Schools & Stuff

Re: Schools & Stuff

We do loads.

Basically call, inspect and repair if neccessary.

We charge £60 initial appliance and then £16 per electric & £20 per gas cooker. May not sound a lot, but when we look at 30 plus in one location, it isn’t too bad.

We always take a selection of handles and spare lamps and the 1st time fix rate is good. If needs knobs we send them to the caretaker, who we usually set up a rapport with. We have their mobile numbers on the system and it makes booking easier.

They always come in during the school holidays, and usually in the 1st week or so. We endeavour to look at them ASAP as it gives us chance to get back with any bits if needed before the school re-opens.

HTH Alex

Re: Schools & Stuff

Never been asked to pat test as this is usually done by whoever does the whole building, including computers, printers kettles etc. The cookers already have up to date green lablels on them, looks like have been done by the local authority.

When I tendered for the original contract I put it all on a spread sheet with varying rates dependent on how many appliances per school. I also gave them a job spec more or less advising we would carry out functional, visual and electrical safety checks and repair with authority if required. If the thing is a wreck, we send a written quote.

I haven’t put the rate up for 3 years, and as these cookers are getting older, I don’t want to price out the contracts and subsequently lose them. We started with 1 school, and gradually picked up many more by word of mouth and now do 5 counties.

Payment. Sometimes the school pays from their fund, sometimes the County pay it. Whichever way, we always get an e-mail from whoever and they give us the details of payment regime. Most of them now are year on year, and we have sorted out any issues that may prevail.

Alex

Re: Schools & Stuff

K Hi

We do exactly the same as Alex and charge the same rates, near enough.

We always bill the school directly. For us we usually do them during the school holidays, towards the back end of the main break. Unfortunately, we have to wait until the new term begins to get paid, but were used to it and know when the payments are coming through.

We have never done any PAT testing in the schools either, from what I understand the LEA does it for them.

One final thing which came up during the last round of contract negotiations, which might be pertinent was are our engineers CRB checked? We think this was because we also provide the breakdown service which means our engineers can be on site during school opening times.

Our engineers are checked and we repeat it every twelve months, but this is because we have a contract for working in a couple of prisons and they insist we are checked.

Regards

Jackal