Ripped off??

[Lazurus]

I have a rental property some distance from me, the bathroom needed some work doing so I went to trustatrader and found a local plumber with glowing reviews. met him at the job and we agreed £1000 verbally to replace the tiles with wet wall, and sort out low water pressure. He put the job back several times saying he had boiler emergencies over the Christmas new year period. During this period I asked for a quote, he said we had agreed£1k. Again the job is put back through January and February. I did hassle him as my tenant needed to book time off and had done so and been let down a couple of times. Anyways this time he calls me to say his supplier cannot get the wet wall panel and could I order them...... So I order exactly what he requested 3 panel and 2 x internal corners delivered to site, so out of reasons the job goes ahead.

He calls me part way through to say the old tiles had pulled the plaster off the wall and it was awkward, as it was wet wall panels I wasn't too bothered and just said go ahead with the job. When he finishes my tenant calls me to say the shower now doesn't work, so back he goes and sorts this, the tenant also tells me that the wetwall is not finished at the ends and the plumber said he couldn't finish as I hadn't ordered the end strips, bear in mind I ordered exactly what he asked me. so I duly order the end strips delivered to site, but now he wont go back as the job had "over run".

Then I get the invoice......

new bath taps at £107.99

and sink taps at £82.79

Bath Panel at £54.83

Misc plumbing items and sealant £48

 

and labour £1080 (for 2 days work)

 

Now I have paid him £700, which to my mind this is the quote £1000 less the items I ordered at his request - this seems a fair price as I had asked for a written quote, and only got a verbal at £1000. The labour really stings as at 8 hour days, even with 2 of them its £55 an hour each - good money if you can get it.

 

Please advice how to go about contesting the final bill without being unreasonable. - or have I just been ripped off!!

[Khriss]

Hard to say. We got a quote fr 3000squid to repair a walk in shower. The head was leaking n its a sealed built in job. Local guy ( actually Fireman) chopped out old unit n fitted new plumbing and head and retiled fr 750 squid. So it's a mite over the odds? But not bent over. K

[trigger_andy]

2 hours ago, Lazurus said:

I have a rental property some distance from me, the bathroom needed some work doing so I went to trustatrader and found a local plumber with glowing reviews. met him at the job and we agreed £1000 verbally to replace the tiles with wet wall, and sort out low water pressure. He put the job back several times saying he had boiler emergencies over the Christmas new year period. During this period I asked for a quote, he said we had agreed£1k. Again the job is put back through January and February. I did hassle him as my tenant needed to book time off and had done so and been let down a couple of times. Anyways this time he calls me to say his supplier cannot get the wet wall panel and could I order them...... So I order exactly what he requested 3 panel and 2 x internal corners delivered to site, so out of reasons the job goes ahead.

He calls me part way through to say the old tiles had pulled the plaster off the wall and it was awkward, as it was wet wall panels I wasn't too bothered and just said go ahead with the job. When he finishes my tenant calls me to say the shower now doesn't work, so back he goes and sorts this, the tenant also tells me that the wetwall is not finished at the ends and the plumber said he couldn't finish as I hadn't ordered the end strips, bear in mind I ordered exactly what he asked me. so I duly order the end strips delivered to site, but now he wont go back as the job had "over run".

Then I get the invoice......

new bath taps at £107.99

and sink taps at £82.79

Bath Panel at £54.83

Misc plumbing items and sealant £48

 

and labour £1080 (for 2 days work)

 

Now I have paid him £700, which to my mind this is the quote £1000 less the items I ordered at his request - this seems a fair price as I had asked for a written quote, and only got a verbal at £1000. The labour really stings as at 8 hour days, even with 2 of them its £55 an hour each - good money if you can get it.

 

Please advice how to go about contesting the final bill without being unreasonable. - or have I just been ripped off!!

I think with all the hassle and poor workmanship Id just tell him to beat it. I think he knows he's a chancer. 

[Mick Dempsey]

I wonder why you had to order the stuff yourself? 

 

I would have been suspicious that he was blacklisted because of non payment.

[gobbypunk]

Hi pay the quoted grand and tell him to get F###ed

[Lazurus]

14 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I wonder why you had to order the stuff yourself? 

 

I would have been suspicious that he was blacklisted because of non payment.

Yes seemed a bit strange to me, bit like a chef asking you to bring in your own steak......

[benedmonds]

Found small tradesmen often get you to order the parts. Lowers their risk and I guess might keep them under vat threshold.. I had similar with a plumber made a big mess, I ordered incorrect toilet after I had checked etc..and I was disappointed with finish. As you have done I paid them the proportion of the original quote I thought was reasonable.. They sent numerous threatening letters. I replied saying if they continued to persue the case I would make a counter claim and out lined my time and costs.. I also contacted the trade body they were part if but they never responded... I also mentioned I was active at reviewing on social media.

 

I hope they decided the ballache of chasing me was more than the likelihood of getting their money. They still would have made a profit. So better a small profit and not having an angry ex client ranting on local face book pages..

[Shaff]

Plumbers seem to have a bit of an attitude regards pricing. £500 a shift for turning up with a couple of spanners is taking the piss. 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

13 minutes ago, Shaff said:

Plumbers seem to have a bit of an attitude regards pricing. £500 a shift for turning up with a couple of spanners is taking the piss. 

 

Well, you do it then!

[Shaff]

Gas work is a different ball game but waterworks is a piece of piss with modern fittings