Have you lost your keys, your heating no longer works…? Before calling an emergency professional, here’s what you need to know.
Having a problem at night, during the weekend or on a public holiday is really a problem. Not only do we know that it will be difficult to find someone to intervene quickly, but we must also expect a higher bill than if it had happened at another time. And, in a sense, it is quite normal for the craftsman to be paid more if he travels outside of his working hours. But it also happens that malicious people take advantage of this to scam their customers. How can you avoid it costing too much (or getting ripped off)?
The main thing to do to avoid paying a weekend or night rate which will cause the bill to explode is to postpone the intervention when possible, explains 60 million consumers in an article dedicated to emergency repair scams, published in the October 2024 issue. Does the heating stop working on a Sunday? We put on warm clothes, add blankets to the beds, heat the hot water bottles, and wait until Monday morning to call a heating engineer. A water leak on a public holiday? We cut off the water at the meter, mop everything up and call the next day. Lost keys when returning home in the evening? We ask relatives to accommodate us or we will spend a night in a hotel.
In this case, this adds an expense, you will tell us. Yes, but when we know that the cost of the intervention of a locksmith is 70 to 150 euros (plus possibly equipment to change) on a weekday and that a woman testifying to the magazine got it for 5000 euros for opening and changing your front door at 2 a.m., the price of a hotel night seems ridiculous. Likewise, the cost of labor for a plumber is generally between 40 and 80 euros per hour, but, for repairs, it can go from 50 to 200 euros.
And speaking of prices, finding out about this point is essential. When contacting the professional, he must indicate the price including tax for his fixed-rate services, the hourly rate including tax for labor, any increases linked to emergencies and the fact that it is at night, the weekend or public holiday, and travel expenses. They must also tell you whether they give free quotes or not. Clearly, he must inform you sufficiently so that you have an idea of the price of his intervention. Of course, also take the time to contact your home insurance to check what is covered.