What’s Gone Wrong With Taskrabbit?
I’ve used Taskrabbit several times in the past and as I have a few electrical problems, I thought I’d see if they could help me.
The major problem, I have is a broken smoke detector, that won’t stop bleeping. As it is in my bedroom, I’m not getting a good night’s sleep.
This would be the sort of problem, I’d have fixed myself in the past, but as it’s above my bed, I don’t think I trust my balance to fix it, after my stroke.
I could always borrow a shot-gun and fix it for ever.
My trouble with Taskrabbit is that it doesn’t recognise my address and says it is out of their coverage area.
I have sent a message to Taskrabbit and they say to ring a US number, if they haven’t got back to me in two days.
That limit expired four hours ago.
It’s the worst customer service I’ve found in years.
The Anonymous Widower 
Would taking the battery our work? I understand the balance thing though, my balance is poor due to spinal nerve damage.
I hope you get it sorted soon
Comment by nosnikrapzil | July 13, 2023 |
Have you checked the battery? That is the usual cause.
Comment by Andrew Bruton | July 13, 2023 |
Have you checked the battery? That’s the usual cause.
Comment by Andrew Bruton | July 13, 2023 |
It’s above my bed hanging from the ceiling after I tried to fix it last time. It was fixed so badly to the celling, by the Turkish Jerrybuilder, who built the house, that my ham-fisted attempts to change the battery brought it down. I need an electrician to fix it back up or remove it.
Comment by AnonW | July 13, 2023 |
You could see if your local Age UK can put you in contact with a handyman/electrician, many of them can help out. After all fitting/refitting a smoke detector is a pretty simple job for an able bodied person.
Comment by fammorris | July 13, 2023 |
Thanks!
Comment by AnonW | July 13, 2023 |
I had a similar problem and I knocked down with a good stick.
Comment by Ben | July 13, 2023 |
I did that last time!
Comment by AnonW | July 13, 2023 |
I would volunteer to help, as long as you have a ladder.
Longer term, 3 options:
1/ Get one of the detectors that are sealed with a 10 year life battery, and get help having that put up in the bedroom instead of what is there currently.
Smoke sensors also have a 10 year life so you should replace the whole unit every 10 years anyway.
2/ Get an electrician to replace with a unit that is wired into the lighting circuit; no batteries to replace. This sort of unit can usually be wirelessly linked to similar units in the house so smoke anywhere causes all the detectors to sound (much safer), and also are on a twist off plate for when they need replacing.
3/ If you are sticking with the battery unit, buy a single use 10 year life lithium battery. Not cheap (and not easy to get–will need to look online) but will last a lot longer before it needs replacing. Also good for awkward battery clocks, smart thermostats, and similar.
Comment by MilesT | July 15, 2023 |
All sorted! Age Concern got me a call-back from possibly Which, who gave me three good names.
The first was Amy’s Electrics, who have a professional web site and they got back to me quickly.
We fixed a time of one today and Amy herself appeared on time and fixed it in about half an hour. It now has an expiry date of 2035.
I have a lighting problem in this house and she told me what needs doing and she said she will send a quote.
Her solution is a simple affordable one, whereas two other electricians have suggested an expensive new ceiling.
Comment by AnonW | July 15, 2023 |