Broken Hot Water and Sunday (epic rant) - Page 6

phdoofus · #**101** 30.04.2012, 16:56

Had our water heater go out in the middle of winter in Canberra: no heat, no hot water. The place was let by a management agency whose absentee landlord was living in SE Asia at the time. Took them a month to get things sorted. Some people should not own property.

IK36 · #**102** 30.04.2012, 16:56

In London, I knew I could not expect anything, so I rented an apartment and did not pay my rent until the landlord fixed what was broken. I moved here to settle down, finally bought an apartment, etc, etc. I am being screwed by everyone here and my Swiss friend tells me - yes, it is expensive, but you get good quality. This as he hops into his car on the way to France to buy everything from toilet paper to a boat.

Lol, Canberra. How cold does it get there? + 19?

phdoofus · #**103** 30.04.2012, 17:00

	Quote:	Pants-Face
	Some still do though - some people don't care, or the hours suit them, or they are just simply after less intellectually-stimulating jobs.

I wouldn't be crying too much over the 'incredibly difficult' life of plumbers in the US. They get paid pretty darn well, even better than alot of you 'highly educated and mentally stimulated' types with too many student loans and a degree in social work, esp when they are servicing some emergency call.

	Quote:	IK36
	Lol, Canberra. How cold does it get there? + 19?

Mean daily minimum of about 0C in winter. They also get the occasional snow there. Go sleep in your fridge for a month and tell me how you like it.

IK36 · #**104** 30.04.2012, 17:06

Oh sorry. You mean Canberra in Australia? That Canberra? I meant Canberra, FL

phdoofus · #**105** 30.04.2012, 17:14

	Quote:	IK36
	Oh sorry. You mean Canberra in Australia? That Canberra? I meant Canberra, FL

Yes, the real Canberra.

strollingby · #**106** 30.04.2012, 19:40

Its a funny old world.

Sorry to hear about your problems - its all relative and for you it clearly hit a nerve and right or wrong I hope you get it sorted.

When living in London as a single female my electricity just went on a Sunday. I had no option but to call out an electrician. I paid a call out fee of 95GBP before any work even took place and then it turned out to be a blown out fuse. And another 50GBP followed. My oh my I knew I was being well and truely ripped off. The young electrician was from South Africa and was pretty embarrassed having to charge me so much. I politely told him it was a rip off and he agreed but he could do nothing about it - and I agreed it was just my misluck. And without this being a whine believe me as a single female you really are open to being ripped off and there is no one to moan and commiserate with.

Lo and behold I got a card through the door a few months later. the young electrician had set up his own business and offered me (and other single women) a free class on managing your electricity safely and when to fix it yourself and when to know to call out an electrician. So I toddled off and had allot of fun and now am very comfortable knowing what I can and cannot do.

It's a funny old world where being ripped off can actually lead to doing something proactive and I admired the young electrician for spotting a need in the market. I kept his card and was fortunate when something went fizz again and he fixed it for a very decent price.

It's so annoying when these things happen but take it on the chin and have a wonderful long bath when that blasted warm water is back

Oh and if a fuse goes next time by all means give me a ring

silverburn · #**107** 30.04.2012, 19:54

	Quote:	phdoofus
	Yes, the real* Canberra.*

The real Canberra had square windows and a propensity to kill its passengers after a certain amount of time.

Oh wait...the place...ok.

Phil_MCR · #**108** 30.04.2012, 20:11

	Quote:	strollingby
	Its a funny old world. Sorry to hear about your problems - its all relative and for you it clearly hit a nerve and right or wrong I hope you get it sorted. When living in London as a single female my electricity just went on a Sunday. I had no option but to call out an electrician. I paid a call out fee of 95GBP before any work even took place and then it turned out to be a blown out fuse. And another 50GBP followed. My oh my I knew I was being well and truely ripped off. The young electrician was from South Africa and was pretty embarrassed having to charge me so much. I politely told him it was a rip off and he agreed but he could do nothing about it - and I agreed it was just my misluck. And without this being a whine believe me as a single female you really are open to being ripped off and there is no one to moan and commiserate with. Lo and behold I got a card through the door a few months later. the young electrician had set up his own business and offered me (and other single women) a free class on managing your electricity safely and when to fix it yourself and when to know to call out an electrician. So I toddled off and had allot of fun and now am very comfortable knowing what I can and cannot do. It's a funny old world where being ripped off can actually lead to doing something proactive and I admired the young electrician for spotting a need in the market. I kept his card and was fortunate when something went fizz again and he fixed it for a very decent price. It's so annoying when these things happen but take it on the chin and have a wonderful long bath when that blasted warm water is back Oh and if a fuse goes next time by all means give me a ring

fuse just blew. can you pop round in 30 mins or so? the wine will be chilled by then...

Corbets · #**109** 03.05.2012, 06:19

I'll jump in with "toughen up" crowd. When I first moved here, my hot water was broke for the first five days in the shower (turns out I just didn't know how to work the knobs). Additionally, the heat really was broke for that time. And it was January 4th. I slept in layers and took very short showers.

That was years ago in a 500 chf per month apartment, which is pretty low-end. This winter, in a brand-new fancy home in Zug, I was without hot water for a week- something to do with the water supply to our block not being large enough.

You know what? I lived in both cases.

lost_inbroad · #**110** 03.05.2012, 07:47

	Quote:	Corbets
	I'll jump in with "toughen up" crowd. When I first moved here, my hot water was broke for the first five days in the shower (turns out I just didn't know how to work the knobs). Additionally, the heat really was broke for that time. And it was January 4th. I slept in layers and took very short showers. That was years ago in a 500 chf per month apartment, which is pretty low-end. This winter, in a brand-new fancy home in Zug, I was without hot water for a week- something to do with the water supply to our block not being large enough. You know what? I lived in both cases.

And when a hurricane blew away the roof, you simply thought that it was a convertible house?

Nil · #**111** 03.05.2012, 08:08

Ok, my turn!

I was in Istanbul with a very dry winter which created a shortage of water the following summer. So basically, during summer days of 35-40 degrees we were missing water. No hot water, not even cold water. It was for days sometimes. Luckily enough for me, I had a tank of stored water on top of the bath so I still had water but cold.

Public transportation with sweaty, stinky people: not fun!

I win!

araqyl · #**112** 03.05.2012, 08:49

	Quote:	Nil
	Ok, my turn! I was in Istanbul with a very dry winter which created a shortage of water the following summer. So basically, during summer days of 35-40 degrees we were missing water. No hot water, not even cold water. It was for days sometimes. Luckily enough for me, I had a tank of stored water on top of the bath so I still had water but cold. Public transportation with sweaty, stinky people: not fun! I win!

I don't think I'd claim being on public transport with sweaty, stinky people as a win ...

Today only · #**113** 03.05.2012, 13:17

	Quote:	Phil_MCR
	fuse just blew. can you pop round in 30 mins or so? the wine will be chilled by then...

Got a gas fridge then have you .....

Sounds like you trying to take advantage of nice lady to me

cannut · #**114** 03.05.2012, 13:50

	Quote:	jerallie
	I have had a few rants over the last 10 months about things that have gotten under my skin here. This time, I am furious. Saturday afternoon the heater for our buildings water broke. There are five families in this moden chalet, so naturally we called and they sent out a crew of two to fix it. After 3 hours, the men came door to door and informed us that they couldn't fix the problem and that they had to come back. I asked if it needed a part they didn't have and he said that they just needed more time to fix it and that it was 5 and time to go home. So I ask when they will come back and they tell me Monday. I asked why not tomorrow and they looked at me smiled and said "we don't work on Sundays" as they were leaving the other guy smiled and said that I should feel lucky that this weekend wasn't going to be cold because the broken water heater also affects the radiant floor heating. Holy s&$t..........this is taking the Sunday and work hours thing too far. I know this isn't the UK or the US, but how can you leave a building full of families without hot water or heat simply because Sunday is f$&@ing day of rest. Total bulls&$t. If this was anywhere else a crew would be required to fix it immediately, even if that meant the owner paying a crew to work through the night. I can tolerate no shopping on Sunday or Saturday night, but this goes to far. The guys comment about being lucky it isn't cold just tells me that if this were to happen in the dead of winter, my family would be f&$@ed. No comment from the management company because THEY DON'T WORK SUNDAY EITHER. One day people are going to have to realize that you simply shut down an entire nation on Sunday....sometimes things need to be taken care of. My broken hot water heater doesn't care that it's Sunday and neither should the management company.

	Quote:	lost_inbroad
	See why I get pissed off everytime Mercer publishes their fantastic study of quality of life etc. Its not even the unavailability of goods and services but also the complete lack of professionalism that enrages me. And then you have to listen to such comments "oh, you're lucky it's not winter" or "oh, if you don't like it, you can move elsehwere where there is no hot water at all.." like Switzerland is the only country with hot water.

So you want me to work on sunday ,weile you go to the beach .My anwser, Up yours .I have news for you ,wont happend in Canada or the USA . Bellive me I know

cannut · #**115** 03.05.2012, 14:02

	Quote:	jerallie
	Maybe I should have mentioned that my house is full this weekend with family guests. I have my 64 years old mother, my 89 year old grandma and 92 year old grandpa along with my wife and 4 year old. No hot water is a pain. Can I survive, absolutely, but the point is that I shouldn't have to simply because it's Sunday. In every situation you can always find someone, somewhere who has it worse off. That doesn't make it okay. When does it go to far? If next weekend my plumbing goes out Saturday night, are you going to groan me and tell to crap in the woods or hold it? The point is that when you pay huge rents, you expect that problems will be fixed and done ASAP.

The serviceman`s Fam. is coming down from the moon ,he had this planned for 3years

cannut · #**116** 03.05.2012, 14:08

	Quote:	lost_inbroad
	Jokes aside, I actually thought about what would happen to Switzerland in case of a real emergency....and after some in depth studies, soul searching and calculating of the tide and current, I came to the conclusion, that we would all be majorly f$%ed. For one, look at the behavior of folks at Migros on a Saturday..some elderly lady threatened me with a serious a* whopping, if I wouldn't relinquish "her" apple pie with the 25% sticker which she saw first and always gets each Saturday. Another factor, the equipment. Meaning the Zivilschutz thingy are way outdated and therefore obsolete and won't be of much use in case they're actually needed. The other main issue I believe is infrastructure, as all the roads are narrow and many places only have one major road into town and one leading out. This would make it extremely hard for rescuers etc. to access the area.

One day Lib. gonne tell us his, out of the world, contribution to switzerland or the world

cannut · #**117** 03.05.2012, 14:13

	Quote:	lost_inbroad
	Also, most places where I've lived in the US, I drank the water straight from the tap....and look how well I turned out. ...the joke's on you I guess, as I'm actually Swiss.

But would like to be American

cannut · #**118** 03.05.2012, 14:20

	Quote:	Pants-Face
	It sucks, yes, but this has to be said: if you're going to be a plumber, shouldn't you be prepared to do the hours required? In Canada at least, this is why plumbers, electricians, etc, get paid a lot more per hour than other workers - because of the hours expected from them.

News to me

Sunday rate $ 260.- plus Truck fee plus min, $200.- just to open the parts supliers door .Bellive me I know

maxluga · #**119** 06.05.2012, 12:39

A friend just got a letter saying that they have to change the heating system and there won't be heating and hot water for a week! This is Switzerland unfortunately

araqyl · #**120** 07.05.2012, 21:35

	Quote:	maxluga
	A friend just got a letter saying that they have to change the heating system and there won't be heating and hot water for a week! This is Switzerland unfortunately

At least they got a letter ... a few weeks in advance, I hope!