£144 per hour for non emergency plumber
Discussion
Saleen836 said:
If your comments were posted in a private local group, I can only guess another member has screenshot your post to the plumbing company/debt collector, how else would they have known? as private groups on FB are not viewable to the general public
Exactly. I double checked - the group is private. 2500 members do not huge. I checked the names from the letters against the member list and they aren’t on there but could be under different names or any one else in their company I suppose
CorradoTDI said:
Stories like this really do boil my piss...
It's the same companies that will target and pressure sell to the elderly and vulnerable.
This is exactly the type of thing that Watchdog / Rogue Traders would be interested in.
I’d love to get rogue traders involved (if they are even still around?) It's the same companies that will target and pressure sell to the elderly and vulnerable.
This is exactly the type of thing that Watchdog / Rogue Traders would be interested in.
But I really don’t want to be appearing on tv
Bear-n said:
mangos said:
Thanks, I’m a little stressed ...
Please don't be. I'm not legally qualified, but even with my simple knowledge of 'stuff' that letter (and the sequence of events) is a joke. Do you have a Citizen's Advice nearby you can speak to? They're generally pretty good at these things and will be grateful for the break of scenery from benefit questions
My local citizens advise put me in touch with trading standards who have given me a case handler. I’ve got a direct email address so I will be sending all this through to them when I can sit down at the laptop and fingers crossed they can help. I need a little reassurance that I’m not needing to start hiring a solicitor
stuthe
said:
said: I'd write the following to the debt agency.
This invoice is in dispute. The plumber was made aware of this in an email dated xxxxx.
Given that the plumber has ignored my communication (and subsequently instructed you) , it would be appreciated if:
1-you explain to the plumber that this invoice is in dispite. That the best way for him to resolve our issue would be for him to respond to my communication dated xxxx.
2-you reply to me acknowledging the dispute, commit to disist from initiating legal proceedings until at least myself and the plumber have exhausted dispute resolution as per his T&Cs.
These would a productive and useful steps for you to take. Does this seem reasonable? Are you able to assist on both items?
Thank you. Will do this. This invoice is in dispute. The plumber was made aware of this in an email dated xxxxx.
Given that the plumber has ignored my communication (and subsequently instructed you) , it would be appreciated if:
1-you explain to the plumber that this invoice is in dispite. That the best way for him to resolve our issue would be for him to respond to my communication dated xxxx.
2-you reply to me acknowledging the dispute, commit to disist from initiating legal proceedings until at least myself and the plumber have exhausted dispute resolution as per his T&Cs.
These would a productive and useful steps for you to take. Does this seem reasonable? Are you able to assist on both items?
Is it something I can submit to them via email or am I best to send recorded letters at this point?
I will treat the second letter separately and respond accordingly
Alucidnation said:
fking hell.
I'd just offer them fifty quid and be done with it.
I think I would have done if they’d accepted any form of commincation with me just so it could have gone away. king hell.I'd just offer them fifty quid and be done with it.
Alas, they ignored every attempt for me to negotiate.
Plus they have had £42 which is more than enough for the trouble they have caused now
red_slr said:
red_slr said:
I have read the whole thread and I cant see anyone (maybe I missed it) mention how your contract was formed?
This will be the basis for the small claim case.
We know what work was done, minimal. We know what you were charged. It seems to be disproportional but what was *actually* agreed?
How was it agreed, when was it agreed. (email, phone, in person?)
Did you sign anything?
Until we have this detail its difficult to know how this might pan out or give advice on how to move forward.
OP - thoughts on this? This will be the basis for the small claim case.
We know what work was done, minimal. We know what you were charged. It seems to be disproportional but what was *actually* agreed?
How was it agreed, when was it agreed. (email, phone, in person?)
Did you sign anything?
Until we have this detail its difficult to know how this might pan out or give advice on how to move forward.
I didn’t sign anything prior to the visit, I did sign for the bill when they wouldn’t leave my house.
I didjt agree to anything prior to the visit or during so no verbal contract would have been entered.
Not too sure if there is any other way I could have entered something without my knowledge
red_slr said:
If there was no contract then that would be the basis of your defence - which would be black and white.
Did you receive a copy after you singed?
Does it state their terms and conditions?
What is the wording where you signed?
This is more important at this stage than anything else, IMHO having been to small claims a few times. (IANAL)
The terms were overleaf. Did you receive a copy after you singed?
Does it state their terms and conditions?
What is the wording where you signed?
This is more important at this stage than anything else, IMHO having been to small claims a few times. (IANAL)
I didn’t know this until they left.
I just wanted them out of my house, I was one handed and they held the paper down for me on my table whilst I signed it.
Idiotic of me, and maybe if this is what it will come down to I should just pay up and be done with it and chalk it up to a very bad experience
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 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.
What’s frustrating is I was very reasonable and polite to them during the visit and in the emails that followed.
I understood that they wanted a considerable amount of money but on the basis that they did nothing and that I had paid them some money already I was open to discussion and would have negotiated maybe a small additional fee just to get this to go away.
I understood that they wanted a considerable amount of money but on the basis that they did nothing and that I had paid them some money already I was open to discussion and would have negotiated maybe a small additional fee just to get this to go away.
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
Update - The debt collecting company are still pursuing the debt. Ive had 2 calls from them this morning despite informing them the invoice is in dispute and the company reported to trading standards.
The debt company have told me that the contract is now with them and I am to pay them. This seems all kind of wrong to me.
I took a drive to the company address on their website. It doesn't exist.
This is whats there:
The debt company have told me that the contract is now with them and I am to pay them. This seems all kind of wrong to me.
I took a drive to the company address on their website. It doesn't exist.
This is whats there:
bad company said:
It may not feel like it but that sounds like very good news. I should write to the debt company informing them that the invoice is disputed, then block their number.
I really believe that they will threaten everything and do nothing, there’s nothing much they could do without a Court order.
Well done op.
The address on their website doesnt exist - as per the above photo. The address on their website differs from the address on their facebook page, which is a similar address but also not there. I really believe that they will threaten everything and do nothing, there’s nothing much they could do without a Court order.
Well done op.
This also differs from the address registered on the FCA website which is a residential address and cattery.
None of it seems above board.
But I have spoken to the FCA and they say that they are a member and that the FCA doesnt protect against this type of debt collecting, so cant help me.
The company also say they are a member of the Credit Services Association.
I have read the Credit Services Association's code of practise and they seem to be breaking it...
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