Plumber overcharging for parts?

Cornucopia

First of all, the OP seems a bit vague. What does the quote say, in detail? Is the £600 the entire cost, including labour, or is that itemised as parts. (Does it state that B&Q parts will be used).

Without being too negative, the whole point of a Quote is to assess whether it is VFM before agreeing to it, and that could easily include specifying which parts are to be acquired from where at what price.

I've had plumbers try this before with me. Both the "I don't have it on the van/will have to make a special trip" line as well as excessive mark-up on basic parts. One guy tried both of those things, and excessive time charged, too, and got nowhere with me, but I accept that standing up to a large man in one's own home could be daunting.

I think the case is possibly weak, especially if the Quote is vague. Has the invoice been paid or not?

If not, I think I would offer cost+£25 for the parts, plus the labour.

If is has, then the obvious route is the small claims process. There will not be punitive damages.

If the OP feels that this may be part of an overall "rogue trader" situation, then report the issue to Trading Standards.

bob_a_builder

doozergirl - have you seen the £12000 version of the Toto bog? ... Now that is a bog.

Unfortunately you still have to pull up your own pants.

£12,000 - Sounds like it does quite good job of taking your pants down !


Actually having travelled to Japan many times, where they are standard fit in hotels and even ANA Planes! - you can't beat the feel of a nice warm Toto seat

captainhindsight_2

Cornucopia wrote: »

If not, I think I would offer cost+£25 for the parts, plus the labour.

That has got to be a joke, £25!

Driving to the merchants, picking up supplies waiting to be served, paying, loading on to van, driving back to the job, loading off the van.

I bet you wouldn't do all that for £25!!

snowcat75

captainhindsight wrote: »

That has got to be a joke, £25!

Driving to the merchants, picking up supplies waiting to be served, paying, loading on to van, driving back to the job, loading off the van.

I bet you wouldn't do all that for £25!!

That was my thought also, If you want a labour only job, supply everything, including fittings connections etc.


Thank god I don't work for the general public, but in the fabrication shop every piece of material has 20% added when its landed, even though its delivered, It only just covers the time used for ordering and unloading and stock pilling not to mention the layout of money for 30-60 days.

roddydogs

Dont forget as well, if something is, say XXX pounds in a "Glossy Brochure", its a good bet the plumber will get up to 30% off that price from a wholesaler.

DRP

The customer was charged what was quoted, so no overcharging.

Cornucopia

captainhindsight wrote: »

That has got to be a joke, £25!

Driving to the merchants, picking up supplies waiting to be served, paying, loading on to van, driving back to the job, loading off the van.

I bet you wouldn't do all that for £25!!

I'm not expecting them to do that. I'm expecting that a busy plumber will be going there a couple of times a week, anyway.

Also B&Q (or someone) would deliver it for that.

Can we establish, though, that no one thinks that a mark up of £380 is appropriate?

Cornucopia

snowcat75 wrote: »

Thank god I don't work for the general public...

I've had a plumber try to rip me off. It's not very nice, and it colours your judgement.

Seronera

roddydogs wrote: »

Dont forget as well, if something is, say XXX pounds in a "Glossy Brochure", its a good bet the plumber will get up to 30% off that price from a wholesaler.

You'd be suprised. Sometimes tradesmen get offered higher prices than the general public. I sometimes have to stuff the Screwfix book under trade counter artists noses. "Match that or I'm off" usually works.

Seronera

Cornucopia wrote: »

I've had a plumber try to rip me off. It's not very nice, and it colours your judgement.

They are in every trade and profession. Just wait until the NHS is privatised and you can look froward to it there as well. The surgeon who did my pacemaker told me that in the US they do four times as many of these operations there but have the same mortality rate as the UK (discussion taking place during the operation incidentally). He asked me what I concluded from that and I said "three out of the four procedures arn't necessary" "exactly" he replied "Why do you think that is?" he asked...."Money" I replied "Exactly" he said. We had quite a chat whilst he tinkered with my ticker!:eek::D