£75 p/h - reasonable for a plumber?

abankerbutnotafatcat

We've been trying to get a plumber for about two weeks and they either don't return our calls or just don't turn up. We must have tried about 10. We had a leak which led to part of a ceiling collapsing but we've patch repaired the leak ourselves which will probably be good for months if not years. We have several other small, non-urgent jobs we intended to ask a plumber to do if we could ever actually get one!!

Out of desperation I actually knocked on the window of a transit van parked around the corner yesterday as the livery was emblazoned 'your local plumber'. As a petite female that's not something I did lightly:) He gave me his card and my bf phoned him today to make an appointment and was quoted £75 per hour. We're near Gatwick. I'm not used to people being quite so up front about their charges so I'm not sure if this a normal sort of a rate - there is a little alarm bell ringing!! Other people have either quoted for big jobs or just charged us after for small ones.

As it's no longer urgent should we wait (our electrician has someone he recommends) or just be thankful we've got an appointment??

McKneff

£75 an hour :eek:

abankerbutnotafatcat

Mckneff, I note you're in the North. Are you just shocked by southern prices or is it even bad given that?

BaconandEggs

It seems ALOT!

evokit

Think ill move to London a be a plummer...!

Try listing your job on mybuilder, even if you dont use anyone off there but will give you a feel of costing fo the work.

Seems a little steap regardless of L

justjohn

Building trade is full of a bunch of chancers.

You just have to keep looking

dil1976

evokit wrote: »

Try listing your job on mybuilder, even if you dont use anyone off there but will give you a feel of costing fo the work.

Although I see your thinking, its people that do this that get site like this a bad reputation with tradesmen as you pay for a lead only to find out that the customer is only getting a rough idea of cost and no real intention of getting the work done.

keystone

Steep! Its not steep - it's positively obscene. Ask friends, family, work colleagues etc for a recommendation. If he's busy then he's flying a kite 'cos he will make time for you at that price but not at £ 35. Trouble is that litle jobs like this can be a nightmare and some people just don't want to know at any price. For what you describe you are probably better oiff employing a handyman - even cheaper.

Cheers

dil1976

justjohn wrote: »

Building trade is full of a bunch of chancers.

Like every other job in the world :mad:

keystone

dil1976 wrote: »

Although I see your thinking, its people that do this that get site like this a bad reputation with tradesmen as you pay for a lead only to find out that the customer is only getting a rough idea of cost and no real intention of getting the work done.

Apart from my natural anathema towards these sites you are absolutely correct. Full of tyre kickers and people who have absolutely no intention of letting a contract in the first place.

Cheers

McKneff

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

Mckneff, I note you're in the North. Are you just shocked by southern prices or is it even bad given that?

Half it and I would still think twice to be honest, even at Southern prices.

Everyone else seems to agree its a bit steep.

It its not urgent, just shop around. Or google it and learn to do it yourself.

If I wasnt just retired I'd learn to be a plumber and move down south if they can get away with those prices.

In all honesty, though, it is a rip off price.