Poor Service of local handymen

[deejemil@googlemail.]

Dear Neighbours

I recently moved back to Forest Hill where I grew up and I have to say I am very upset with the poor service of handymen in the area. Despite trying to contact recommendations on this site - very few handyman have replied or been available and those that I have managed to employ have been disappointing. Chris Tickner was the first handyman I employed recently who messed up the job and should not have been recommended on this site, despite having a dodgy hip - he also has bad eyesight - so ladders and straight lines are a big problem (let alone just getting up the stairs and even carrying his own tool box). The second handyman I employed was Aston who comes highly recommended on this site and is a brilliant handyman, he does a first class job, really knows his stuff BUT on his initial quotation he wanted to charge the equivalent to ?75 per hour, I managed to renegotiate the rate down to ?55per hour, but that is still extortionate for putting up a shelf and flat pack furniture. It's totally unethical. The rates i was charged in N London were between ?20-30 per hour which is reasonable and what I was expecting. I am just so upset that the home I grew up in hasn't a community that is tainted in this way.

[dbboy]

Makes you wonder how some of the recommendations are posted, either extremely low expectations or seemingly self recommendations, suggest taking them with a large dose of salt. They tend to over price and under deliver.

[Springer]

75 a hour why even entertain or try to bargain you ended up paying 55 a hour no handyman can justify that

[Sue]

If people will pay that rate, then they will continue to charge it, I guess.

Supply and demand.

[Pugwash]

he may have not wanted to do the job hence the high rate.

[Coll]

?55/hr and you were very happy with the work completed. Doesn't sound like he didn't want the job!!

[deejemil@googlemail.]

I didn't say i was happy, if I was happy I wouldn't have put a post on here. I am certainly not happy! I said he did a good job, doesn't justify the charge. It's not ethical and I will not endorse it.

[Sue]

If you weren't happy with what he was charging, and I agree it was excessive, could you not have found someone else?

You aren't obliged to use someone just because they have given you a quote :)

[deejemil@googlemail.]

I think perhaps it is time to shut this conversation down as I am starting to feel offended by the tome and manner of some of the responses, which if continues I will report. I do not feel it is necessary to question or judge the personal circumstances which led to the employment of Aston (whether I was obliged to use him or not!) In my personal opinion I felt his charge was unethical and I will not endorse it! I have now found another local handyman whose workmanship is just as good as Aston's and charges less than half the price, his name is Aron and I will be using him in future.