LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Preamble:
I collected some net round the prop on the way to Alderney which killed the engine, started and engaged reverse then forward which allowed me to get to Alderney (not a breath of wind).
I anchored in the bay and on going into reverse to set the anchor the engine cut again.
I arranged with the HM to go into the inner harbour to dry out and with Mainbrace to tow me in. In the meantime I snorkelled down and got some of the net off, which then gave me propulsion again. Mainbrace man then turned up but I accepted the tow in anyway.
He put me nicely against the wall and I waited to dry. An hour or so later the Mainbrace man shouted up saying he had cleared the prop and taken a few barnacles off as well, I was surprised and asked how much would it cost, he said “Oh! Less than an hour”.
My daughter went off to pay as I was otherwise engaged under the boat. When she got back the Bill was for £37.50 - £12.50 for the tow in and £25 (1 hr) labour for clearing the prop even though it was only a ten minute job.
Question:
I went and complained and we settled on one hour total - £25 leaving with not very good feeling.
Was I right to complain, should I have argued to just pay the £12.50, or should I have just accepted the bill and paid up?
I collected some net round the prop on the way to Alderney which killed the engine, started and engaged reverse then forward which allowed me to get to Alderney (not a breath of wind).
I anchored in the bay and on going into reverse to set the anchor the engine cut again.
I arranged with the HM to go into the inner harbour to dry out and with Mainbrace to tow me in. In the meantime I snorkelled down and got some of the net off, which then gave me propulsion again. Mainbrace man then turned up but I accepted the tow in anyway.
He put me nicely against the wall and I waited to dry. An hour or so later the Mainbrace man shouted up saying he had cleared the prop and taken a few barnacles off as well, I was surprised and asked how much would it cost, he said “Oh! Less than an hour”.
My daughter went off to pay as I was otherwise engaged under the boat. When she got back the Bill was for £37.50 - £12.50 for the tow in and £25 (1 hr) labour for clearing the prop even though it was only a ten minute job.
Question:
I went and complained and we settled on one hour total - £25 leaving with not very good feeling.
Was I right to complain, should I have argued to just pay the £12.50, or should I have just accepted the bill and paid up?
