£144 per hour for non emergency plumber

[mangos]

Andehh said:

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.


Edit2: Can you PM me the company?

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 09:43

Thank you. Good advise.
I will draft a new email when I can.

I will PM you ...

[mangos]

Hoofy said:

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.

Thanks. I was thinking about the social media card. I didn’t want it to get to that but they seem to be bullies so maybe I should

[mangos]

I just checked their reviews on google and half of them are written by themselves

[mangos]

chadders74 said:

Can they charge VAT on a late payment penalty of £80? It's not exactly a service is it?

Not too sure on the law about vat on late fees but they are trying it.
Then again they are acting unlawfully by apply a late fee when I’ve queried it anyway to my knowledge. I may be wrong...

[mangos]

I’ve just checked the gas safe register (I did so before booking them)

They are gas safe registered but it turns out the owner isn’t listed as a gas safe engineer and instead his young son is the only one listed on the company for being gas safe.
Seems strange as it came across that the young guy was being trained up and asking lots of questions.

[Andehh]

Not naming & shaming intentionally, but it is pertinent to this thread. Looking at their rates....

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....

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:

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.''

....and would therefore tell them you were after a quote for the job, especially seeing as they turned up without the right tools to undertake the work?


finally... THEY CHARGE HOW fkING MUCH!?!? Jebus - I have not seen rates like this outside of Central London for Pimlicio etc

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:24

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:25

[mangos]

Andehh said:

....and would therefore tell them you were after a quote for the job, especially seeing as they turned up without the right tools to undertake the work?


finally... THEY CHARGE HOW fkING MUCH!?!? Jebus - I have not seen rates like this outside of Central London for Pimlicio etc

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:24

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th June 11:25

They didn’t use any of those. Just a moisture meter - one you would use to check moisture content on wood...

[Andehh]

Stick with my previous template, pointing it out explicitly what tool they used and for how long. For the sack of several ££ a minute, be very precise and specific!

They are con artists, and I dread to imagine how many un-tech savvy people have paid up thinking a £15 Moisture meter is a £144/Hour thermal camera/Sonic device.

[dickymint]

mangos said:

I’ve just checked the gas safe register (I did so before booking them)

They are gas safe registered but it turns out the owner isn’t listed as a gas safe engineer and instead his young son is the only one listed on the company for being gas safe.
Seems strange as it came across that the young guy was being trained up and asking lots of questions.

You can easily pass Gas Safe exams with very little plumbing ability/experience

[sunbeam alpine]

Hoofy said:

... I also cannot do heart bypass surgery......

Technically that's also plumbing............

[Hoofy]

sunbeam alpine said:

Hoofy said:

... I also cannot do heart bypass surgery......

Technically that's also plumbing............

I'm sure the OPer's plumber would be more than happy to come round to give you a quote for £144.

[mangos]

What’s the worst that can happen with this?

[Ninja59]

Speechless.

I do not know anyone that can justify such rates.

Even our plumber (who mainly takes on emergency work these days) is not that high when doing non emergency work.

His rates are just over £80 per hour. However he is very very OCD and usually is meticulous in ensuring everything is as it should be before leaving and can be a little longer than his quoted period. Some might take issue in that, I personally do not as I want people to do a good job over just trying to finish it in a specific time period.

Our plumber is probably the most expensive, our sparky is peanuts in comparison (although our sparky you chase him for the bill...(I have a habit of adding bits when he arrives after quoting...)).

[eybic]

mangos said:

What’s the worst that can happen with this?

I guess worst case is they can take you to court but they would have to prove that you were told about and agreed to their charging structure.

[Hoofy]

eybic said:

mangos said:

What’s the worst that can happen with this?

I guess worst case is they can take you to court but they would have to prove that you were told about and agreed to their charging structure.

So you pay the charge, the late charge (that they didn't tell you about at the time of the quote) and court costs.

[Wozy68]

Berkshire bred 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.
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

To be honest it's a bit of a sticking point for me. Because I started with my boss when I was 18 and straight out of college I started on a low wage (£7 p/h), fair enough.

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

Same here. Why oh why did I get into wood. Seems peeps will pay a plumber far more than a cabinet maker or bench joiner yet the amount of time learning the trade and the real risk in the woodwork game of possible harm is far greater in our trade...... and we have a real skill at the end of it.

[Hoofy]

Wozy68 said:

Berkshire bred 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.
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

To be honest it's a bit of a sticking point for me. Because I started with my boss when I was 18 and straight out of college I started on a low wage (£7 p/h), fair enough.

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

Same here. Why oh why did I get into wood. Seems peeps will pay a plumber far more than a cabinet maker or bench joiner yet the amount of time learning the trade and the real risk in the woodwork game of possible harm is far greater in our trade...... and we have a real skill at the end of it.

Hold on. You can quote for plumbing jobs. Just don't do them. Make sure the quotes are 50% more than a decent plumber would charge and you'll never get work but will get paid for quoting.

Here's a free one on me:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

[bad company]

mangos said:

What’s the worst that can happen with this?

The very worst is that they decide to sue you in the Small Claims Court. That’s possible but very unlikely as they would be likely to lose and even if they won you would not have to pay their costs. The Court is very informal, nothing to be frightened of.

Without going to the Court and getting a (very unlikely) judgment they can’t do much except threaten.

[eybic]

It's a pain but it might be worth getting a new card then they don't have your current card details should they decide to try and put it through again.

[akirk]

mangos said:

chadders74 said:

Can they charge VAT on a late payment penalty of £80? It's not exactly a service is it?

Not too sure on the law about vat on late fees but they are trying it.
Then again they are acting unlawfully by apply a late fee when I’ve queried it anyway to my knowledge. I may be wrong...

https://www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery
gov rules - exactly what the penalty comprises I don't know - but there are limits on what you can / can't charge...

a penalty charge is non-vatable
an extra charge for paying later would be vatable

I would suggest that their attempt to charge you a penalty of £80 comes into the first of those, so should not be vatable...