Customer from hell

[Troysouth]

I am a self-employed gas engineer and on Sunday 10th Dec I received a telephone call from a man asking me to call to his mother’s house and check her boiler, which had broken down.
I was having my Sunday dinner at the time but decided that as this was an old lady, I would change into my working clothes and call to see if there was anything that I could do.
On inspecting the boiler I soon realised that the fault was more serious than I had hoped. The most common cause is a blown fuse or a faulty setting on the programmer, which would cost no more than a call out fee, but this was more serious.
I explained to the Lady that I would have to return on Monday and carry out a more thorough inspection.

I had a job on Monday morning, which I couldn’t put off so I drove to her house after I had finished my morning job.
After carrying out various tests on the boiler I eventually found the fault and explained to the customer that it needed a replacement PCB (printed circuit board).

By that time it was getting late so I told her that first thing Tuesday morning I would ring my supplier and see if they had one in stock.
The next day I rang them and was told that they didn’t have one in stock but they would order one if I wanted. I said I would let them know then went online to see if I could find one myself.
I know from experience that my normal supplier can take anything up to three days to have a part delivered.
I found just what I was looking for on the Internet and ordered it, paying with my Visa Card. £167.95.
I sent an Email with the order explaining that this was a “Vulnerable old lady” and asked them to send the item A.S.A.P.

I received an Email from the suppliers saying that the item had been dispatched and it would arrive on Wednesday or Thursday, at the latest, depending on the courier.

I then received a phone call from the son who told me that he had been ringing around and had found a supplier, within driving distance, who had one in stock, and would I please go and buy it. I explained that I had already ordered one, and paid for it. I said it would arrive Thursday at he latest
Thursday morning arrived and he rang me again at 9.Oclock and asked me if it had arrived yet. I explained that the post didn’t get delivered until noon in our area.

He became very agitated and asked me if I could cancel the order and he would sort it out himself. I told him that this would be unfair as it was me who had diagnosed the fault and if I hadn't done so he would not have known which part to ring around for. Also it was not possible to cancel and I would be out of pocket.

He more or less said “Tough”
His argument being that if he had found one in stock then I should have found one.

An hour later the PCB arrived so I rang his phone to tell him that I could now do the job, but he had turned his mobile phone off.

I then rang his mother and told her that I had the part and her boiler would be up and running within the hour. long before her son would have the job done. She said that her son had asked the British Gas to do the repair and that their fee was three times what my estimate had been.
She said that she would contact her son and ring me back.
I’m still waiting.

I am now left with a PCB which I might never need again and no payment for my labour for Sunday or Monday.

What is my legal position and what should I do.
Regards
Troy