Beware of technicians similar to politicians
How strange the technicians of today are! They are like politicians. I call a technician to attend to a rice cooker connection, a radio volume control problem or to adjust my television antenna.
Now this so-called technician comes to attend to my television antenna. He spends about 15 minutes and notes that the cable needs to be changed. I give him Rs 2,000 and he returns with the cable and announces that he has to attend a funeral.
I suggest that he starts the job after the funeral. But he insists that he can complete the job. Although he completes his job, I would refuse to pay for his labour as he has not delivered: the antenna still does not give a clear reception. Then this so-called technician recommends another.
That fellow comes upon a telephone call and examines my television. He observes that the television needs another part. I end up giving him another Rs 2,000. He returns in 15 minutes saying that the part could be bought only from Petta.
He comes with a part sans a receipt. That spare part does not look new, though the technician says it cost him Rs 800 more. Then he comes across another part missing and wants Rs 1,100. I pay him without fuss to hear him say that the previous technician has not done his job properly. He adds that he needs a helper to attend to the job properly. I pay that amount too to hear him say that he needs Rs 4,200 for his labour. This time, I refused.
But such predicaments would never end. Technicians have also become a clan like politicians more interested in promises than delivering them.
Walter Fernando
Ratmalana
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