Last Friday night, the electrics in my house went. I thought it was our tumble dryer that had done it, but not being an electrician, I couldn't be sure. I did all of the things that you usually do but couldn't fix the electrical trip switch (a residual current device or RCD as they are called), so decided to call an emergency electrician out.
Not having required an electrician before, I did the natural thing and searched online and although I couldn’t find one on the bestofhinckley I did come up with a company that looked OK, which I won't name. The call was taken eventually and they promised that they would be with me in a couple of hours. Three hours later (including an hour that I had spent on hold!) the electrician still hadn’t turned up. At 2am, I then called another 'fast response' company who said they would with me at 8am but turned up at 11am. Already, I had experienced enough bad customer service for anyone to endure in a day. However, worse was to come because the bloke who came in proceeded to tell me that I needed a new tumble drier, RCD, washing machine, fridge....., etc, which of course he would be only too pleased to provide, at a significant cost!
Not convinced that I had received the most impartial of advice so far, I went back on the web and found another company that appeared more trustworthy. Within half an hour I had been contacted by a local electrician called Pete from PPB Domestic Electrical Installations (0845 839 3531 - local rate call or 07594 587730) and just 20-minutes later, Pete was in my house testing the circuits and finding out what was wrong. Half-an-hour after that, our electrics were working again. We still need a new tumble-drier but everything else (RCD, washing machine, fridge.....) is fine.
SO the lessons that I have learned...
The major lesson in all this of course is that you really do need to compile your list of reliable trades people BEFORE you have a problem (as I found out to my expense with a £100 call out fee!) because it’s too late once something goes wrong!
From a personal business point of view - I am incredibly loyal and all the contact details of the reliable, trustworthy people that I find either personally or through the bestofhinckley are in my phone and if something should go wrong, or I need something they are the first people I call. It’s quite simple really; I call them because I know I can rely on them for good service and a fair price.
Are the first emergency electricians that called in my phone? No, not a chance!
If you know of any really reliable and trustworthy local businesses then do please let Geoff at the bestofhinckley know because he just loves to celebrate and champion the most reliable, honest and trustworthy businesses in the area.
