My guess is they get at least $60 an hour.

This episode would teach me that if
I was able to identify the problem
to a box, switch, or fuse I would
go the next step and repair it myself.

I would argue the charge anyway.

furnone

Where are you located?

This was a Sunday call?

My question is what would the cost have been if this repair had been made on Monday?

Perhaps you may be a little miffed that you did not solve this relatively minor problem without the service call.

IMO

I would normally expect the "service contract" to cover ANY repairs (depends on how it's written), on any day of the week. Also, I'd point out that they installed the poor connection themselves. What is the point of a service contract, if you have to pay for everything on top of the annual fee for the contract?

Our oil boiler service contract is very specific about what is and isn't covered. It sounds like it is probably a billing mixup and it should be covered. It doesn't matter when the repair takes place, if the boiler isn't working, they come and fix it. Whenever we've had a service call the tech has asked if we have the service contract because he needs to write up the paperwork the right way. Maybe it was just an error in paperwork.

It's definitely worth asking about!

Hard to believe that a service contract costing $230/year would cover all repairs. Maybe it covers a couple of preventive maintenance visits, and 10% off, and priority scheduling, on repairs.

"Hard to believe that a service contract costing $230/year would cover all repairs. Maybe it covers a couple of preventive maintenance visits, and 10% off, and priority scheduling, on repairs."

- It should have at least covered the 75-cent wire nut.

Why is that hard to believe? Here is the advertising for the service plan from our oil company (there is a more detailed list of what is and isn't covered that isn't on the web but here's the basics):

Our Residential No Surprises Service Plan - Fuel Oil

GREAT VALUE, LOW COST
Our all NEW "No Surprises Service Plan" will keep your heating equipment running at top performance with the most complete parts and labor coverage on the market. No hidden charges or deductibles.

Payable annually for just $204.00.
Peace of Mind delivered for only $17.00/month.
Add $36.00 for systems that have five or more heating zones (thermostats).

CONVENIENCE
Emergency Coverage is available 24 hours 7 days a week.
A quick call ensures your heating system receives the high quality service you deserve.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Our technicians are professionally trained in our state of the art, industry recognized training facility.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Scheduled heating equipment tune up will maintain your heating systemÂs optimum efficiency.

HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR
This plan covers parts and labor for almost every replacement part on your heating equipment. Items not covered are major repair items. See terms and conditions below.

Items NOT covered include:

1.Radiators, heating pipes, duct work & related components

2. Fuel lines and tanks
3. Domestic water components and piping, non-heating related
4. Air conditioners, humidifiers, air purification/filtration systems
5. Mechanical flue exhaust systems and chimneys
6. Obsolete equipment and specialized computer control systems and relay boards.

They do inspect your system once a year during scheduled maintenance to make sure your system is functioning to their minimum standards before they will cover it under their service plan.

The time to argue prices is before the work is done.

kgwlisa, I've got gas heat, so I'm not familiar with heating oil service contracts, sorry. I agree with your original reply, and I'd add that the OP should ask exactly which exclusion a "loose wire nut in the relay box to the burner" falls under, if they say the charge is correct.

I know, the one thing I'm going to miss about going to gas is the service contract (we have made use of it the last 3 years). It is a pretty decent deal especially considering the yearly tune up is $99 by itself.

I still think it was a simple billing error. I would not call up to argue but rather call up, say you purchased the service contract and inquire as to why you were charged for a service call that you thought was covered. Chances are it was just an oversight.

My opinion on this is that of course after five years they are not going to tell you it was there fault the wire nut came loose. On a weekend you should expect time in a half or double, ours is currently 125, even for our service contract customers. Service contracts usually mean that you get checked once or twice a year, on normal hours, and a discount of some type.
So overall you may be able to save yourself some money if you complain but it was not a mistake.
~Ryan~

"Service contracts usually mean that you get checked once or twice a year, on normal hours,"

It would not make sense be to have a service contract, if that was the way it worked?

My service contract covered everything on the furnace, anytime, night or day. Plus, it included the annual tune-up.

Furnone, I suggest you discuss the scope of your contract with the oil compay. Did you ever read the whole thing and ask questions? There are different kinds of contracts, some fairly basic like just a cleaning and any calls take priority over non service contract customers right up to a full service contract with unlimited calls, N/C for parts ect. I can guarantee for 230 dollars a year you don't have one of them. You called the company during non business hours on the weekend. Somebody had to drop everything and respond to your problem. He gets paid a premium for that so guess who covers that extra cost? The customer. As far as trying to blame them for something done five years ago, forget it, you don't have a leg to stand on. But a conscientous tech would normally check things like that as part of the PM but not everyone does. Wires do loosen under wirenuts, so do screw down connections. Call the company and see what they say about it. Here's a little advice, don't get an attitude right from the start because that won't get you anywhere, and don't give the girl in the office who answers the phone any crap either, she probably as nothing to do with any of this. Ask for the person who drew up the contract, have it in front of you when you talk to him and see what they say. There can only be one outcome from 3 possibilities. They toss out the bill, they adjust the bill, or you discover that your contract doesn't cover every thing you think it does.

Here's the message I emailed to the oil company:

I think this charge should be covered by my service plan. I called for service only after determining that the boiler had power up to the shutoff switch affixed to the boiler. Your service contract lists under items not covered, "wiring that is not in the immediate vicinity of the heating unit". the loose wire nut was inside the primary control box affixed to the boiler and was installed by your service men when they installed the current burner a few years ago. I don't think that I should have been expected to poke around any further into that control box. I don't see how this would be different than the other parts in that box that are covered ie. high-limit or low-limit control, aquastat etc.

Thank you for your consideration.

Corvetteguy: With a service contract that covers most anything and assuming that the problem would turn out to be a burned out relay or something similar that would be covered, I didn't think it was my place to dig deeper. I'm pretty handy, but I know when to turn it over to the expert.
And I pay $288/year for a service contract (not $230 as I thought),that is supposedly all encompassing.

Tigerdunes: I am in Trumbull,CT and it was a Sunday call, more expensive if you are paying for it, same price if covered under the service contract.

Bob Brown: How could I argue prices before I or the tech knew what the problem was? After it was found it was a 30 second fix.

Suburbanmd: Service contracts are like insurance policies, or extended service contracts for electronics etc. The risk is spread amongst thousands of customers, all of whom are not going to require service. Also, you are required to be on automatic oil fill service, so they know they have your oil business and can deliver it at their convenience.

I have been with this oil company for over 40 years, I think they will accede to my request. Thanks for your input.

Your service contract lists under items not covered, "wiring that is not in the immediate vicinity of the heating unit". Furnone, if you had mentioned this in your original post you would have no doubt gotten different responses here. No one here is a mind reader!

I can guarantee for 230 dollars a year you don't have one of them.

I can guarantee that for around $200 per year for the last 4 years we HAVE had a full service contract. We have had several repairs done in that time, including a no heat call on christmas and have never paid a dime above and beyond our service contract. And we live in NY, not exactly a cheap cost of living area of the country.

"I can guarantee that for around $200 per year for the last 4 years we HAVE had a full service contract."
You must have a company that has a pretty low overhead. A full service contract means unlimited service calls and no charge for parts. Are you going to tell me that if you need a 90 dollar motor for instance you don't have to pay for it?

That's the way the service contracts, which I've had, work. I've had blower motors replaced, relays replaced, transformers replaced, nozzles replaced and pumps replaced, all at no additional charge.

Of course there were some years, where nothing was replaced and no service calls were required.

End of story...

"Dear Ed:
Thank you for your e-mail. This subject was brought to the attention of the service billing department and the Service Department Manager. He has assured me that $189.62 has now been credited to your account.

If you have any further questions regarding this inquiry please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Sally
Sales Administration"

Thank you Sally,
I think that is fair. I hope to be with you for another 40 years.

Ed

Mr.havac: I also, have had circulators, zone valves, pressure reducing valves etc. replaced, as well as an annual cleaning & inspection. This is probably the largest oil company in the state with over 50 technicians and they will come any time of day or night. This is why I've stayed with them when some of my friends left to save 5 cents a gallon.