Paid £1150 for one hour's work

My 70 year old father called a local drain cleaner for a kitchen sink blockage. He suspected tree roots were causing the blockage and they were.

They spent one hour at the house. They used a camera and cut out the roots with their equipment. No pipes were treated or replaced.

£1100+

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated?
«13

Comments

  • Marktheshark
    Marktheshark Posts: 5,841 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    They cut tree roots ?

    Call action fraud, he has been done.
    I do Contracts, all day every day.
  • flashg67
    flashg67 Posts: 3,995 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    Sounds a lot to me.

    Had the roots penetrated the pipes? If so, cutting them out means the pipe will leak unless it was replaced or sleeved?
  • Report them to Trading Standards.
    "You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"
  • Thank you for your comments.

    Yes they were tree roots and yes they had penetrated the pipes.

    But the pipes weren't replaced or lined.
  • JackTrez wrote: »
    My 70 year old father called a local drain cleaner for a kitchen sink blockage. He suspected tree roots were causing the blockage and they were.

    They spent one hour at the house. They used a camera and cut out the roots with their equipment. No pipes were treated or replaced.

    £1100+

    Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated?
    It may well be expensive but the time alone isn’t the greatest indicator if you post exactly what it says on the invoice etc you’d get far more accurate help....
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
    Photogenic First Post Name Dropper First Anniversary
    JackTrez wrote: »
    My 70 year old father called a local drain cleaner for a kitchen sink blockage. He suspected tree roots were causing the blockage and they were.

    They spent one hour at the house. They used a camera and cut out the roots with their equipment. No pipes were treated or replaced.

    £1100+

    Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated?
    Did he say "I suspect tree roots are the problem" and they agreed with him?

    As above, if roots have entered the pipe enough to block it the pipe would need replacing. Call trading standards.
  • Cisco001
    Cisco001 Posts: 4,018 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    What has been agreed for £1150?

    If the agreement was unblock the blockage, the company doing nothing wrong...
  • Yes I believe he told them that he thought roots were blocking the pipes - they tried a hose and then used cctv in the drain, saw the roots and removed them

    This is the invoice:

    1st man labour £95
    2nd man labour £95
    Plant hire £119
    Root cut £520
    CCTV survey £125
    sub total £954
    vat £190
    Total £1145.76
  • There was no quote as such. They gave him a kind running commentary of quotes as they worked. Cctv is so much per half hour, root cutting so much per metre etc. When they were done they gave him a bill.

    I'm not sure how he found the company. The number that he apparently called yesterday is now out of service.
  • Cisco001
    Cisco001 Posts: 4,018 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Did your dad see and accept the quotation before work start?
    Or is it being invoice after job done?

    If he accept the price before work start, it is hard to argue, IMO.

    If no agreement was made before works start and they bill your dad as it, then the question are

    What is the 'root cut' item and 'CCTV survey' item?
    What is the £119 plant referring to?
    The plant should include the equipment for CCTV & the root cut equipment, why the double charge 'root cut' / 'CCTV survey'?

    For the labour cost, even through they may worked for one hour, I think it is reasonable to charge half day. I guess the labour cost should down a bit.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173K Life & Family
  • 247.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards