Plumber trouble...

loko2468 · 5 February 2014 at 10:10PM

(Sorry if this is not in the most suitable place on this forum)

Plumber was doing a job on the same street. During a break we got him to come over and see if he could help us with two small jobs. He says yes that looks fine, I'll buy the parts and I'll come over Monday and do it. Fees £40/hr for water work. £65/hr for gas/central heating.

Had to reschedule. Wednesday. Fine.

Had to reschedule. Friday. Fine.

Friday. I decided to ask him how long the jobs would take altogether - and then he wouldn't answer, asked him again and he said something like 5 hours, to replace a kitchen tap and to replace a mid position valve (for the hot water), which with his rate would come to around £300 (including ~£70 for parts). First question is, is this ridiculous? I felt it was. In any case, he got angry and left - I didn't ask him to leave.

Then he emails me saying "I had a terrible experience but here's an invoice for my £50 callout fee" - a fee he has never mentioned - "and the time spent purchasing and then returning parts and paying 25% of the parts cost which I will be charged".

It's a bit of an odd situation - but in my eyes - no work has been done and he left of his own accord. Am I in the slightest bit obligated to pay? Surely it's reasonable that I want to know how long two presumably simple jobs would take for an experienced professional?

Tell me please is he being reasonable?

diywhynot · 5 February 2014 at 10:28PM

Always get a written quotation for any works. You asked him to attend and agreed to the works without a price. You could write this one off to experience.

loko2468 · 5 February 2014 at 10:36PM

Thanks diywhynot - by that you mean I have to pay him?

southcoastrgi · 5 February 2014 at 11:48PM

you really should have asked him for a price before he came to do the job, in your case I think it's fair you offer him something although I doubt he would be charged for returning the parts I never have been