drunk customer

[woko]

Hi all, need a little advise. I completed a job yesterday small domestic, two LED outside lights.
We agreed white lights but I turned up with black. I apologised and offered to changed them. After several text messages with his partner he decided if i offered him a discount then I would fit the black ones.
After this he kept chatting, in an out of the garage where I was working. I noticed his speech became slurred and he became irrational and was talking rubbish. I finished and he came to pay me. He tried to give me a lot less than I'd asked for he then gave me the rest reluctantly. Then he started trying to give me a hug. I wanted to get out of there ASAP.
Later that evening he sent me a garbled text message about a cable being untidy and his partner wanted white lights. I've offered to go back and sort the cable and told him I can't take the lights back because they've been fitted and he will have to pay for replacements as we agreed I'd fit black one at a reduced rate.
I'm not happy going back to be honest . I don't think I should have to put up with that behaviour, he was at home but I was at work. He made me feel extremely uneasy.
Any similar stories? Any advise? I've thought about contacting napit to get them on side.

 

[Rockingit]

Woko - you're getting a hard time here for two reasons: 1) sounds like you messed the job up and 2) also sounds like you're finding your feet in the ways of doing jobs in customers houses.

Solution: 1) don't mess jobs up and 2) get used to it - the world is a big place full of very different people!

 

[Chris sparky]

Go back and fit the white one's. They obviously wanted those in the first place. Sort the cable out free of charge and just stock the black ones. Bound to need em on another job chap. Even if the guy is an awkward customer do your best to sort it for him as word of mouth goes a long way.

 

[telectrix]

and don't even try and charge the discount you knocked off for the black ones. remember that the guy has friends, relatives, neighbours and if you treat him right, a recommendation is worth 10 times what it costs you to change the lights.even if he is a drunken sod. his gob could help you or destroy your rep. in the area.

 

[woko]

Ok, I'll go back and swap the lights. Just annoyed he was drunk and tried to hug me. I asked him not to and he grabbed me. Not impressed with that behaviour at all. He was also intimidating.
Cheers for comments.

 

[Paul.M]

And when you go back, go in the morning so not giving him time to drink. Also give him a bottle of wine in compensation lol.

 

[ruston]

Ok, I'll go back and swap the lights. Just annoyed he was drunk and tried to hug me. I asked him not to and he grabbed me. Not impressed with that behaviour at all. He was also intimidating.
Cheers for comments.

You are in for a shock then if you get into some of the rented sector. Just put it behind you and register it a lesson learned.

 

[Zebra Stripe]

In my opinion, if you agreed to fit the black lights at reduced cost then thats what the client got and you fulfilled your part of the agreement. If they now want the white lights then you should charge accordingly - its not your fault the guy was drunk and has now changed his mind. As for ruining your reputation, I wouldn't worry too much cos you didn't sleep with him.

 

[woko]

In my opinion, if you agreed to fit the black lights at reduced cost then thats what the client got and you fulfilled your part of the agreement. If they now want the white lights then you should charge accordingly - its not your fault the guy was drunk and has now changed his mind. As for ruining your reputation, I wouldn't worry too much cos you didn't sleep with him.

The best comment so far, cheers.

 

[markc123]

bet if it was a female customer misbehaving, dropping them for you, you'd not complain! :21:

Haha - that is very true.

Infact, you'd be disappointed in just the hug, haha.

 

[telectrix]

thought you'd like that. new avatar. she grown up now. still only weighs 2lb 3 oz.

 

[Rockingit]

The best comment so far, cheers.

No, that's the easiest 'do nothing' comment so far. Customers have very short memories but I'll put a pint that they remember asking you for white, and not agreeing to black. Plus, well if you've a cable come unclipped then that's a call-back anyway so you might as well swap the fixtures over (see if you can get the exact same model and leave the mounting plates on the wall - easy peasy then). I've tried to hug lots of things when I've been p155ed - trees, girls, blokes....ffs I even hugged the wife one time - but I doubt he'll remember and if he does would be embarrassed anyway. If he's an alcoholic, well there's a heck of a lot of them and you'll meet them all the time. Grow a thicker skin!!

 

[markc123]

thought you'd like that. new avatar. she grown up now. still only weighs 2lb 3 oz.

Very nice...get a few more pound on her and the local chinese might buy her off you so they can kebab her haha.

 

[dan86]

The best comment so far, cheers.

its not the best comment so far at all. its the ONLY one that agrees with what you wanted to hear.
the right thing to do is change.them for the ones the customer originally specified, and I think you know that.
and as for zebras comment about the customer being drunk and now changed his mind. utter tosh. he never changed his mind in the first place. you changed it for him.

 

[telectrix]

she's safe for now. several neighbours have got cats. she had to go to step-daughters for a week or 2. she's in season and her dad's trying to hump her. won't tolerate incest in the house.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

The best comment so far, cheers.

Ride off on your horse and don't bother posting again.