Bloody tradesmen!!!
Discussion
Why are they so effing disinterested?
In the space of 6 years at our house we've gone through 3 plumbers and 3 builders, and each time it's a real chore to find another one - you go to the YP/small-ads, and you either get dross or cowboys. So you ask for recommendations from colleagues, and:-
- they either live too far away;
- they're loath to recommend theirs for some reason;
- the chap turns up and gives a ridiculous quote as he's got plenty of work and doesn't really want any more;
- the chap doesn't turn up at all!
And then when they've done one job they don't bother coming back for the next one, or don't return your voicemails.
Does anyone else have this problem? And if so, what do you do? I'm not DIY-competent enough to do that much, let alone service a boiler or replace a garden wall.
In the space of 6 years at our house we've gone through 3 plumbers and 3 builders, and each time it's a real chore to find another one - you go to the YP/small-ads, and you either get dross or cowboys. So you ask for recommendations from colleagues, and:-
- they either live too far away;
- they're loath to recommend theirs for some reason;
- the chap turns up and gives a ridiculous quote as he's got plenty of work and doesn't really want any more;
- the chap doesn't turn up at all!
And then when they've done one job they don't bother coming back for the next one, or don't return your voicemails.
Does anyone else have this problem? And if so, what do you do? I'm not DIY-competent enough to do that much, let alone service a boiler or replace a garden wall.
We've been trying to get a plumber (wife's workmates husband) to come out for 4 months. Sod it, if he doesn't make contact this week I'll do the job myself (again).
I'd understand it if he was cheap but he was planning to charge £700 for a day's work.
Recession? Pah! not in this neck of the woods.
I'd understand it if he was cheap but he was planning to charge £700 for a day's work.
Recession? Pah! not in this neck of the woods.
_Batty_ said:
check the FMB for registered builders 
We're OK there now (finally) - found a Polish chap who does very good work for a sensible price. Which I guess is now stereotypical in the UK...It's a plumber which is the problem at the moment - boiler service was due this month, and we've what I'm guessing is a sticking header-tank ball-cock causing water to pee down our side wall every so-often from the overflow pipe. Which on return from holiday turns out to be staining the wall...so damp probably isn't too far away! Looks like I'll be venturing into the unknown (our loft AND plumbing-related DIY!) soon to try and fix it then...
muley said:
I'd understand it if he was cheap but he was planning to charge £700 for a day's work.
We had a similarly stupid quote for changing all the rad-valves (9) in the house - less than a day's work for one person was going to be £750 in labour alone!!! I worked out that the chap must be taking home £200k a year before tax if he worked full-time at that rate...havoc said:
Why are they so effing disinterested?
In the space of 6 years at our house we've gone through 3 plumbers and 3 builders, and each time it's a real chore to find another one - you go to the YP/small-ads, and you either get dross or cowboys. So you ask for recommendations from colleagues, and:-
- they either live too far away;
- they're loath to recommend theirs for some reason;
- the chap turns up and gives a ridiculous quote as he's got plenty of work and doesn't really want any more;
- the chap doesn't turn up at all!
And then when they've done one job they don't bother coming back for the next one, or don't return your voicemails.
Does anyone else have this problem? And if so, what do you do? I'm not DIY-competent enough to do that much, let alone service a boiler or replace a garden wall.
I answer every call and quote on every call if they want, no matter how small. Sometimes small jobs lead to bigger jobs. If I say I'll do a job, I'll do it, if I say I'll be somewhere, I'll be there.In the space of 6 years at our house we've gone through 3 plumbers and 3 builders, and each time it's a real chore to find another one - you go to the YP/small-ads, and you either get dross or cowboys. So you ask for recommendations from colleagues, and:-
- they either live too far away;
- they're loath to recommend theirs for some reason;
- the chap turns up and gives a ridiculous quote as he's got plenty of work and doesn't really want any more;
- the chap doesn't turn up at all!
And then when they've done one job they don't bother coming back for the next one, or don't return your voicemails.
Does anyone else have this problem? And if so, what do you do? I'm not DIY-competent enough to do that much, let alone service a boiler or replace a garden wall.
havoc said:
muley said:
I'd understand it if he was cheap but he was planning to charge £700 for a day's work.
We had a similarly stupid quote for changing all the rad-valves (9) in the house - less than a day's work for one person was going to be £750 in labour alone!!! I worked out that the chap must be taking home £200k a year before tax if he worked full-time at that rate...Thanks for the heads up
best way is recomandation imo , i only ever work on recomandations as you are trusted more , small jobs lead to big jobs half the time.
the amount of times have gone out to fix a leak or do a small job and end up going back to do loft convershion or extenshion is quite high .
most pepole prefer someone that gets straight to the point and speaks in there language, not builders talk lol , i always sit down and talk with them make sure they basicly no what they are getting for there money etc it works best for me to be honest and saves confushion at the end of the job .
there is a fair few pepole in any game noit just building trade that will try sell you stuff that you dont need , you end up charging a higer price and creating more work for yourself which if you need to do is wrong .
rough traders and stuff has worried a lot of pepole with rip off builders and yes the ones they show are just that , but customers are thinking everyone is , if they call you back and got time to spare on a evening talking through everything with you then you tend to be ok .
a lot seam to want money for nothing these days saying you get what you pay for and there still s
t as the next person lol because there price is high dont mean anything .
the amount of times have gone out to fix a leak or do a small job and end up going back to do loft convershion or extenshion is quite high .
most pepole prefer someone that gets straight to the point and speaks in there language, not builders talk lol , i always sit down and talk with them make sure they basicly no what they are getting for there money etc it works best for me to be honest and saves confushion at the end of the job .
there is a fair few pepole in any game noit just building trade that will try sell you stuff that you dont need , you end up charging a higer price and creating more work for yourself which if you need to do is wrong .
rough traders and stuff has worried a lot of pepole with rip off builders and yes the ones they show are just that , but customers are thinking everyone is , if they call you back and got time to spare on a evening talking through everything with you then you tend to be ok .
a lot seam to want money for nothing these days saying you get what you pay for and there still s
t as the next person lol because there price is high dont mean anything .I've had similar experiences to the OP, there are some damn good ones out there but unfortunately many many many of them are utter morons/workshy/inept
Working with a fantastic spark at the moment on a medium sized project, and I can recommend an utterly tip-top aircon firm if anyone needs one (small mob turns up monday, farily sizeable job all done and commisioned by Thursday afternoon to excellent standard)
The plasterers we had in were an utter fking joke though, 2 days to do 12x12 room, made an utter ttting mess, plaster everywhere, including over the £2500 cabinets full of £50,000 worth of kit I INSISTED was covered with sheets.
Tried to describe it to the foreman, said "my cabs look like a plasterers radio.... erm no that doesnt work... a porn star with spunk all over her face?"
Came back in on monday to find what ammounts to a hand towel on top of the cabinet, and plaster all over the mesh doors which is never coming off...
Working with a fantastic spark at the moment on a medium sized project, and I can recommend an utterly tip-top aircon firm if anyone needs one (small mob turns up monday, farily sizeable job all done and commisioned by Thursday afternoon to excellent standard)
The plasterers we had in were an utter f
king joke though, 2 days to do 12x12 room, made an utter ttting mess, plaster everywhere, including over the £2500 cabinets full of £50,000 worth of kit I INSISTED was covered with sheets.Tried to describe it to the foreman, said "my cabs look like a plasterers radio.... erm no that doesnt work... a porn star with spunk all over her face?"
Came back in on monday to find what ammounts to a hand towel on top of the cabinet, and plaster all over the mesh doors which is never coming off...
pits said:
I would recomend my plumber to anyone, sweet sweet miss Jackson not only can she fit your boilers and service them and other plumbery dutys, but she is unbelivably hot, epically hot, she can come over for a good service anyday
Where do you live? Is it within 100 miles of Coventry?
Hell, if not I'll put her up for the night!!! Tell me you live in Cornwall or Scotland or somewhere and it'll be a weekend job!?!
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