FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Basics   Safety - Insurance   Booking   Payments   Travel   Estimates   COVID-19   Business  

1. Why have you chosen these start times?

   Starting at 9.30pm* avoids the school run at 9am. 1.30pm follows on from the morning start time.
   *Start and finish times advance to 9am-4.30pm, and 8.30am-4pm during the winter months.

2. Where are you based?

   I am based in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3, UK.

3. What experience do you have?

   My experience is described on my gallery page.

4. What do you mean by "some high access"?

   There is an insurance policy height limit of 15 metres (50 feet). Ladders can be used if it considered safe to do so. A climbing harness and rope may be used for high access. I do not fell trees.

5. What do you mean by "basic plumbing maintenance"?

   I can work on hot and cold water plumbing, and interior drainage. I can replace taps, parts, and replace and modify pipework. I do not work on the specialist plumbing areas of central heating systems, radiators, boilers, gas or underground drainage.

6. Can you do outdoor painting, or the laying of concrete, during the winter?

   No. Outdoor painting, or the laying of concrete, requires a temperate above 10 °C; this only occurs in this region from the beginning of April to the end of November, and not during December-March.

7. What is your safety policy?

   I have a responsible attitude towards health and safety and take responsibility for assessing and minimising risks. A risk assessment involves identifying hazards that have the potential to cause harm and ensuring that the associated risks are well controlled. I am aware of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on health and safety law, controlling risks in the workplace, avoiding danger from underground services and health and safety in roof work.

8. Are you insured?

   I have public liability insurance for handyman and gardening work at private dwellings or flats. This covers accidental damage or injury. There is a working height limit of 15 Metres and a depth limit of 1m. Blowtorch soldering is covered. There are exceptions for dangerous materials and environments. Full details are available upon request. This insurance is currently in place until 25 July 2024; please check if this date has passed.

9. Can you fell trees?

   No, I am not insured to fell trees. I can however trim manageable branches from trees within the height limit of 15 metres (50 feet).

10. Is there anything you will not do?

    I do not work on the specialist plumbing areas of central heating systems, radiators, boilers, gas, underground drainage, new electrical installations, car repairs, car servicing, felling trees, roofing beyond first floor level, full new kitchen installations, full new bathroom installations, working on technical tasks with members of the public, lifting very heavy items over 40Kg, installing items with a value over £200 (due to damage liability) or the loaning, or hiring out of tools or equipment.

11. Can I skip out using your booking form?

    No, it is not possible to make a booking using WhatsApp, text, email, phone call, or in person conversation. This is because availability, quotations, invoice generation, payments, and booking communications are all computer generated using complex, custom built software.

12. Can I book without getting a quote?

    No, you need to know how much it will cost to make your booking by viewing the online quote, and be willing to pay that amount.

13. Can I make a booking without making a minimum advance payment?

    No. To to confirm your booking, you will need to make the minimum advance payment within 24 hours of receipt of your booking acceptance, so that your job can be entered into my diary.

14. Can I pay in arrears by cash?

    No. Only electronic payments (online banking, PayPal or using a bank card online) are accepted.
    Cash payments in arrears are not accepted.

15. Can I make a booking without using email?

    No. Your booking will be processed using email correspondence. You need to know how to login to your own email account, and you will need to be able to respond to emails so that you can complete your booking.

16. Why is there no cash payment option?

    Cash cannot be paid in advance online.

17. What do you mean by "minimum advanced payment"?

    To confirm your booking, you will need to make the minimum advance payment upon receipt of your booking acceptance. This must be made within 24 hours, so that your job can be entered into my diary. To reduce the chance of overpayment (for example if the work is completed faster than expected), or to reduce the risk to you of making a large upfront payment, part-payment can be accepted in stages, a day at a time in advance. Essentially, "minimum advanced payment" enables customers who book more than one day, to pay in part payments. The latest that you can make an advance payment for the next day is 6pm on the day before, so that I have enough time to prepare for the following day. Late payments will result in delays in starting, or progressing with your job.

18. Could it cost me more than expected?

    If I’m not having to buy materials for you, and the job you are asking for can be fitted into the time you’ve paid for, then the cost will not increase. However, if the job is difficult, takes longer than originally expected, or your list of tasks increases, then the time taken, and therefore labour cost could increase, but only if you are happy to pay for the extra time needed. If you don’t want to pay for more time, you don’t have to, and I would have to simply do the best that I can in the time available.

19. Why should I pay in advance?

    Paying, at least the minimum payment in advance, ensures that your booking is genuine.
    
    It is not possible to reserve dates without a minimum payment in advance. Without this precaution, it would be possible to be booked out weeks in advance, only to be cancelled at the last minute. This causes business losses and is not financially viable.

    The following businesses also require payment in advance:

    

20. Why should I pay for materials in advance?

    Materials can be very expensive. Making a large payment for materials presents a financial risk, which could potentially generate business losses. This not financially viable.

21. How do I pay using PayPal?

    If your booking requested is accepted, you will be sent a link by email to my checkout page. From there, you will reach the PayPal shopping cart. You can either pay from your PayPal account, or pay without an account using your bank card. Data Security Guarantee: Your bank card details and mailing address are securely managed by PayPal, and are not stored by this website.

22. Can I pay without having a PayPal account?

    Yes, from the checkout link that you received:
    
    *Click “add to cart”
    *Click “or Check Out, Pay without a PayPal account”
    *Under the PayPal login button, choose “Pay by Debit or Credit Card”
    

23. Is PayPal safe?

    When you pay with PayPal on any website, you’re covered by PayPal Purchase Protection.
    Further details can be found here.
    
    Data Security Guarantee: Your bank card details and mailing address are securely managed by PayPal, and are not stored by this website.

24. I am anxious about paying you in advance and online; what should I do?

    If you are anxious about paying, I would recommend paying by PayPal. This is because they are a third party, that offer you buyer protection. Also, you don't even need a PayPal account to use it.
    (see previous questions)
    
    This customer review may also reassure you: “This was my first time paying before a gardening job was done. But I needn’t have worried. Robin turned up on the time stated and worked hard throughout a wet day restoring my garden, after a wet winter, to spring ready! Robin did an excellent job and I would recommend him for gardening. Thank you Robin for your hard work.”

25. How are travel costs calculated?

    £0.9/ mile is made up of the HMRC rate of £0.45/ mile, with the driving time included. Round trip distances are calculated using navigation software to the centre of each postcode area, taking the fastest driving route; this may not necessarily be the shortest distance. Amounts are rounded to the nearest pound.

26. Is your time estimate always exact?

    No, any time estimate may not be exact. Overrun: It is difficult to gauge how long tasks will take. Unforeseen circumstances may mean that extra tasks become introduced, problems, or the planned work, take longer than expected to resolve and complete. For this reason, any time estimate may not be exact. Consider that your job could reasonably end up taking 50% more time than originally planned for. You will need to decide whether this would still be affordable for you, before agreeing to the work being done. Be aware of the risk of mission creep: the gradual broadening of the original objectives of a mission, which can result in a much larger job, which takes a longer time than was originally expected. This may not apply if it is clear that this task can be completed in a fixed amount of time, without any possibility of overrun.

27. What is your coronavirus (COVID-19) policy?

    If you are unvaccinated, shielding, or at risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), please notify me in advance so that the usual coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions of mask wearing, social distancing and wearing of sterilised gloves can be followed.

28. Is this business legal?

    Yes. I am registered as a self-employed sole trader with the UK government's HMRC.

29. What is your email address?

    adminhome-and-garden-newcastle.co.uk

30. Where are you based?

    I am based in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3, UK.

31. Do you have any criminal convictions?

    No. I have worked as a teacher and a care worker. In both cases I had to pass Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks. Copies are available if required.

Basics   Safety - Insurance   Payments   Travel   Estimates   COVID-19   Business