Plumber Price - Am I in the wrong?

Initialr3

Afternoon all.

Looking for a bit of level-headed-ness. 

Recently moved into a new build, as such needed the main bathroom and ensuite floors tiled. After speaking to a few tilers, getting a few quotes etc. we found a tiler on gumtree, we spoke on the phone and he came out to quote. We were happy he was a decent guy and wanted to go ahead. The tiler advised we needed a plumber to take off our sanitary ware to allow the tiles to be fitted, then refit once the tiles were down. The tiler had a plumber that worked with him - great, we spoke to the plumber via text message.

The plumber provided a quote by text, which I agreed to. At this point I would like to point out I am not a trade-minded person and stupidly agreed to the number he provided thinking it was a decent amount. 

My father in law has moved into the same new build estate and required the same work done + the downstairs bathroom, making three rooms in total. Tiler quoted, plumber quoted and we were all good to go. 

When the plumber was half way through, I spoke to my father in law. We got talking and I found out the plumber is charging the same amount for him as he is for me. One of my mates is a spark, I called him and asked if he was working on site with any plumbers. He was, and he ran our price past him, his plumber advised it was way too much for the work required, however did say if he (me) had accepted the quote there was not much I could do. I accept this is my own doing. 

Once our work was completed, I told the plumber I wanted to chat to him about the price. I was exceptionally nice (so as not to insult him) and simply put it to him that it wasn't fair providing the same quote for less/more work completed. 

At this point the plumber went off on one, was very dismissive, started swearing, got into his van and drove off. I have messaged him since asking for an invoice of works completed. 

I'm just looking for an opinion, was I in the wrong to bring that up? I wasn't nasty or confrontational, just wanted to have a discussion about why they were different prices. I have agreed to it, I am going to pay the man. I just didn't think (and still don't think) it was very fair.  

ThisIsWeird

Chalk this one up to experience.

You say you spoke to a few tilers for the main work, but didn't for the plumbing part. And now you are complaining? Hmm.

So many parameters here - how do you know that he's 'done' you, and not instead given your FiL a really good deal? How do you know that his quote wasn't perfectly acceptable in any case - you are going to take one other plumber's opinion on this?

Why did he fly off the handle? Possibly because he's a typical tetchy plumber, who may have rounded up your quote, and hates being found out. Or, he's as straight as a die and finds he's being questioned on his integrity.

You agreed a price - hand it over, and say 'sorry' for upsetting the guy. If you find he did inflate the cost, then you have the option of not using him in future, and not recommending him.

Bottom line - a plumber, or any other tradesperson - can charge what they darned well like, and it's up to customers to regulate this with due diligence.

SergeantBaker

The time to discuss price is before agreeing to the work. 

Doozergirl

It doesn't matter how polite you thought you were being, agreeing a price with someone, allowing them to do the work and then questioning it is about the rudest thing you can do, as well as putting you legally in the wrong. 

I have been using the services of plumber for a very long time.  We pay by the day.  If it's a small job, we'll save up a few jobs and get them to do it all in one day so we don't have customers paying full day rate. 

If you paid an hourly rate for a plumbing service that sends workers to multiple jobs in a day, you would pay proportionally more. 

If it's just a matter of removing sanitary-ware ready for tiling, it doesn't surprise me that the cost was the same.   Once you're on site, you're most of the way there.  

I'm afraid that you are in the wrong regardless.  You agreed something, went back on your word and have could now have affected that tiler's relationship with him.  Hopefully it hasn't affected the tiler's relationship with you.    If that happened in our subbie circle, you'd quickly find yourself missing the next subbie.  

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Why did he fly off the handle? Possibly because he's a typical tetchy plumber, who may have rounded up your quote, and hates being found out. Or, he's as straight as a die and finds he's being questioned on his integrity.

...probably because too often that kind of conversation starter quickly moves on to "I'm not paying you".

Whilst that wasn't the OP's intent, the conversation never got that far.

Of course it could be argued that the plumber should have allowed the conversation to continue in a calm and rational manner.  But then you and I both inhabit the real world where misunderstandings happen all too easily and can rapidly develop into "interesting" discussions.

There can be legitimate reasons why a trader charges different amounts for what appears to be identical work - it doesn't automatically mean the quote given to the OP was unfair, or that there was anything for the plumber to be "found out" about.

The basis of quotes may include an assessment of "client attitude" and likelihood of getting paid, which - although the communication was entirely by text - can be on the basis of (entirely unfair) assumptions and preconceptions about the would-be client.  Communication by text (only) is also well known as a medium through which misunderstandings and false assumptions can be made - due in part to the lack of social cues that verbal/personal communication can convey.

Initialr3

Thanks everyone for your comments, happy to admit when I am wrong and will definitely know better for the future.

As stated, it isn't and never has been my intention to not pay the plumber. I will pay the amount agreed. I am aware of the legal ramifications and consumer law is rightly in his corner. 

My original questions was - was I a *!"£ to bring it up in the first place. However, I now know I was and in future I will fix before work commences. Thanks for the assistance. 

tacpot12

The other discussion that often doesn't happen before agreeing to the work is who is responsible for getting rid of waste. Removing trade waste from your home requires a waste carriers license, and then paying for its disposal, so many traders will ask the homeowner to dispose of the waste in their own bins, or to hire a skip if there is going to be a lot of waste. 

Gavin83

Initialr3 said:

Thanks everyone for your comments, happy to admit when I am wrong and will definitely know better for the future.

As stated, it isn't and never has been my intention to not pay the plumber. I will pay the amount agreed. I am aware of the legal ramifications and consumer law is rightly in his corner. 

My original questions was - was I a *!"£ to bring it up in the first place. However, I now know I was and in future I will fix before work commences. Thanks for the assistance. 

Fair play for admitting you're in the wrong and taking on board the comments. Most either just start being rude or don't bother to come back at all.

I'd probably just send him a message, apologise, say it didn't come across how you meant it to and if he sends across the invoice with payment instructions you'll send across the money straight away.

Doozergirl

Gavin83 said:

Initialr3 said:

Thanks everyone for your comments, happy to admit when I am wrong and will definitely know better for the future.

As stated, it isn't and never has been my intention to not pay the plumber. I will pay the amount agreed. I am aware of the legal ramifications and consumer law is rightly in his corner. 

My original questions was - was I a *!"£ to bring it up in the first place. However, I now know I was and in future I will fix before work commences. Thanks for the assistance. 

Fair play for admitting you're in the wrong and taking on board the comments. Most either just start being rude or don't bother to come back at all.

I'd probably just send him a message, apologise, say it didn't come across how you meant it to and if he sends across the invoice with payment instructions you'll send across the money straight away.

This.  Much respect to you, OP. 

Initialr3

Gavin83 said:

Initialr3 said:

Thanks everyone for your comments, happy to admit when I am wrong and will definitely know better for the future.

As stated, it isn't and never has been my intention to not pay the plumber. I will pay the amount agreed. I am aware of the legal ramifications and consumer law is rightly in his corner. 

My original questions was - was I a *!"£ to bring it up in the first place. However, I now know I was and in future I will fix before work commences. Thanks for the assistance. 

Fair play for admitting you're in the wrong and taking on board the comments. Most either just start being rude or don't bother to come back at all.

I'd probably just send him a message, apologise, say it didn't come across how you meant it to and if he sends across the invoice with payment instructions you'll send across the money straight away.

And that is exactly what I have done... Money has been paid and an apology issued. Thanks again. 

Initialr3

tacpot12 said:

The other discussion that often doesn't happen before agreeing to the work is who is responsible for getting rid of waste. Removing trade waste from your home requires a waste carriers license, and then paying for its disposal, so many traders will ask the homeowner to dispose of the waste in their own bins, or to hire a skip if there is going to be a lot of waste. 

Interesting you mention this, my wife and I were discussing this the other day. We have had countless trades in over the past few weeks installing/changing things and everyone of them has left their waste behind. Initially we were like "what on earth is happening here", however a quick Google answered my question and I now understand your post to be the reason. 

The more you know.