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Re: NESN in a Spin Mode
Yes it appears that NESN are to get a beating by one of their own trading conditions. They set up this clause in their contract to prevent agents taking other contracts of their own accord. So in response to some dodgy dealing, they have suspended an agent from their network. The funny thing is, the person who applied the rule with an iron fist moved some time ago to the very company NESN are having this distasteful argument with. Then to complicate the matter, the name that NESN have put on suspend is alleged to be involved with the other party. Complicated I know, and a family tree that is more confusing than the royal family is emerging.
I will try and explain a little further. Looks like Service Power are purporting to be associated with 2 decent sized repair contracts that essentially belong to NESN. I’m not saying whom, but the affair relates to 2 large mail order companies, one of which has a chain of stores. If there is any truth in that, then it is a bit of a blow for NESN. They haven’t had a significant new contract for some time now, and the subsidy their agents have endured of £2 per call looks like it will remain for longer than anticipated.
Both parties are claiming ownership of the above contracts, but you need to draw your own conclusions; at the same time there is a war of words via e-mails on this.
It seems there is a name from the Smoke that is allegedly linked to both Service Power and NESN. Of course he denies his association with S.P. but it is strange that his name keeps coming up in all the wrong places when it comes to S.P.
So, in a nutshell. Rumours go around that S.P. had landed these two contracts, which as NESN find out indirectly, naturally they deny this, and leap to their own defence. Then this person’s name comes up, someone then puts 2 & 2 together and names what they have apparently discovered is a connection between the two. It isn’t hard to do either. A brief look into companies house website will confirm a few things regards Service power. Anyway, NESN point out to their service agents all this skulduggery and lo and behold, the big boy from the Smoke issues a public denial. Now he is playing the legal card, which is a reversal of fortunes in the case of NESN.
NESN confirms though that one of the parties concerned has shown an interest in the Service Power computer system, this is crazy, being that the I.T. system doesn’t look like it is unique to S.P. Too similar to the NESN one to justify such an exercise. Also the reason stated is one of the Catalogue companies’ wants to assess the likely nationwide coverage by S.P. That is easily answered; they don’t have national coverage.
Most if not all NESN agents should know about this, and no doubt those who have an interest will watch closely.
I’m not taking sides here, just trying to report the issues in an unbiased manner, from the wings as it were, and ready to count the casualties. Difficult to know what topic this should be posted under, but it does follow the posting made prior to this one.
Rudi
Re: A New Trend In Ripping Off Repairers
Already started with CDSL if you think about it.
L.G. Chargeable, they take the call, credit card details etc, you get the job & invoice them. Think about it, there are no issues regards whether there is a 5 year parts or 2 year labour on anything related to collecting payment. All is handled by CDSL and you get the job. Advantage to them, they have captured your customer and if chargeable had a bite of the cherry. The only benefit I can see to us is agents are not lumbered with the rejection if the customer has 5-year parts and L.G. cannot find this.
Brandt, another case in point, they all phone CDSL. Will you get a Brandt chargeable? Unlikely as the only phone number issued takes you to Bordesley Green.
CDA, same old trick, collected a hefty sum from the customer, gave you the call & asked you to invoice them. At least now they are up front with it, and need to know our charges before they put in their mark up. Mercury do the same I’ve been told.
Even Electrolux are doing it in a small way to their agents. This was found by accident by one of our members (See the link below). I was horrified when I saw what information they were giving away. Give it time and they could expand on this and perhaps follow the Whirlpool example.
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name … pic&t=6949
What this means is Lux are poaching some of the spare parts traffic from their very own agents. I gather some of these agents are not too happy, and were hoping this would evaporate, but it seems this is to remain in place. Now any bod anywhere can buy a gas part, and even a microwave capacitor. O.K. for the trade, but what happens when someone gets killed? I gather there is to be a national meeting between agents and Lux management on this.
What all these companies fail to see it’s the bigger picture, they see a little way of making a bob or two, and either don’t see or care whether their agents die on the vine. Then they have a demoralised support system, who might even consider other ways to survive, in the end that will cost these companies a lot more that the little bit they can cream from their own dedicated service teams.
There are other reasons why we are losing chargeable work, mainly cost over value for money in having the work done. Made worse by the mark up in spares, even fitting a door seal is becoming non-viable. How may VT9’s do we fit a week now? Fridge stats used to be bread & butter work. Now the fridges are getting thrown away and an engineer has not even seen the product.
Consumerism driven I’m sorry to say, but we don’t need the likes of those who can make inroads to our businesses by stealth, and leave us ending up as franchised agents. They will soon be telling us what colour underpants to wear.
Rudi
Re: Who Do You Think You Are Kidding…
Could have told you about this months ago. Even thinner than the Indesit tubs. To add insult to injury, this is a tub out the roof job; I know the plastic is so thin there is little in weight, but awkward to do on one’s own and likely to cause injury.
The idea I suspect is to make us have a permanent stoop in order to bow and scrape to these illustrious work providers. Or maybe to kiss thier feet. I know what I’d like to tell them to kiss when they expect us to cover the cost of a second pair of hands.
There is a school of thought they are made of re-cycled plastic Coke bottles. After a bit of investigation, I found a link to the suppliers of the tub materials.
http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/home
Have a good weekend.
Rudi
Re: Gorenje
Passed to me 5 minutes ago via an un-named source, so it must be official now I presume.
Sent to IS.D.A. Agents today as below.
FAX MEMORANDUM
Gorenje Training
We will be covering service work for Gorenje appliances within the next few weeks and so we have arranged a training course this month. Isn’t it always the same, engineers on holiday, the weather gets warmer and fridges start breaking down and some idiot arranges a training course. Well, I am that idiot. It cannot be helped but we need to seize the opportunity when it arises.
The course will be over two days, covering laundry; refrigeration and cooking appliances and is to be held in the Leicester area, we will confirm the venue as soon as we know. The training date is as follows: –
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd June 2005.
Congratulations I would hope and a nice boost for Richard & his team, after all C.D.S.L. nor N.E.S.N. got this one.
Rudi
Re: Service Power?
Seriesteve wrote:Thanks for reply Martin, and your welcome
I think I understand the feelings of the forum.
Cheers Seriesteve “Aye Lookin for new Work”Yes I feel I must extend the hand of welcome.
Coming onto this site and landing straight into the Service Power forum I hope has been a stroke of luck for you. That outfit has a hidden agenda, and will drain the lifeblood right out of your business.
You may be looking for work, but I’m sure that after reading some of the stuff on this site, it is patently obvious who to avoid at all costs.
Keep looking in, but if you go the way of Service power, keep looking over your shoulder. That’s all I’m saying, as there is enough history on this site to keep you in the picture in any case
Rudi
Re: Brandt Review
I hope you have all seen the news on the front page of the site. It is easy for this to be missed as it is below all the normal bits & bobs on the use of the site, which of course we all know anyway. I think it may pay for there to be a scrolling news pane near the top of the page, similar to Sky new tickertape. Just a horizontal headline would do.
In case you missed it……………….
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … &sid=13083
The point is; I would be disappointed if the directors of C.D.S.L. missed this bit of news. If I was running a service operation that meant I had to pay agents to work on Brandt products, and I was anticipating payment from Brandt in return, I would be a trifle worried.
Now consider all the spare parts Brandt were able to unload onto C.D.S.L. unless of course C.D.S.L. was canny enough to buy these on an open ended payment scheme. If not, what happened to the money that was received for the payment of these goods? I doubt if they have been frittered away, just absorbed by the debts. Such is the extent of the crisis.
Taking it a bit further, think on this one; if Brandt goes to the wall, poor old Connect will be stuck with shed-loads of spare parts that are suddenly deemed useless. Therein lies the definition of irony I suspect. Oh Dear!
The interesting thing is; the next bit of news is regards D&G whose profits are up. Not bad, but would that have been the case had they retained the Brandt contract.
Brandt has been bad news for years, and I suspect will be until they draw their last breath. R.I.P.
Rudi.
alexa wrote:I noticed Spinner never did post again on that thread
Well, did you expect any different?
He gave a well constructed and succint response, we were impressed and pleased that an interest was expressed. It was thought that this would open the lines of communication a bit more. Never really happened though.
There the story ended. If he was trying to issue a defence, he never got round to finishing it.
I’d love to see him come back with an update. Perhaps he could allay some of our fears with the company. Even better, name all the directors; there is one famous name that has been inextricably linked on more than one occasion. All I’ll say is, he is a larger than life character. He walked across the carpark in Wednesbury, and landed a plum job with the “manufacturer”.
This time of year is traditionally quiet, and some of us may be in a position to join their team of agents. G.B. Dar need more repairers, and moreover they need quality agents. Whilst the bigger boys have a lean period they may well be happy to set up a dialogue with G.B. Dar and join the throng. Now is the time the likes of GB Dar could come clean, and work closer with all of us. I must say however, it is a lot better but still rather cloak & dagger at times. National Homecare is not dead, it is resting.
To see creedence in some of the work providers, you only have to feel the vibes as posted on here. C.D.S.L. seem to be the bees-knees, along with M.F.I. Even our friends N.E.S.N. have started to come into the real world a bit now. All the above reinforces that if you can’t beat em, join em. They send representatives to meetings, all this strengthens the bond between us and reduces the us & them scenario.
So, come on Mr Spinner, where are you?
Rudi.
Re: CORGI Tax?
Interesting thread.
Reading between the lines this appears to have been “fired this over the heads” of Servevast, no doubt in an effort to appoint the blame towards Smeg themselves. All very well, but Servevast have a duty of care towards their agents, and if there is an injustice here, then why are Servevast burying their heads in the sand? O.K. they seem to agree with the cause, but they are not open in supporting their agents it would appear.
Surely work providers are aware this is a cost levied on the industry as a whole, and we the industry need to make it clear that such costs do have to be met. The simple way forward is to seek recompense for our efforts; not too difficult, but it is a shame when we don’t get such recognition or support.
You don’t get owt for nowt as was mentioned on here the other day, and why should we at the sharp end take the hit?
I’m rather surprised there hasn’t been a bigger backlash on this.
Rudi
Re: Gorenje
Letter due out to all ISDA agents very soon.
Remember… You heard it here first.
Have a good weekend.
Rudi
kwatt wrote:Latest news on the front page now Rudi and I think that you may have a little to add to that as well now. 😉
K.Good insn’t it. But there is a lot more to follow. There is at least one interesting name to add to our list; birds of a feather or what. More on that another day.
The bit that got me was, the heading; “”Company directors face criminal penalties”. I looked at the heading and thought, whoopie-do! this was the news we were waiting for. Then I Read the story, realised not quite, but may be relevant in the future. Good bit of placement though all the same.
Then down past an unrelated topic re. Lone workers.
Then the bit on service power themselves;
“Servicepower joins consumer service network. Goes on to make mention of:- Service management software maker cum field service engineering company, ServicePower, has become the exclusive UK partner of Elesco, a pan-European installation, service and repair network for consumer electronics and domestic appliances.
Where does that leave the existing partners who are or were supposed to be in place? I mean those who through no fault of their own have been practically ripped asunder by the power games employed by previous senior members of staff. Maybe the U.K. trade will just dismiss Elesco, and carry on in their own inimitable way.
Time will tell.
Rudi
Re: Gorenje
BSH-MAN
You must have excellent hearing, as I have never heard of any colleagues slating Gorenja appliances TO the customer ❗Maybe you missed the point.
The scenario of an engineer “slating Gorenje” was a hypothetical point I was trying to put across.
Quote Boro. Also have a problem with retailers pushing for earlier appointment than given.After all we don’t make it,surely our products take priority?.
The issue I had tried to highlight was the statement regards putting your own product first in the queue. I suppose charity begins at home, but I’m sure most would agree that the line quoted is not what Gorenje would like to hear.
Rudi
Re: Service Power?
kwatt wrote:Well Rudi, this should make your week then…
NESN have won the Littlewoods contract for three years and apparently this was the big one that Service Power were after and thought they’d get.
Made me smile a bit. 😉
K.Oh I was cock-a-hoop as they say.
Only a minor account I’m sorry to say, but it shows a little confidence in NESN. I’m all for it as after all, the problem in the main has moved into Service Power; and wouldn’t it be nice if Littlewoods, and maybe one or two others picked up something from these pages, and we helped influence the decision. Wishful thinking perhaps.
If the insurers and manufacturers who like using the NESN’s of the industry become aware of the past, and what stone he (or even they) is/are hiding under, these companies are doing the right thing in avoiding such nefarious outfits.
A bit like Croatia after the civil war, people are now gradually going back there.
There is more to come and this will run and run I’m sure.
Rudi
Re: Gorenje
boro wrote:have a problem with retailers pushing for earlier appointment than given.After all we don’t make it,surely our products take priority?.
Doesn’t that just about sum up the whole thing?
That one sentence alone just goes to show what is wrong in this case with a manufacturers repair network attending another make of product. Neither the customer or retailer should be subject to such sentiments.
Just imagine how such vibes come across to the customer. First off a van turns up liveried with Neff Bosch Seimens etc. Looks very good and professional until the representative of the company shows contempt for the product. In addition, how often does a BSH engineer tell a Bosch customer for example, that, “The Gorenje products I repair madam, are poor quality compared to this Bosch, you have a good machine here and it is made in Germany”. You can hear that being said in kitchens up & down the land.
Perhaps that is one reason why Gorenje is looking around, and in which case perhaps, BSH would be better off without such work. After all in the eyes of the consumer, that machine is the “only” product, and this customer is not interested in much else, and certainly not in internal politics etc. The repairer should be aware of this and use a little diplomacy and integrity to the product. I doubt if that throw away remark was a one off, more of a culture thing.
Rudi
Re: Gorenjie
Rats!!
You beat me by 5 minutes.
Rumour also has it they went to D&G first but D&G turned it down. Probably had one too many gripes come their way regards Brandt.
Very progressive company are Gorenje, and a fairly good product. I don’t know if this include refrigeration though.
Hace a good one those who go to the AMDEA show.
Rudi
Re: NESN in a Spin Mode
In case any NESN members were not aware. Tomorrow, Thurs. 21st April there was supposed to be the AGM meeting.
It will not happen, reason being Mr David Ince of Beaver Electronics had challenged the date of the meeting, threatening legal action should the date not be re-scheduled.
This is not the “Tail Wagging the Dog” but Mr Ince being bloody-minded and on a point of order exercising his “rights”. There is a small thing on Company law where there is a certain period of notice that is supposed to be tendered regards the date of such a meeting. In most cases shareholders tend not to be so pedantic when it comes to attending such things and either turn up or tender their apologies. No so in this case though. Well, did we expect anything else?
A while ago there was a cancer afflicting NESN and I thought they were safely in remission, not so it appears. Either that or they are being haunted.
The point is; the infliction may have left NESN in one form or another, but the illness still has a stranglehold and the cure is still not forthcoming. This has now infected, or rather may start to infect another operation, being Service Power.
All I can say is; Oh Dear!!
Rudi
