What price for an aerial installation?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV In responses to the guideline I posted about how much having a new aerial fitted should cost, Ian Grice posted: "£40-£50? Every aerial fitter I contacted wants at least £150+VAT considering you can get a class 3 aerial for under £10 and a class 2 for under £15 and cable is 40p a metre why are they charging so much for 30 minutes work?"
OK, for some places putting up a TV aerial is hard work, such as multi-story properties. As many people will simply be exchanging a Group A, B, C/D, E or K aerial for a wideband type, often without changing the supporting pole or cable, a high price cannot be justified.
I am concerned that some companies will exploit vulnerable groups (such as the elderly).
So, I what prices have you been quoted for aerial installations? What price have you paid for installation?
Do you know of any companies to avoid? Do you know of any companies that are good value for money?
Or do you work for a great aerial installation company?
Help with TV/radio stations?
Sunday, 6 February 2011
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terry10:40 PM
hey it says above about any companies to dodge.
have any of you people ever heard of a company called the Dakota Group ltd ?????
Forgive me please, i used to work for them many moons ago.
This company basically hide themselves behind other companies up and down the country, if you type into yell.com etc for a aerial installer half the local companies will be them.
they advertise they use cai approved engineers i wasn't and was never asked.
they advertise they are local aerial installers or anything that you may type but they are based in northolt london.
Try finding an installer by you and then the phone number you get on there type the 0800 number into google and nothing else, and watch how many times it turns up.
also before you take up an install, from anyone look at the address at the bottom of the page, see if it has a door number of if it is in a service yard or office block.
i have been reading through some of your comments on this site and have also looked elsewhere not one person has heard of them.
THEY ARE VERY VERY BAD
Basically when i worked for them they used to quote customers $49 - £69 over the phone for an install of an aerial. but told me when i got there that they would be taking 35% of of everything i charged on site and every jobs should take nothing but £149-£250 and up plus VAT.
i now work for sky tv direct down here in southampton and have done for over a year, they are a lot safer than some of the 0800 numbers that you see everywhere.
this is just some freindly advice to your readers please be carefull these people do not care about their engineers or customers
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nick11:26 PM
the best way to choose an Aeriel installer is to go to your local TV specialist shop and get there team to do the work in this way you cant go wrong
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Monday, 7 February 2011
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Ian12:20 AM
Terry
I there is a lot of engineers up and down the country that prob work for these people by the sounds of it, don't think they will be happy buddy.
I agree nick this is a good way but these people will also be paying commission to the shops won't they?? So this extra cost will have to come from somewhere.
Best way is shop around and maybe ask the people on the phone to name a landmark or something near you, that will sus out the locals maybe ??
I use an 0800 number on my van and on website but only to make the calls cheaper for the customer, wouldn't want people to be put off 0800's all together we are not all bad.
Some of us trying to make an honest living.
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Bry1:16 PM
Bill and Ben the aerial men!!! The guy has just been at my home and fitted a spitter box in the attic. It took 2 minutes and he charged £45 "standard call out fee". Steer clear of these guys!
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Ian8:53 PM
Don't know who they are but man is that a catchy aerial company name he he he
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Jordy10:09 PM
Another Sky Television Scam to watch out for.
We installed dish and 6 cable runs across a very large house, days after the installation was complete the householder gets a call from some guy representing Sky Television...
"Telling her there has been a Sky Television fault in her area, some of your neighbours are experiencing problems and we have an engineer in the area"
Conveniently the following day, the caller begins to panic the customer by letting on her Sky may disappear if not checked. The engineer is free and will not charge apparently but if they find a fault they may charge to put it right. The guy arrived at the house and began making up fairy stories about how bad the installation was and how the dish could blow off the chimney, How it could kill her dog, destroy the car, threaten her grand kids on and on this tirade went. The customer used her head and phoned myself whilst the guy was on the premises. I asked her to get a quote in writing for any work he suggested.
The guy wouldn't leave a quote in writing but said it would cost £465 to sort out and left a mobile number. She called him back two days later arranged the job and we were on the premises when he arrived, attempted to discuss how a perfectly working satellite installation cost £465 to repair considering for the moment the original for half that cost. He fled the scene with his mate unfortunately the van was white with no livery apart from a mobile number.
At least this customer in this instance was clued in but it makes you wonder how many people aren't... Don't get ripped off.
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Ian11:53 PM
Ian (the other Ian), I think that by using a 0800 number, most, maybe not you, are trying to hide where you are actually located. With todays FREE or BUILT IN CALLING BUNDLE don't you think most people have access to a Free call anyway from their mobile or broadband line?
Do you really need customers who won't or can't be bothered to pay 20p for a phone call?
BRY, First question, what do you think that you ought to have paid for the work they did for you?
Second question, what is your trade, what are you employed as?
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Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Jordy: That sounds awful. I wonder how many people get caught out by such scams?
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steve h5:27 PM
bry so someone came out and did what you asked and only charged 45 pounds? sounds like a bargain to me! read jordys post if you want to know what rip off means.
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