobs.

Health and safety is a pain. As so much of it, especially in relation to bigger companies. Is solely to make it look like you are doing something. Not to actually improve safety. Maybe that company has a policy of completing a job safety audit for every job. Even if the job is only to go to someone's house and look at a heatpump.

cadman

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#1951495 4-Feb-2018 17:04

Batman:

apprentices are paid less than min wage

Only if they're under 20. It's not like it used to be.

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