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Re: DSG/RepairCare Rate Cuts
Whirl4 wrote:
I wonder what all the other contracts that have work placed with repaircare are thinking of all this. It doesn’t look good does it?
If good agents such as the above are walking then where does that leave the service on all the other contracts that have nothing to do with currys?I share the same concern, and saw this earlier.
Rudolph_Hucker wrote:…….
Point is though, if they start to lose the guys who have the skills, talent, passion and image they need to operate, it will end up becoming a third class operation. Once things start to reflect onto customers, and moreover other contract holders within the operation, then the days are numbered.Re: NESN Again (The 2010 Thread)
kwatt wrote:…..As for Andy Craw, who knows perhaps he’s a reformed character. All I know is he screwed ISDAL over and was a mate of Heath’s, that’s enough for me to show the same level of trust I’d give to a rattlesnake.K.
Leopard & Spots I suspect. That goes either way, whether Andy Craw or N.E.S.N.
One of the Connect agents finally had a phone call and was assured all this went on because DSG did have a dialogue with NESN, and the package included what Connect have now, as well as the new Bosch Contract was to be all inclusive. The senior manager from Connect who told the repairer this is adamant there was a risk of them losing it.
Can’t name names, otherwise might lose the information supply.
Bollocks (Wonder if the auto censor will pick that up?) If that was the case, why didn’t Richard Lawson dispute that fact at the DASA meeting? It was stressed by Paul Swift fom NESN and supported by Dave Highton of ISDAL that there has never been any negotiations or dicussions regards any DSGi contract that was already being serviced by Connect. Paul Swift openly challenged Connect into this, and they refused to answer. This may be why I have not had the same story as I was there and heard it all.
Edit, yes my expletive was amended.
Re: NESN Again (The 2010 Thread)
Yeah-but, no-but, yeah-but!
Who is to say they won’t be doing what David Parker was sent out to do 7 years ago, and that is go along to disenchanted Repaircare/Connect agents and promise them the earth.
They have already been in my place, and I’m actually going to give it a punt, might be profitable, will strengthen an additional network and give me the edge with Connect in order to tell them where to go.
I am nervous to a degree, but I’ve dealt with heavier operations than that, and each time have picked myself up & just got on with it.
They are probably not be the messiah as someone put it, and I will be watching them. It will help me to keep the food bucket stocked when it comes to the wage bill. I’m slightly wary as the man they are using is Andy Craw. Bit of a sharp character as we all know.
Re: Repaircare…
Their options with you probably depends what they have managed to set up and if running regards an alternative.
If they haven’t quite sorted the coverage I suspect number 3. Mark Reilly is o.k. but thinks he is a smart arse at times. However had it been David I think he would probably have sat down with you and probably given a good indication where things are moving. He would also respect your decision.
When I was a Merloni agent I was losing £2.10 per call. I sent them a letter advising the rates I would charge them. I gave them my figures and stressed this was not want I wanted to do, but needed to do.
The national manager Neil Taplin came down to see me next day, and agreed to honour by requests. I gave it another 3 months, and terminated myself. At the time the Hotpoint thing was just beginning, and he told me I was making a mistake as there was serious work in the pipeline. The rest is history re Hotpoint/Merloni and who runs what re service.
Merloni was 40{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of my workload. Their customers were as bad as the Connect customers (Naturally) There were customers covered by the “Social Fund” and most of them lived in sh1t holes. If you upset them in any way they would threaten to get their effing solicitor on the case.
I’ve analysed the whole of the Connect account and globally with them I lose 81p per call. This won’t continue but at present I’m being Mr Angry with them. I’m rude on the phone, demanding and will not do any favours. I return most pre-booked calls saying we are full, all calls where address, model details etc are wrong and calls without phone numbers. If any customer asks for a.m. or p.m. we tell them sorry cannot oblige, but if they care to phone c/plan I’m sure an alternative repair agent will be found who can oblige.
There is no rush now to book a Connect call, and we no longer get the engineers to phone in when each job is completed to boost the stats. We are putting in delays on purpose, and we had 13 calls awaiting schedule the other day, and they were sat there until we had other jobs in the same postcodes. Every time there was a chase, we would tell them and the customer why the delay.
I have engineers on holiday, and despite that need to fill the workloads, next month back to full staff. I’ve just signed up with NESN, may regret that but better that where we are at present. When the Philco Coverplan work from Nottingham died back in 2001, we heaved a sigh of relief. Same when Merloni went. Both those accounts were very similar and very demanding.
Once upon a time, there was nobody who could do my area with all the skills. They now have Appliance Care of Exeter set up as second tier whose vans have been seen quite a lot in my area. Appliance Care seems to be a very aggressive bunch and the calls we are rejecting never come back to us. So it is only a matter of time.
Alex
Re: Repaircare…
washdoctor wrote:Just 😆 at the ‘oohh Matron’ above…! That aint what I wrote!
That is a default in place in case there is a little swearie. We are a delicate bunch in here.
Ade you are brave man. I hope the posting stays there as they have a habit of striking out the ones they don’t want us to read.
Hopefully when you have 5 mins you can elucidate on the compensation scandal.
There are more things to add and with a bit of luck Rudolph, Ted or Whirl4 will put some of them out over the weekend. Friday p.m. traditionally is a good time to post any interesting snippets.
I’m bringing Dr Dill to the UKW meeting by the way, I’m sure you would like to meet this guy. He is due a horses head in his bed sometime.
Night night
Alex
Re: New member proposed
Alex wrote:……….
Unlike when Martin got in here by accident, I don’t think we have slagged the guy off. And it will keep him busy for a few days reading all the stuff.
AlexOops, had to be me. If you find any more I’ll get me coat. Looks like I owe you a pint or a Clarks pie.
Alex
Re: Service Force in Wales
I should say Bugger; who let you in here?
Welcome to the club. We feel international now. Excuse Del as he is pseudo Welsh and is really from Stafford with a bit of the blarney.
Service Farce Wales. I did say at the beginning of this, “If he is allowed in, please kill this thread” Thankfully they didn’t because you have come out of it o.k. and hopefully I didn’t particularly slag you off. Mind you there was some good support from the other guys.
I had totally forgotten about it, but me being one of the ones that asked you to join our little enclave, I’m glad it wasn’t too damning. I mentioned shouting off a mountain because you are Welsh.
We have a habit in here of saying what we think, and then letting the victim of our rantings into the room. Martin was a case in point, but he got upset, then got difficult so he was put out to grass, and has been eating loco-weed ever since.
As I said you were very badly let down, and I was saddened by it all as it would have been good to have you as a Service Force associate.
At the end of the day though you probably ended up better off. They might not be organised, and the communication can be poor, but at least they are better than Connect.
No hard feelings I hope.
Alex
Re: WTA / UKW SEPTEMBER 2010 MEETING
You have e-mail.
I’m taking Dave Jones from Exeter and to save you some diesel in these impoverished times, you are welcome to leave your vehicle here (J24 M5) in a locked compound. Alternatively give Dave a tug and meet at his place.
Let me know.
Re: 0800 Repair
Can someone give them Richard Lawsons E-Mail address at connect. Maybe they can teach each other a thing or two.
Re: CONNAUGHT PLC
Did for a while. Had exactly the same problems, and ended up sending letters to the house tenants, followed up by involvement from a Credit Management company. In the end one of their managers paid me with his personal credit card.
Alex
Re: DSG/RepairCare Rate Cuts
Can this stay on topic please.
There are concerns on the CDSL account an some repairers are compromised financially due to recent events.
This thread is in risk of being diluted by tittle tattle among those who are not directly affected by the machinations of CDSL DSG or whoever. Perhaps we have not been given the correct reasoning etc as regards what the hell is going on.
I cannot see any sense in any form of “conspiracy” in order to boost numbers at a meeting, and raise the food bill in the process. This topic is related to the way things have been presented the guys doing the work and to what the truths and misinformation stream is about.
What we all need is an explanation because so far there are conflicting reports as to who the perpetrator of this and the REAL reason as to why. So far I have had nothing that I can really believe, and the rumours are becoming more credible every day.
Alex
kwatt wrote:Oh I couldn’t say who it was…
K.Even if you did know, there is no way I’d expect you to let on.
On the same topic I was at the DASA meeting the other week, and someone told ME I was Rudolph Hucker. He assured me he had this from a reliable source. My denials were met with a high degree of scepticism.
Bit disconcerting for me at present now Rudolph has come out of hibernation.
As regards Repaircare/DSG Adrian Whelke is openly pushing them for an answer. Well done that man!
Alex
Re: Spicy & Juicy
Whoever Whirl4 is deserves a pint (or two). We probably won’t find out but hey-ho he deserves to be anonymous.
I love the fact he has pinpointed the copy of the e-mail where the blame is on DSG. The connect forum is beginning to liven up as well, and somone has mentioned there is a thread on UKW.
I suspect Connect will either take another repairer off their system or wipe the posts off thier forum.
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
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
