plumber ripping me off?

Tigger_looks_bigger

Had an emergency plumber out at the weekend during the day. His english wasn't amazing but I thought he understood everything.

I'd agreed a call out fee with a company £70 that had decent reviews and I knew what the job was but couldn't fix it myself. I clearly explained the job both at booking and to the plumber when he arrived.

After he'd spent a bit of time looking at the job he said he said I needed to pay him for parts directly, we had a discussion about costs which on looking back and realising later how poor his english was could have been a misunderstanding. I was left thinking the half hourly rate was 70 and the call out fee covered the first half hr, I also had to pay him 50 for parts direct. He said initially the job would be about an hr. It was expensive but an emergency plumber at the weekend is never going to be cheap so I agreed to this.

A few minutes after this discussion the plumber said he didn't have a part and would need to pick it up. We talked a bit more because I didn't understand what he needed I again explained where the leak was and that the pipe needed replacing but he was clear he needed another connector as his were the wrong size. I agreed he would go and pick the part up

He returned and got on with the job. It's clear he thinks he's finished. Asks me to watch the pipe and goes to turn water back on I query this as I can see he's not changed the pipe. He shouts at me that I'm not a plumber. He turns the water back on and sees its very much still leaking out of the place I initially told him only it's now visible as he's pulled the slack out. He's suprised by the leak and runs off the turn the water off again. He then fixes the actual problem which only took him around 20 minutes. Cleared up and done in just under 2 hrs total. Although it seems he did waste the first hour+ doing ???.

Then we come to payment. I ask him if I get the invoice emailed and then call or pay online. He calls his company, won't leave the house. He hands me his phone and the guy yaps on about how lucky I am etc doesn't tell me the amount just starts trying to take my card details. I ask how much and am told nearly £690 with vat. Way over the amount the plumber said but I'm now aware of how poor his english is an doubting myself. Also he was stood right in front of me as I was using his phone, I felt if I said it was his fault that he'd quoted a different amount things would get nasty.

There was a lot more back and forth the plumber refused to leave without me paying the company, they wouldn't send an invoice. The company and the plumber threatened to remove parts or turn the water off. He was here for nearly an hour after the job finished following me around the house he never physically threatened me but made sure I was aware he was there and he had shouted at me earlier during the work. We eventually agreed that I would part pay and then pay the remainder after I was paid. I agreed this under duress because I didn't feel safe and couldn't get the plumber to leave.

So I paid £320 plus £50 direct to the plumber. From the hourly rate the plumber gave it should only have been £280 plus maybe vat that wasn't mentioned. That's ignoring the fact the plumber wasted the first hour not fixing the problem. But the company wants and thinks I should be paying the balance another £300ish. Which I don't agree with. I didn't get the quote in writing.

Added complication I think the guys I dealt with are maybe sub contracted by the company that I found online. Possibly to cover weekend work. The phone number to contact them on google searh is now different, and the email I got from them doesn't match the company name.

I know I've been had. I accept the money that I transferred for the work is gone and can live with that but what about the remaining bill. I have one email from the guys that came round but it doesn't link to any company, I have a few phone numbers. Do I send a compaint stating I'm querying the bill? Do I contact anyone else? Do I just ignore I wait for them to contact me.

Realised I can edit. Thanks for reading sorry it's so long. Any advice welcome

Tigger_looks_bigger

Sorry that was long I meant to add thanks for reading and if anyone has any advice or help it would be much appreciated

Alderbank

What about the remaining bill?

Wait for them to contact you.

Aylesbury_Duck

Alderbank said:

What about the remaining bill?

Wait for them to contact you.

I agree.  If they get in touch, put in writing the sequence of events (keep it brief) and ask them to itemise and justify what the outstanding amount is for.  If they're blagging it, they'll probably go quiet at that point.  If they think they're on solid ground, you have some correspondence you could use if they decide to pursue the debt and you wish to challenge it.

Tigger_looks_bigger

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Alderbank said:

What about the remaining bill?

Wait for them to contact you.

I agree.  If they get in touch, put in writing the sequence of events (keep it brief) and ask them to itemise and justify what the outstanding amount is for.  If they're blagging it, they'll probably go quiet at that point.  If they think they're on solid ground, you have some correspondence you could use if they decide to pursue the debt and you wish to challenge it.

I'm not even really sure how to keep it brief clearly! I was sent an invoice after I'd part paid and I'm fairly sure it's fake. As in they've used a real plumbing companies name but wrong address and details. Also no vat on it.

Tigger_looks_bigger

The 'company' has now called and emailed me a few times. I have done as suggested above and I guess I'll see what the response is