£215 to connect a gas hob - Is that fair?

nzjono

We had a new boiler installed recently by a local plumber and while we had the kitchen ripped out also had them run the gas pipe for a new gas hob. I asked at the time and they said it would be £85 to come back later to connect it up.

I've just had them back recently to do the work but they're now trying to invoice for £215 and claiming that £85 was for a "straight forward job". The job just involved extending the gas pipe vertically about 50cm and connecting it onto the hob - it seems pretty straight forward to me.

The breakdown is 2 hrs labour at £65 per hour + £85 in parts + VAT. The job took about 1hr 45min, at least 30min of that was spent going off to purchase some parts. They provided the following parts breakdown after some prompting;

Copper pipe £12.76
90 degree elbows £0.55 each x 4
Gas tape £3.68
Gas sealant £26.46
Flat washer £2.99
Peglar washer £1.49
Solder spool £20.28
Straight connector £2.88

I can't see how the parts could come to more than about £10 considering it was about 0.5m of 15mm pipe, 3 elbows, a connector onto the hob, and a little gas sealant and solder.

Opinions?

Thanks,
Jonathan.

skivenov

I'd question the time "going to get parts" as that's all stuff I'd expect anyone working on gas appliances to carry on the van.

There's no way on God's earth they used a full tube of sealant or a full spool of solder doing 3 elbows and two connections, unless it was their first go with a blowtorch.

Why did they use "gas tape" (PTFE I assume?) and sealant and solder? Are they that bad at making joints?

booty40uk

They are taking the ****. £10 tops for materials. The original £85 is more like it. Tell them to do one.

southcoastrgi

I'm guessing booty's **** was p1ss

& yes they are trying to take that on a massive scale, tell them to sod off

or point them to this thread & we will tell them for you

MisterBaxter

You're paying for the consumables they will be using for the next three months by the looks of that parts list. I would expect any gas fitter worth their salts to carry all of those consumable son the van as stock, I would expect most to have the pipe and fittings but it's at least reasonable to charge the full cost of those.

How much soldering did they do to need a whole spool just for you.

Argue it, they shouldn't have got a quote on a simple job like that so wrong and why charge for collecting parts when they knew what they needed after providing the quote, they should of had the parts day to go.

NVRAM

Aye thats ridiculous, looks like your paying for a fair few future jobs too lol.
Tell em to get lost as they quoted you £85

They knew what they needed more than likely and 1hr 45 to collect a few parts?
None of which are strange or odd so they shoulda had plenty on the van.

I'm guessing in that 1hr 45 they actually went elsewhere did another job and then came back. That or sat in the van somewhere doin nowt lol

somethingcorporate

If you're paying for the spool and the gas sealant they should have left behind what they didn't use since they expect you to pay for the lot.

I'd expect them to carry all that stuff on the van.

Cheeky s*ds, they're trying it on.

Name and shame.

kaya

£20 of solder and £26 of gas sealant! They are taking the mickey and gas tape? Tell them to go take a running jump. They would have used a smear of jet blue gas sealant ( a kind of putty) on any threaded joints, a tiny bit of solder ( a few quids worth) on any soldered joints but seem to be charging you for enough consumables to last them for the next 20jobs! I used to work in gas and we never charged for consumables like that , I wouldn't pay it , and I certainly wouldn't pay them for time off of site to get standard parts they should have brought with them anyway , maybe they would allow you to polish the company boss's spurs and clean his saddle in pRt payment

booty40uk

Havnt seen the job but here is a list of what I think they actually used and prices.


1/2m 15mm copper. I pay £76 for 30m so lets say 1m @ £2.60


4 15mm end feed elbows. Why they need 4 is odd but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they used 4. I pay 20p each so there's another 80p


Solder. Approximately £10 for a full central heating and boiler installation. Lets be really generous and say 50p worth.( FYI a 15mm joint uses 15mm of solder)


Flat washer. Why, the hob would have come with one.


Gas tape and gas sealant. I'm feeling generous again. 10p.


1/2" to 15 straight. £2.00


I make that £6.00 and I always have all that on my van.


There is no mention of an isolating gas tap. There should be one. If there isn't pull them on it. Actually, call gas safe and ask for a free inspection.


I did a hob today as part of a kitchen fit. Took 20 minutes to pipe it in and test. Charged £60.


Andy

nzjono

Cheers, thanks for all the advice.

The only thing I could see that could remotely justify "popping out to get parts" was the 15mm compression to female coupling as I wasn't sure how common they are. I thought £10 for parts/materials would be the upper limit but after a few emails pushing for a parts breakdown/costing and them trying to justify it I was starting to question my sanity.

What's the recommendation? Pop a cheque for £85+VAT in the post and forgot about it?

Does each appliance need its own isolating value? No, they haven't fitted one.

As far as I can see they've used 3 elbows and a compression to female coupling onto the hob with PTFE tape on the coupling.

Where would you use gas sealant? On a thread instead of PTFE tape? On a compression joint? I assume a solder joint (for the elbows) is just flux and solder. And what would a "Peglar Washer" be used for?

Am I free to name and shame companies? I'm new and not sure what the forum rules are.

diywhynot

OP: I assume you didn't get a written quote before the works. If not...