topic Re: 6 Hour Window in Community Chat

6 Hour Window

ScrapHappy — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:49:32 GMT

I have someone coming to the house today for HVAC check up for winter. I made this appointment months ago because they book up so fast. They don't give a time window when I make the appointment but they're supposedd to call the day before, which they didn't and that's not the first time. Do you think a 6 hour time frame is too long?

Re: 6 Hour Window

LTT1 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:52:49 GMT

@ScrapHappy

You need to call them, I think but you have two different problems there.

1) they didn't call are they coming out today?

2) you feel a six hour window is unacceptable. Can they give you a bit more notice in some way?

Re: 6 Hour Window

Janey2 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:55:30 GMT

First of all I would call and make sure they are coming and did not forget about your appointment.

Re: 6 Hour Window

faeriemoon — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:55:45 GMT

I think both issues are unacceptable. 1. They SHOULD have called you yesterday; 2. The six hour window is too broad.

Re: 6 Hour Window

cheriere — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:58:28 GMT

@ScrapHappy

Yes, I do think that's too long of a time window. Seems like the satellite, WiFi & hvac people all have this same time frame. Most people can't take a day off work waiting for this either. Very frustrating.

Re: 6 Hour Window

ScrapHappy — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:58:40 GMT

@Janey2 wrote:
First of all I would call and make sure they are coming and did not forget about your appointment.

I did call them this morning. They didn't forget appointment but they didn't call the day before.

Re: 6 Hour Window

stevieb — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:00:22 GMT

Yes, six hours means one is essentially sitting around and waiting all day for someone to perhaps arrive. The longer we acceopt lousy customer service the longer it's going to be considered the norm and the worse it's going to get. I'd consider calling another company, realizing the response might be the same.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:01:13 GMT

I think that is a pretty big window of time, to me 3 hours is plenty. I would want to make sure they are coming today, especially since they did not call yesterday.

I would be angry if I stayed home all day and they were a no show.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Carolina925 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:07:53 GMT

I'm afraid that's "the way of the world" nowadays. I try to understand because the workmen never know what they'll encounter on the previous housecalls. They should at least call, though. I had a delivery from Lowe's a couple years ago. The delivery wasn't made by our local store but one in a bigger nearby city. They told me they'd be at my house between 10 AM and 1 PM, which was surely workable for me. They showed up at 8 AM! I'm sure I scared them when I came to the door not ready to meet my public yet

Our local utilities always give me a day and anywhere from 8 AM to 8 PM so I always have to allow them a full day. It was more difficult before I retired because I had a full-time job and a part-time one; had to take off from them both.

Re: 6 Hour Window

ScrapHappy — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:19:16 GMT

@Carolina925 wrote:
I'm afraid that's "the way of the world" nowadays. I try to understand because the workmen never know what they'll encounter on the previous housecalls. They should at least call, though. I had a delivery from Lowe's a couple years ago. The delivery wasn't made by our local store but one in a bigger nearby city. They told me they'd be at my house between 10 AM and 1 PM, which was surely workable for me. They showed up at 8 AM! I'm sure I scared them when I came to the door not ready to meet my public yet

Our local utilities always give me a day and anywhere from 8 AM to 8 PM so I always have to allow them a full day. It was more difficult before I retired because I had a full-time job and a part-time one; had to take off from them both.

I had a bad experience with a roofing company. They were supposed to come between 9-12. When they didn't show, I called and was told they are on their way and will be there in 15 minutes. Didn't show. Called back and was told they fell behind on a previous job. Will be here in 20 minutes. No show. Called back, upset of course and re-scheduled for following day. Had to get this done. No show again the following day. This time told the truck broke down. Yea, right. They came the next day.

Re: 6 Hour Window

kitcat51 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:20:25 GMT

A 6hr window isn't too much, many times a checkup requires repairs & that takes time...if your HVAC needs repair you want them to stay until it's fixed, if it's past your appointment time you're annoyed they're late.The company I use has the tech call when they're on their way to your house, I always plan to be home all day just in case the tech is running behind.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Sooner — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:21:22 GMT

@ScrapHappy wrote:
I have someone coming to the house today for HVAC check up for winter. I made this appointment months ago because they book up so fast. They don't give a time window when I make the appointment but they're supposedd to call the day before, which they didn't and that's not the first time. Do you think a 6 hour time frame is too long?

@ScrapHappy No. Sounds reasonable to me. They are probably doing a lot of inspections, and probably running into issues here and there. If they need to spend an extra hour or two at your house, you'll be glad.

Re: 6 Hour Window

PinkyPetunia — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:24:13 GMT

I deal with the same issues with my HVAC company. I try not to let it upset me. I have an appt. from 12 to 4 pm. They never call to confirm so I will give them a call that morning.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Iwantcoffee — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:12:08 GMT

It is not too long for me. I am just happy when they come.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:31:03 GMT

I had an AC man out last week and was told he'd be here 8am-10am. He came about 8:30. Boy have they raised their prices.

Re: 6 Hour Window

wagirl — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:31:39 GMT

Sounds like the old days when you had to get your cable installed!!

Re: 6 Hour Window

beckyb1012 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:42:49 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
Sounds like the old days when you had to get your cable installed!!

and Ma Bell too.

Re: 6 Hour Window

We rescue cats — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:06:11 GMT

I think the time window makes sense, one never know what the inspection/cleaning may run into. I've already had a thechnician here for over 2 hours when a problem was encountered. I'd rather be here waiting for an inspection than shivering while waiting in the midst of winter.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Nightowlz — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:17:55 GMT

If our AC is not working our guy comes out asap.

If it's for checkup or cleaning the unit he gives us a time. If he's running late due to another job he sends a text.

With our plumber you pick morning or afternoon with no time frame. They do call when they head our direction.

Our ac/heat is 24 yrs old so having a new unit installed.

A new freon 454B is coming out 1st of Jan 2025. We don't want to buy one of those more expensive units until they work out all the bugs. We want to know how they cool before we buy one?

If they have to change certain parts on the AC you have now they can't do that. You will have to buy a new unit using their new freon. They will start installing these new units soon.

Re: 6 Hour Window

Icegoddess — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:52:23 GMT

I think the company we use has people who do the inspections and can do repairs if needed, and other people who go out on trouble calls. If the inspection guy finishes his inspections, he can then go out on a trouble job. Generally, the time window is 4 hours, either morning or afternoon. We get a card in the mail when it's time for us to set up our appointment, and we used to get the same guy every year until about 4 years ago.

There's probably only so much they can do if they run into a problem. They don't keep all the parts on the truck. Only once has there been an issue found during inspection and the part was not on the truck, but they came back the next day and fixed it.

I will say, many years ago our heat went out on the coldest day of the year. Luckily we have a pellet stove, so we did at least have some from of heat. We got in line and I had given up and decided to go to bed when the guy showed up. We're talking 10:30 pm. He had been working all day on systems and still had 2 calls to go after ours. He was able to fix the problem that evening, and it really didn't take that long. We've been a customer ever since.