I would like to share an example of excellent customer care and sadly an example of very poor customer care.

The excellent care came from Heatparts in Heeley. I contacted them concerning a part for my boiler which they quoted me 20 quid for but might take a week to arrive. It arrived in 2 days and still cost 20 quid which I thought was great service and I would recommend them.

The poor service came a week earlier when I had originally ordered the same part from PDQ at Brightside. They also quoted me 20 quid with a few days delivery. When it finally did arrive they confirmed it was 20 but when I went to collect it i was told it would now cost me 50 quid!!!! When I pointed out I had been quoted 20 they said I cant have been because that would have been less than they paid for it. Even after much arguing and pointing out that another firm could get me the part and had also quoted 20 quid thye finally agreed to a 15% discount which by no means would have resulted in the original price so I left them to it. I have my own opinions as to why the price suddenly increased by the time I got to the place but I had better not say, I personally would not recommend them.

All in all it pays to shop around and I suspect its even better to do it by email where possible.

Just to add, that there are honourable tradespeople and it's nice to see them recognised.

My Sis in Law, who is very poorly, had a gas cooker fitted this week. The plumber (must find out his name!!!) said £60. He was rung Thursday morning, was there by 11:30am, unpacked the cooker for her, had to fit a new connecting elbow, bayonet fixing and flexi pipe (all parts on his van - none of this "back in an hour with the bits and I'll charge you for it"), fit the safety chain, far beyond what he had expected, and he charged her..... £60 exactly.

Top man, I say.

Well my boiler broke down last week and I freaked, then I remembered I am paying British Gas for this Homeserve thingy...What a waste of money my hubbie said when I took it out..

THREE new parts needed on the boiler, all done and thoroughly cleaned as well and the top it all off they were here within two hours of my phone call.

Now thats service...and hubbie now thinks its wonderful !

haha