warranty on workmanship?

clammy

I recently went back to a install that we did about5 to 6 years ago and the custermer had a few leaks that where quite small and another promblem with domestic hot water.To tell the truth we just installed it and somemech. eng. drew it up now here's the promblem these leaks where quite small just drip that 5 years ago if where tighten would have bneen no big deal the HO don't call for any service no cleanings even though they are sent notices .ther have been no no heat calls either for about 6 years the ho also didn't even finish the last payments and the co mpany i did the job for didn't make 1 cent because they didn't chk the print nor price the job anywhere what they should have gotten (about 10,000 to 15,000 less ) now the ho wants some free repairs how do you handle it ?The company would have done the repairs had they notifyed them but 6 years on workmanship warranty please give some advice i know in my heart of hearts that these preppies won,t pay a dime thanks for input and peace

Ken_8

It sounds as though...

The homeowner should be billed for failing to properly maintain the equipment!

The norm in this business is one year for any workmanship issues. Granted, the packing nut on an Apollo ball valve weaping is not an installers' workmanship problem, but an installation warranty does have some gray areas.

Five years later however, is NOT one of those areas.

Bill 'em

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Steve_35

Warranty

First off making money on a job or not isn't a prerequisite to the customer getting warranty service. That said, getting final payment is a prerequisite to warranty service.

I would certainly service this customer with the understanding it's cash, not check, up front.

tim smith_2

warranty

I just finished going back on a 5 yr old install and spent a whole day draining system and repairing a few leaks that were seeping for a long time, no charge. Be that as it may, if the client did not pay us in full, I would have not done this. But if client paid, and the seepers were on our new piping, we feel we should fix this. I hurts although.

Al Letellier

warrantee

Here in Maine, it's a State Law that you have to cover workmanship issues for 4 years (not well known, but true). I agree that lack of payment voids any warranties and that is spelled out in our contracts. Lack of maintenance on the part of the homeowner isn't reason to work for nothing. If it's out of the required time frame an the owner hasn't made any effort to contact us, they get billed, plain and simple.

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Al Letellier

warrantee

Here in Maine, it's a State Law that you have to cover workmanship issues for 4 years (not well known, but true). I agree that lack of payment voids any warranties and that is spelled out in our contracts. Lack of maintenance on the part of the homeowner isn't reason to work for nothing. If it's out of the required time frame an the owner hasn't made any effort to contact us, they get billed, plain and simple.

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jerry scharf

no warranty

A reasonable position, IMO, is to ask for the completion payment on the original work plus cash in advance for the repair work.

They aren't a customer you want, and they are unlikely to say anything nice about you whether you do this work or not. They are free to have someone else do the work if they feel this is too much for them to pay.

Learn from the first mistake.

jerry

jim lockard

I give

1 year Warrenty on workmanship but if I feel its my error I will take care of a warrenty item if its 10 years old. As for your "customer" he never writes , never calls then starts demanding service, time for him to go. Had he had you over once a year you may have found the problem when it was new. If you should work for him get your money prior to getting your tools. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Lurker_2

gotta be kidden

You should put a lean on their house for the money they owe.
Tough enough to get someone to show and do a good job, but then not pay them. ridiculous let em swing

jim lockard

H.O.

Depending what State your in a lein is easier said then done.
After 5 years any judge would just shake his head and smile.
Best Wishes J.Lockard

Tony_8

warranty

I do repairs for free if it's obvious to ME that it's been a problem right along. The people who don't pay then say it's been bad since I left I just smile and tell 'em how much plus the original balance due. No pay=no warranty.

I just found out that in NY State there is NO law dictating labor warranty. Straight from the Attorney General's office. A competitor doesn't warranty any labor and I called to check and that's what they told me. No incentive to do it right the first time. AG's rep. says "sometimes ethics and the law don't coincide"!!! No crap.

I'd like to see it changed. A year is my practice, even for thermocouples and such. If something is that shaky for me to doubt longetivity, I state so up front and all bets are off, but everyone involved knows it.

Steve_35

Warranty

We started offering a year warranty on all repairs except tuneups when we went to flat rate. Tuneups are 6 months But we double the warranties for all safety and efficiency agreement customers.

GEO_3

Bill em If they pay you've got a customer. If they don't you'll never hear from them again. It's a win ,win situation.