£144 per hour for non emergency plumber
Discussion
As a bespoke joiner this really winds me up. My job is a lot more varied and arguably needs more skill/understanding than plumbing yet top rate for joinery is 35-40 an hour ish. How the f
k can they even consider that sort of pricing?
As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
k can they even consider that sort of pricing?As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
Berkshire bred said:
As a bespoke joiner this really winds me up. My job is a lot more varied and arguably needs more skill/understanding than plumbing yet top rate for joinery is 35-40 an hour ish. How the fk can they even consider that sort of pricing?
As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
Same annoyance here. k can they even consider that sort of pricing?As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
I work in high end bespoke joinery and my other half is a furniture maker and whilst we manage financially there are some that are taking the Michael somewhat and living very flash lifestyles because of it.
I didn’t want to get into how the guy came across but it matches up with your sentiments entirely
mangos said:
Berkshire bred said:
As a bespoke joiner this really winds me up. My job is a lot more varied and arguably needs more skill/understanding than plumbing yet top rate for joinery is 35-40 an hour ish. How the fk can they even consider that sort of pricing?
As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
Same annoyance here. k can they even consider that sort of pricing?As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
I work in high end bespoke joinery and my other half is a furniture maker and whilst we manage financially there are some that are taking the Michael somewhat and living very flash lifestyles because of it.
I didn’t want to get into how the guy came across but it matches up with your sentiments entirely
Since them I've been doing the job for close to 3 years and I am now to a standard where someone with 10 years experience wouldn't do a better job. Yet my pay has only increased in line with minimum wage. Because of the proximity (just me and him) it makes it a difficult subject.
Maybe I should take up plumbing
mangos said:
He was hired to do leak detection and quote for a new boiler.
He turned up and used a moisture meter on my walls and told me I had damp issues.
I explained my thoughts that the leak was coming from a bend in the central heating pipe work above and he told me it wasnt.
He didn’t test it or check it, just used a moisture meter and recommended a damp specialist he knew.
I expected him to have a sound detector.
This all took about 10 minutes. He then spent the next hour and a half going around whispering to his son about capillary action and quoting for new boiler.
Quote came through next day at £3200+vat for an ideantical replacement of a combi.
I’ve already paid the call out fee as they wanted that up front so they’ve had £45 off me which is fair for the 10 minutes of learning he had no idea.
If the boiler isn't losing pressure, then it's most likely not a central heating pipe, so he might be correct on that diagnosis.He turned up and used a moisture meter on my walls and told me I had damp issues.
I explained my thoughts that the leak was coming from a bend in the central heating pipe work above and he told me it wasnt.
He didn’t test it or check it, just used a moisture meter and recommended a damp specialist he knew.
I expected him to have a sound detector.
This all took about 10 minutes. He then spent the next hour and a half going around whispering to his son about capillary action and quoting for new boiler.
Quote came through next day at £3200+vat for an ideantical replacement of a combi.
I’ve already paid the call out fee as they wanted that up front so they’ve had £45 off me which is fair for the 10 minutes of learning he had no idea.
The pricing is somewhat ambitious, though. Especially if he's charging for the time he spent quoting. I don't know anyone who charges for quotes!
Slagathore said:
I don't know anyone who charges for quotes!
Several of my friends have started charging for quotes over the last couple of years. They're quite open about it, and the cost of the quote is subtracted from the final invoice if the customer goes ahead with the order. They were getting fed up of being used to design/troubleshoot solutions, only for the customer to take their work and tout it round or do the work themselves. Doesn't seem to have harmed their business.OP - in the case the plumber is taking the piss!
mangos said:
Berkshire bred said:
As a bespoke joiner this really winds me up. My job is a lot more varied and arguably needs more skill/understanding than plumbing yet top rate for joinery is 35-40 an hour ish. How the fk can they even consider that sort of pricing?
As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
Same annoyance here. k can they even consider that sort of pricing?As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
I work in high end bespoke joinery and my other half is a furniture maker and whilst we manage financially there are some that are taking the Michael somewhat and living very flash lifestyles because of it.
I didn’t want to get into how the guy came across but it matches up with your sentiments entirely
Harry Flashman said:
mangos said:
Berkshire bred said:
As a bespoke joiner this really winds me up. My job is a lot more varied and arguably needs more skill/understanding than plumbing yet top rate for joinery is 35-40 an hour ish. How the fk can they even consider that sort of pricing?
As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
Same annoyance here. k can they even consider that sort of pricing?As an aside most plumbers i know off i am convinced are chimps in disguise based on there intelligence and hygiene habits. Yet they still feel they are gods gift to the world!
I work in high end bespoke joinery and my other half is a furniture maker and whilst we manage financially there are some that are taking the Michael somewhat and living very flash lifestyles because of it.
I didn’t want to get into how the guy came across but it matches up with your sentiments entirely
Like any trade there are joiners targeting a market and doing very well, I've met painters earning 350 a day (and not b.s. talk) but they were attached to a company making 100k+ bespoke kitchens and again, marketed themselves/ provided a service of a certain level.
Tempted myself by a couple of electrically related but more specialised business ideas that I could market directly to a more well heeled market, and stand back from the eternally cost conscious % of house bashing/st!t fixing monkey business I do too much of.
Slagathore said:
mangos said:
He was hired to do leak detection and quote for a new boiler.
He turned up and used a moisture meter on my walls and told me I had damp issues.
I explained my thoughts that the leak was coming from a bend in the central heating pipe work above and he told me it wasnt.
He didn’t test it or check it, just used a moisture meter and recommended a damp specialist he knew.
I expected him to have a sound detector.
This all took about 10 minutes. He then spent the next hour and a half going around whispering to his son about capillary action and quoting for new boiler.
Quote came through next day at £3200+vat for an ideantical replacement of a combi.
I’ve already paid the call out fee as they wanted that up front so they’ve had £45 off me which is fair for the 10 minutes of learning he had no idea.
If the boiler isn't losing pressure, then it's most likely not a central heating pipe, so he might be correct on that diagnosis.He turned up and used a moisture meter on my walls and told me I had damp issues.
I explained my thoughts that the leak was coming from a bend in the central heating pipe work above and he told me it wasnt.
He didn’t test it or check it, just used a moisture meter and recommended a damp specialist he knew.
I expected him to have a sound detector.
This all took about 10 minutes. He then spent the next hour and a half going around whispering to his son about capillary action and quoting for new boiler.
Quote came through next day at £3200+vat for an ideantical replacement of a combi.
I’ve already paid the call out fee as they wanted that up front so they’ve had £45 off me which is fair for the 10 minutes of learning he had no idea.
The pricing is somewhat ambitious, though. Especially if he's charging for the time he spent quoting. I don't know anyone who charges for quotes!
Update - the company have tried to take the balance from my credit card without my authorisation.
I emailed the company and explained the points as to why I’m not happy and are querying their invoice.
I received an angry email back this morning ignoring my email and with another invoice with an £80+vat late payment fee added and said that another one would be added if I didn’t pay in 7 days.
I am abroad with limited internet access so can’t make payment anyway.
I’m not too sure what to do next but feeling quite angry and ripped off.
I emailed the company and explained the points as to why I’m not happy and are querying their invoice.
I received an angry email back this morning ignoring my email and with another invoice with an £80+vat late payment fee added and said that another one would be added if I didn’t pay in 7 days.
I am abroad with limited internet access so can’t make payment anyway.
I’m not too sure what to do next but feeling quite angry and ripped off.
I would go back with a very detailed summary of what you paid, what they did and why you are refusing to pay for the additional work which was not carried out. - even if you have done already. Just to stay firm & reasonable.
Include:
The time they arrived
Who turned up -- (two of them, even though 1 man job)
What they EACH did -- (one inspected, other just followed him round chatting etc)
What tools they used -- (brought a moisture detector, did not use any other tools, only pointed out what I already knew & had explained to you guys to start the work)
How it was left --- (unsolved, vague, no leak detected, just moisture found, didn't bring right tools, came unprepared even though they knew the work they were there to do etc)
How long it took -- (it took 30mins from them arriving to them having the chat with me to explain, before they then went to entirely separately start quoting)
The time they took quoting, discussing boiler -- (XX mins...)
The time they left -- (total time on site etc....)
Then break down the original bill, what you have paid etc. State you dispute paying for work not completed and paying for them to quote for a boiler (does their site/did they state a free no obligation quote at all?)
Keep it all very factual & detailed, clearly laid out and structured to make it painfully obvious you paid for the work done & dispute paying for work that was not done.
Edit: Out of curiosity - Does their T&Cs/contract explain these extra charges? Have they got a formal complaints process?
I would also go to Trading standards, this is daylight robbery! - Imagine if you were elderly, infirm or weak willed - you'd cave & its easy money for them.
Include:
The time they arrived
Who turned up -- (two of them, even though 1 man job)
What they EACH did -- (one inspected, other just followed him round chatting etc)
What tools they used -- (brought a moisture detector, did not use any other tools, only pointed out what I already knew & had explained to you guys to start the work)
How it was left --- (unsolved, vague, no leak detected, just moisture found, didn't bring right tools, came unprepared even though they knew the work they were there to do etc)
How long it took -- (it took 30mins from them arriving to them having the chat with me to explain, before they then went to entirely separately start quoting)
The time they took quoting, discussing boiler -- (XX mins...)
The time they left -- (total time on site etc....)
Then break down the original bill, what you have paid etc. State you dispute paying for work not completed and paying for them to quote for a boiler (does their site/did they state a free no obligation quote at all?)
Keep it all very factual & detailed, clearly laid out and structured to make it painfully obvious you paid for the work done & dispute paying for work that was not done.
Edit: Out of curiosity - Does their T&Cs/contract explain these extra charges? Have they got a formal complaints process?
I would also go to Trading standards, this is daylight robbery! - Imagine if you were elderly, infirm or weak willed - you'd cave & its easy money for them.
Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:38
If they're basically charging you for a quote, explain that you're happy to let everyone on local Facebook groups know that this is how they operate and should be avoided.
Either that or I'm doing my business wrongly.
In any case, I know someone who had similar and she just told them that she isn't paying to have a quote especially as the plumber didn't do anything useful.
Bottom line is I might as well set up as a plumber (I don't have any clue about plumbing) and just go out to call outs, charge for the visit and say it's not something I work on. In fact, I also do electrical, bricklaying, rendering and plastering quotes, while we're at it. I also cannot do heart bypass surgery or engine remaps but happy to come out, have a look and to give you a quote.
Either that or I'm doing my business wrongly.
In any case, I know someone who had similar and she just told them that she isn't paying to have a quote especially as the plumber didn't do anything useful.
Bottom line is I might as well set up as a plumber (I don't have any clue about plumbing) and just go out to call outs, charge for the visit and say it's not something I work on. In fact, I also do electrical, bricklaying, rendering and plastering quotes, while we're at it. I also cannot do heart bypass surgery or engine remaps but happy to come out, have a look and to give you a quote.
I would still be planning on trashing them on every facebook, google reviews, YELP, trading standards etc etc site I could fine. Lie through your teeth threatening to now, but decimate their online presence afterwards. Well thought out, considered 0 star reviews on everything. People do pay attention to them.
It boils my blood thinking how many others will have fallen victim to this & who just paid up to make it go away. Those that need the most support in life, are always the ones that get screwed the hardest by these sorts of things.
I also hate the name & shame rules on Pistonheads, do PM me the companies name though...
It boils my blood thinking how many others will have fallen victim to this & who just paid up to make it go away. Those that need the most support in life, are always the ones that get screwed the hardest by these sorts of things.
I also hate the name & shame rules on Pistonheads, do PM me the companies name though...
mangos said:
No word of it.
I either made an assumption that the £45 initial payment taken was based on an hour or they told me that.
I’m feeling pretty stupid and like I’ve been taken for a mug.
I thought I was wise to this but was too trusting
As far as I know it's not normal for non-emergency plumbers to take an up-front call-out charge. I either made an assumption that the £45 initial payment taken was based on an hour or they told me that.
I’m feeling pretty stupid and like I’ve been taken for a mug.
I thought I was wise to this but was too trusting
It sounds like you chose someone who is focussed on emergency work and the business model is to shamelessly wring people for everything they can get.
dickymint said:
Looks like they’re trying the “fear game”. I’m guessing they will lump on another late payment “fine” then end up selling your debt on to a recovery agency. Then the real bullying will start!!
You need to speak to Citizens Advice/Trading Standards or a Solicitor asap.
My thoughts too. I was a young female with a young baby who I was trying to keep calm and i think they expect me just to be too scared not to pay it. You need to speak to Citizens Advice/Trading Standards or a Solicitor asap.
I hadn’t thought of trading standards.
I need rogue traders!!
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