One Of Those Days!

D

David Saulque

Senior Moderator
Several months ago I received a call from a church that was some seventy miles away. I told them after getting general information that my price would be between $225 and $300. However I told them that for the most part your church hood most likely does not have to be cleaned if the information you are giving me is correct.

Yesterday, I get a call from the same church and they said someone gave them a estimate of $650. I told them that can't be right. I called today and drove out just to have a look. Ten foot single level one fan and clean. However the system has a little lint/grease on the filters. I told the maint. manager that it didn't have to be cleaned, however he should clean the filters. I told them I would send them a condition letter-stating that the system was safe and well within standards. Plus I would bill them $100 and would call them in a year.

The guy rolls up that gave me the call-I went over the situation and showed him the pictures. He comes back and says "you didn't tell me it wasn't a free estimate." I just looked at him-I walked away and told him to call someone else or pay the $650.

I have always given free estimate-but I think I am going to change the rules.

David
 
I have a few places that don't get dirty at all, one is a charity organization, and a couple of churches, but their insurance company makes them get cleaned twice a year. Why is the places that need cleaned badly always seem to not get get away with it?
 
I would think saving the guy 550 dollars he would gladly pay the 100 dollars for the time it took to save him the money...I think your reply was correct...I hope you smiled when you said it...
Being honest somtimes does not pay, But morally you did the right thing..

Matt
 
That one made me laugh out load...mbryan

Matt
 
Dave, you missed the point here. Guy calls wants his hood cleaned, instead of giving a reasonable estimate to clean the entire system based on whatever your cost estimates are, You're telling him he dosen't need it, which dosen' t solve the reason he called in the first place. I know you are trying to do the right thing, however what the guy really needs is a professional service to do the job right and a invoice proving he had the service done. And maybe you'll have a client for life.

Gary
 
I have a bar & grill that doesn't use their kitchen, but is required to have it cleaned per their insurance. I inspect it every 6 months, and charge a $65 fee. Easy money and it keeps their insurance company happy.

I keep the estimates free and charge the fee to tag, not as cleaned, but inspected and no visible grease accumulation.
 
"Contract with a maintenance firm for quartely flue and duct cleaning". This quote is from the commercial manual of one of the largest insurers in the nation, and is the model used. Due to past associations the source will remain unidentified, but any very large metro property & casualty agency will have these guidelines. I have never seen 'inspected & tagged' in any p&c guide. Sorry, but it sounds like misrep or fraud to me. I would pass on that one.
Richard
 
11.3 Inspection of Exhaust Systems
The entire exhaust shall be inspected by a properly trained, qualified, and certified company or person (s) acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction in accordance with Table 11.3

11.4 Cleaning of Exhaust Systems
Upon inspection, if found to be contaminated with deposits from grease-laden vapors, the entire exhaust system shall be cleaned by a properly trained, qualified, and certified company or person (s) acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction in accordance with Section 11.3.

11.4.12 When a vent cleaning service is used, a certificate showing date of inspection or cleaning shall be maintained on the premises.

11.4.13 After cleaning is completed, the vent cleaning contractor shall place or display within the kitchen area a label indicating the date cleaned and the name of the servicing company, and areas not cleaned.

11.4.14 Where required, certificates of inspection and cleaning shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction.


The NFPA is my guideline in all procedures I use. I see no misrep or fraud in my actions stated above.
 
David,

You tried to be nice and look where it got you.

Sometimes nice guys finish last - 140 miles later.

Maybe god is punishing you for hanging up the phone on chinese restaurants. :D
 
OK - suit yourself, however NFPA 96 (for whatever you may think that is worth) is not in view here. They will cite the contractural agreement, not the NFPA. You might just learn the hard way.

Good Luck,
Richard
 
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