[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

If the timer's ability is sketchy, then I give him/her a second, then yell to start the clock, then if after a couple it's still not going, I blow it dead and take a few seconds off.

I'll do something similar, but from the moment I notice the clock hasn't started properly, I'll keep a time count in my head, not a visible count, but just in my head, in case I need to take some time off the clock when I finally give up on the table crew and blow it dead. I'll then have some definite knowledge.