Ramonage......

[glazedallover]

A friend arrived last week to his maison secondaire, and as his chimney seemed to be blocked he looked for a chimney sweep. It's along awkward chimney going through 2 floors above, but he was charged EUR 900 !! Apparentlyy just cos the bloke would need to use a 'machine'.

Seems a tad excessive to me as I have never paid more than 80 and I know that he hasn't paid More than 100 before. Anyone pay more ??

[RobertArthur]

August last year, two chimneys, each € 66. With a facture, VAT in the form of an official 'Certificat de Ramonage'. This did include the use of his standard equipment: powerful electrical machine rotatif and special vacuum cleaner. He visited four houses, advance planning was needed.

[glazedallover]

August last year, two chimneys, each € 66. With a facture, VAT in the form of an official 'Certificat de Ramonage'. This did include the use of his standard equipment: powerful electrical machine rotatif and special vacuum cleaner. He visited four houses, advance planning was needed.

Cheers. Bleedin' 'ell........

[Bayleaf]

A friend's 94 yr old mum got stung for a bill of 600€ cash for a chimney sweep recently. She's lived in France for years and I doubt it would have been a really complicated job. My question is, why isn't a devis forthcoming for these jobs - as is the French way? Probably because in this instance, the old lady had used someone different and got completely scammed. She possibly had "an air of wealth", and that was taken advantage of.

2nd home owners are going to be more susceptible due to language problems and the fact that they appear wealthy enough to have a maison secondaire.

[glazedallover]

A friend's 94 yr old mum got stung for a bill of 600€ cash for a chimney sweep recently. She's lived in France for years and I doubt it would have been a really complicated job. My question is, why isn't a devis forthcoming for these jobs - as is the French way? Probably because in this instance, the old lady had used someone different and got completely scammed. She possibly had "an air of wealth", and that was taken advantage of.

2nd home owners are going to be more susceptible due to language problems and the fact that they appear wealthy enough to have a maison secondaire.

Apparently, he had trouble getting someone local,o this guy came from about 35km away. He not too bad in French and he was warned about the cost if the machine was used.......I just can't believe that he agreed and paid.

[Bayleaf]

35km away - that may be 200€ of the cost in each way travel. Your friend may have felt it was urgent and had no choice - was it an emergency job? Still sounds like someone was taking the wee-wee, unless it was at least a full day's work+. Maybe the machine was on hire? Still sounds steep!

[MAD87]

I'd be inclined to contact URSSAF.

[Headers]

My chimney sweep travels 40km each way to do our chimney and has to use a ladder to second storey. Cost this year 95 euros.
I would expect a devis for a job that ‘may require the big machine’.
If the owner has protection juridique on his house it would be worth contacting them for advice.

[glazedallover]

Thanks all . The guy was there half an hour top. Maybe it came with a lifetime guarantee.......

[Lori]

Good grief ! I've never heard of such a price, unless chimney repair work was required.

We just had ours done for 80€ Ours goes from the ground floor, through the upper floor and out to the roof. Nothing complicated, but 900€, I would NEVER have paid that.