£144 per hour for non emergency plumber
Discussion
As the previous poster has said, let the plumber make the next move.
Don’t worry about your crdeit record as nothing can be entered on your record for an unpaid bill unless they issue Court proceedings.
If I were you, I’d invite them to issue. Send them one final letter stating that you’ve made your case and advise them of your address for service of legal proceedings.
If they do issue proceedings, you won’t automatically get a CCJ. Once proceedings have been issued and served, you have 14 days to acknowledge service and a further 14 days from then to put your defence in. Costs will be limited to the Court issue fee of around £25 and a token £20 or so if they win so not a massive liability.
Stick to your guns.
Don’t worry about your crdeit record as nothing can be entered on your record for an unpaid bill unless they issue Court proceedings.
If I were you, I’d invite them to issue. Send them one final letter stating that you’ve made your case and advise them of your address for service of legal proceedings.
If they do issue proceedings, you won’t automatically get a CCJ. Once proceedings have been issued and served, you have 14 days to acknowledge service and a further 14 days from then to put your defence in. Costs will be limited to the Court issue fee of around £25 and a token £20 or so if they win so not a massive liability.
Stick to your guns.
Mangos,
Stick to your guns. The small claims court is a good system and you have absolutley nothing to worry about. I’m 99% sure it won’t get this far and if it does you will not lose.
Just keep doing what you are doing. Factual letters. The letters may have threatening words but they do not mean anything. Enjoy your sunday and do not lose any sleep over it.
S
Stick to your guns. The small claims court is a good system and you have absolutley nothing to worry about. I’m 99% sure it won’t get this far and if it does you will not lose.
Just keep doing what you are doing. Factual letters. The letters may have threatening words but they do not mean anything. Enjoy your sunday and do not lose any sleep over it.
S
mangos said:
I never saw any t’s and c’s before booking or during the visit,
This is something I’ve discussed with trading standards in detail.
They never at one point made it clear or pointed out that I would be charged for them not doing any work.
I signed to get them out of my house, I didn’t want an argument with them inside my house when I’d been trying to get them to leave and my baby was also needing my attention.
I’m a bit worried that if they can win a case because I signed a contract I didn’t have the opportunity to read that there is no point me trying to fight this.
It was an ordeal in itself just having them in my house.
I have no proof of anything for the courts as the only paperwork I have was the bill they presented at the end and then the email correspondence that followed that they chose to ignore.
This is your case, no t&c’s in advance, no time to read them. I’d say that your case is strong.This is something I’ve discussed with trading standards in detail.
They never at one point made it clear or pointed out that I would be charged for them not doing any work.
I signed to get them out of my house, I didn’t want an argument with them inside my house when I’d been trying to get them to leave and my baby was also needing my attention.
I’m a bit worried that if they can win a case because I signed a contract I didn’t have the opportunity to read that there is no point me trying to fight this.
It was an ordeal in itself just having them in my house.
I have no proof of anything for the courts as the only paperwork I have was the bill they presented at the end and then the email correspondence that followed that they chose to ignore.
You could write to them ‘Without Prejudice’ , making a small offer to settle.
This.dickymint said:
Isn't there a "cooling off" period for signing a contract at home?
There is, it's fourteen days.I'll assume the dispute started within this period, so arguably the dispute is possibly grounds for the contract to have been cancelled, and within the 14 days,failing that It could certainly be argued that the dispute could mean the contract was not agreed upon, so still under negotiation.
Personally I'd call their bluff, and let them make the first move.
On no account would I be offering anything, despite the threatening letters, although I wouldn't ignore them, just keep reiterating the case against paying any money.
Chances are they'll cave.
Let’s look at how this could pan out for the op. INAL but I do have considerable experience in the County Court usually against firms of solicitors.
The plumbing firm could decide to sue but if I were in there position I wouldn’t. They know you are likely to put in a robust defence so the either prepare the case themselves or instruct a lawyer knowing that even if they were to win they’d have to pay the lawyer themselves which would cost more than they could win.
If it did go to Court there are no guarantees but I reckon you’d me more likely to win. The County Court is very informal, just you the other side and the judge sitting around a table. At the end the Judge decides the case, as I said there are no guarantees he/she could jump either way.
Worst case scenario if you lose is that the Court fee (online claim under £500 is £35) is added to the bill. As others have said if you pay promptly that wouldn’t effect your credit rating.
As I see it the plumbers have more to lose than you do.
The plumbing firm could decide to sue but if I were in there position I wouldn’t. They know you are likely to put in a robust defence so the either prepare the case themselves or instruct a lawyer knowing that even if they were to win they’d have to pay the lawyer themselves which would cost more than they could win.
If it did go to Court there are no guarantees but I reckon you’d me more likely to win. The County Court is very informal, just you the other side and the judge sitting around a table. At the end the Judge decides the case, as I said there are no guarantees he/she could jump either way.
Worst case scenario if you lose is that the Court fee (online claim under £500 is £35) is added to the bill. As others have said if you pay promptly that wouldn’t effect your credit rating.
As I see it the plumbers have more to lose than you do.
Reading their online T&C...
You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
bad company said:
The plumbing firm could decide to sue but if I were in there position I wouldn’t. They know you are likely to put in a robust defence so the either prepare the case themselves or instruct a lawyer knowing that even if they were to win they’d have to pay the lawyer themselves which would cost more than they could win.
People are strange though. I went to court over a debt of around £800 and the other side had their solicitors instruct a barrister! Must have cost them a fortune, and then they lost anyway.cootuk said:
Reading their online T&C...
You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
Booked them after a Facebook recommendation (a fake one I now realise) You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
I saw no reason to search out a website at the time. I’ve used plumbers in the past (my boiler had packed up on a number of occasions over the past year) and none of them had websites and were all very good.
None of them charged more than £65 an hour so didn’t even consider thinking I’d get charged more than that for the actual work part of the visit. The main point of their visit was to quote for a boiler though. Which I thought was risk free as it should have been a free quote.
At no point did they tell me their charges or did I ask.
I expected that the call out fee would cover the time required on site as they weren’t going to be there long.
Obviously I was very wrong.
ETA - there was no reason for two men to turn up for the job.
In my opinion the only thing they did during the visit was quote for the boiler.
He wasn’t able to do any leak detection which he informed me of as soon as I explained the boiler itself was leaking.
Edited by mangos on Monday 25th June 07:13
And if that's the case then I would say stay quiet, don't make any offers and wait for the summons.
We know they have your service address so keep a very close eye on the post, you don't want to miss it.
Given the speed at which they are moving I would be shocked if they do not issue.
But then you will get your day in court, explain and you might find it works out for you.
I would also tick the box for mediation, if they agree as well might save a whole load of hassle. Let us know about that if it happens.
We know they have your service address so keep a very close eye on the post, you don't want to miss it.
Given the speed at which they are moving I would be shocked if they do not issue.
But then you will get your day in court, explain and you might find it works out for you.
I would also tick the box for mediation, if they agree as well might save a whole load of hassle. Let us know about that if it happens.
Based on the above posts detailing their cost per hour, none of which lines up with what OP is being charged for, unless.....
Hence them billing you for time they did not spend, and worse still for tools they did not use. That is outright fraud.
Andehh said:
The only £144 I can see mentioned is for the below? Did they use one of these tools for an hour? I would take extreme care in pointing out the tool they used & how long they used it for. No where I can see does it mention that these rates are billed at a minimum of 1 hour? I would therefore spend some time remembering exactly how long they used it for....
Just to reiterate the above. I don't see how they charge "£144 an hour" , without using one of the above very specialist tools. As OP, states they only used a moisture meter (presume it was a 2 pronged hand held device?). That isn't listed under their tools they charge £144. So what is this £144 cost being based off? IGM Plumbers said:
http://igm.me.uk/our-rates/
Using sonic listening equipment £144.00 per hour
Using Thermal Image £144.00 per hour
Cat and Genny Trace £144.00 per hour
Tracing water main with gas £192.00 per hour
Drain locator with sonic/gas £144.00 per hour
Then also quote on their home page:Using sonic listening equipment £144.00 per hour
Using Thermal Image £144.00 per hour
Cat and Genny Trace £144.00 per hour
Tracing water main with gas £192.00 per hour
Drain locator with sonic/gas £144.00 per hour
IGM Plumbers said:
http://igm.me.uk/
''GET A QUOTE
Whether you have a burst pipe or an immersion tank problem, IGM plumbers are on-hand to help.
Book a free no obligation quotation.''
by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:25[/footnote]''GET A QUOTE
Whether you have a burst pipe or an immersion tank problem, IGM plumbers are on-hand to help.
Book a free no obligation quotation.''
Hence them billing you for time they did not spend, and worse still for tools they did not use. That is outright fraud.
Edited by Andehh on Monday 25th June 12:31
Edited by Andehh on Monday 25th June 12:32
cootuk said:
Reading their online T&C...
You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
Unless there’s an online tick box how can rely on terms many customers will never have seen?You secure your booking with a £42 deposit, deductible from the overall bill.
Looking at an hours callout (not part chargeable).
Monday to Friday 08.00 till 16.30
Per man Initial £78.00 per hour
After hours Monday to Friday, per man Initial £132.00 per hour ...
SATURDAY per man initial £102.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £180.00 per hour
SUNDAY per man initial £180.00 per hour
After hours per man initial £216.00 per hour
Did you not enquire about their total charges before booking them?
Depends what story they tell about the leak tracing...
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