Is it standard practice to be charged for the work of two tradespeople when one is an apprentice and the job could have been completed by just one person?
Recently, I had a couple of technicians come to inspect the smoke alarms in my home. Their company was recommended to me by local residents. To my surprise, two men showed up and spent less than 15 minutes testing the alarms, plus they mentioned installing an additional alarm in a bedroom. Since it seemed like a simple task, I assumed it would only require one tradesman.
Today, I received the invoice, which included a $60 fee for the apprenticeship labor and a $120 charge for the qualified tradesperson. I wasn’t informed beforehand that one of the workers was an apprentice. As a homeowner, I believe it’s reasonable to expect clarity on any additional costs that may arise, especially for services that weren’t necessary or previously discussed. It’s similar to how one would feel if a doctor asked if a medical student could observe a consultation—if there’s an extra charge, you might decline.
I came across a post in another forum where someone contested an apprentice fee and the company rectified it by removing the charge. What do you all think? Am I being overly frugal?
Here’s the invoice:
https://imgur.com/a/invoice-smoke-alarms-testing-installation-oybEMQo
It sounds like you have valid concerns about the charges you received for the work done at your home. It’s reasonable to expect transparency about who is working in your home and the associated costs. Since one of the workers was an apprentice and not disclosed as such, you might feel justified in questioning whether it was necessary to have two people for the job.
Many service providers do send apprentices along with qualified tradespeople for training purposes, but customers should be informed about this arrangement and any associated costs upfront. A good practice is to clarify whether you’ll be charged for each individual involved in the work before any services are rendered.
You mentioned a similar situation where another customer was able to get an error fee removed after questioning it, which suggests that some companies may be willing to adjust charges if asked. It could be worthwhile to reach out to the company to express your concerns, request clarification about their billing practices, and see if they’d be willing to adjust the invoice.
You’re not being cheap for wanting clarity and fairness in your billing; it’s about making informed decisions as a consumer. Good luck, and I hope you get a satisfactory resolution!