What Is a Contractor Diagnostic Fee, and Is It Credited?

Short answer: A diagnostic fee is a contractor-set charge for an assessment visit; it is not automatically the price of the repair. Whether it is credited toward the job depends on the agreed policy. WinkScope supports optional booking fees and a recorded credit promise, with the contractor choosing how that fee is treated when converting the booking to an estimate.

Is a service-call fee the same as a repair charge?

Not necessarily. A contractor may charge for travel, assessment time or diagnosis before providing a separate repair estimate. The label alone does not establish what is included. Ask whether the visit covers diagnosis only, whether any work is included and what happens if a further inspection is needed. There is no single fee or credit policy that applies to every plumbing, electrical or HVAC company.

This distinction matters when the problem is not obvious. A heating fault, leak or electrical issue may need inspection before a contractor can describe the work accurately. Booking a visit and paying an assessment fee does not mean the final repair scope has been agreed.

What should customers ask before paying?

• What does the diagnostic fee include?
• Is it due before the visit, and which payment methods are accepted?
• Will it be credited if I accept the job estimate?
• Are there conditions or limits on that credit?
• What are the cancellation and refund terms?
• Will I receive a record showing the fee has been paid?

Agree these details before booking, not after the technician arrives. Contractors should describe their actual policy clearly. This article does not set a recommended fee or provide legal advice; local consumer requirements and the contractor's terms may affect how a charge should be explained.

How does WinkScope handle booking fees?

The contractor can enable an optional diagnostic fee. Card payment requires a connected and active Stripe account. Manual payment can be recorded with a customer payment screenshot. A screenshot provides information for review; it should not be treated as independent proof that funds have settled.

A fee marked paid must have a recorded payment on its invoice so the invoice page, public view and PDF show the correct remaining balance. Review the payment record rather than assuming the appointment's status itself proves payment.

Can the fee be deducted from the final job?

WinkScope records the credit promise for the booking when it is made. During conversion to an estimate, the contractor chooses Deduct from this job or Keep estimate separate. When deducted, the fee is applied once to the first job invoice and cannot exceed that invoice. It is not silently deducted from every invoice.

Keeping the estimate separate means the fee is not displayed as a deduction on the estimate or job invoices. That choice should match what was agreed with the customer. The estimate still needs review and saving; the booking does not create a final priced job on its own.

Does cancelling a booking automatically refund a card payment?

Do not assume cancellation and refund are the same action. A card-paid booking cancelled by the contractor has a refund workflow through the contractor's Stripe account. Until it is refunded, the booking can be labelled cancelled but not refunded. Refunds come from the contractor's Stripe account, not from WinkScope.

Customers should check the agreed terms and ask the contractor for the actual payment and refund status. A cancelled appointment alone is not proof that money has been returned.

Frequently asked questions

Does every WinkScope booking require a fee?

No. The diagnostic fee is optional and configured by the contractor.

Is the fee automatically credited to the repair?

No. Credit depends on the booking's agreed policy and the contractor's conversion choice. When applied in WinkScope, it is a one-time deduction on the first job invoice.

Can I pay by card without the contractor connecting Stripe?

The booking card-payment option requires a connected, active Stripe account. A contractor can instead use the supported manual-payment workflow.

Next step: Agree the visit's fee and credit terms before booking. Read how a booking becomes an estimate and explore WinkScope Bookings.