Service companies: See what their customers say
August 18th 2008

BCAS' Trusted Trader Scheme aims to give customers the ability to look and see what other customers think about a particular compressed air service company and how it rates against others in the local area, writes Chris Dee, executive director,BCAS

Your compressed air system breaks down and you need somebody to fix it fast! So, you open Yellow Pages, or as more and more people are doing, you go online to search for someone who can help. That is when your problems begin, you are faced with a barrage of choice but with no compelling reason to choose one over another other than by the look of their advert or website.

Wouldn't it be nice if every advert said, "Use us because we always turn up and only charge the price originally quoted", or, "Do not use us because we never turn up when we say we will, we will always overcharge and we will not use original parts when you are not looking!" Of course, that is not to say that all companies are like that but the abiding question is, which are reliable and which are not? So how, in these testing times, should you choose the reliable company? Chris Dee, executive director of the British Compressed Air Society, insists you should ask directly about their qualifications and how they will service your system. He advises contacting others you trade with, where their compressed air system has been maintained by a company and asking if they were any good. He recommends the Trusted Trader Scheme run by Referenceline for unbiased feedback www.referenceline.com/bcas. "Whether you are in the country or city, you can't beat competent and capable local knowledge. Lastly, don't necessarily go for the cheapest company – like most things in life you tend to get what you pay for."

How to choose the right compressed air service provider Make sure they are competent by being a member of a professional body or industry Trade Association, such as the BCAS, www.bcas.org.uk Ask them how they will service your system and how quickly they will get it working.

Check they will use original specification parts. The more reputable service engineers generally do.

Be wary of companies offering low rates, as chances are you will get what you pay for.

Choose someone who has a proven record of servicing similar systems in your area and is active in the local market. There is no point instructing an engineer who mainly deals with large complex compressed air systems if you have a small typical compressor installation.

Try to compare three companies to quote for servicing your compressed air system. Many will try to tie you into an exclusive contract. Negotiate the minimum time possible, so that if you are not happy with them, you can change.

A Trusted Trader scheme such as the one run by Referenceline helps you make a more informed choice when looking for a firm. Go to www.referencline.com and click on the Compressed Air tab for reputable compressed air service companies across the UK.

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