Don't quote ME
THERE CAN BE NO GUARANTEES WITH TRADIES
Should you be concerned if a tradesperson won’t give you a quote for a job, just an estimate?
It depends what the job is and how well you know the tradie. If you are get ting the kitchen tiled, for example, then I’d ask for a quote. With a significant building job, you must avoid costs exceeding your budget. The only way to do this is insisting that tradespeople provide quotes and do not go over them.
With smaller jobs, sometimes it can save you to be more flexible. If the reputable landscapers you’ve hired to clear your backyard aren’t sure how long it will take, they are likely telling the truth. If you insist on a quote, they will have to cost up the worse-case scenario to protect themselves. If you agree to that quote, that’s what you’ll likely be charged. If you accept an estimate, a reputable firm will charge you only for the time it’s taken to do the job. Better deal.
But note I said “reputable”. Finding trustworthy tradespeople is the key here!
Your 18-year-old son says if he were confronted by someone wanting to harm him, he’d text 111. You told him you didn’t think you could text 111. Can you?
No, you cannot text through to Emergency 111 unless you are hearing or speech impaired. The NZ Police say that with 111 calls, they need to know exactly where you are and what’s happening. The quickest way for them to get that information is for you to call 111 and speak to the operator.
Normally, if you try to text 111, you will not get through. However, if you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can register to text emergency services on 111. Do this by googling the NZ Police 111TXT page. You simply fill out an online form. But the text to 111 must be made on the phone that you have registered. There can also be network delays. If you are hearing or speech impaired and send a
111 text but don’t get a text back from the police within two minutes, you will need to contact 111 in a different way.