Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale reducer

[tamz]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

I didn't get a written estimate up front which in hindsight is silly of me.
So can you guys tell me what I should do now? I'll certainly be giving them a call on Monday morning.. but should I go to Trading Standards or the citizen's adice bureau as well?

Trading standards and cit advice will offer advice but i'm afraid probably won't change the bill. Some traders may dig their heals in when confronted and not back down if they can prove their charges are normal. So long as you have not paid your best option is to ring him up querying the costs. You might be stuck with the labour charge but try to get it down a bit. You should be able to get the parts discounted a bit if you are strong as they are ott and unreasonable.
Next time you get someone on try to go with a recommendation and ask their rates and expected cost before you give the go ahead.
I hate rip off merchants. Do a good job for a fair price is how most go but some take advantage (puddle i edited that bit and took out rip the😱)
Btw, thinking about it, you may have a recourse using the doorstep selling regs. Look it up.

 

[unguided1]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

Hi there everyone,

Thanks for the advice. It's much appreciated.

This is the first time I've ever needed a plumber (this is the first flat I've ever owned, which I bought a couple years ago). I didn't get a written estimate up front which in hindsight is silly of me. The previous pressure reducer was wet and did seem to need replacing.. though i've seen similar ones online for £50 or £60 including VAT and not £260 + VAT.. argh.

So can you guys tell me what I should do now? I'll certainly be giving them a call on Monday morning.. but should I go to Trading Standards or the citizen's adice bureau as well?

Name and shame the company and then contact rouge traders they probably have a massive file on him.

 

[fuzzy]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

i thought i was being quite reasonable, was gonna round it up to £2k

 

[secret squirrel]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

I like to be a little contentious and perhaps put another perspective. Sometimes at "what are you thinking"

To the original poster: this is not a direct insult or meant personally.
To the reader: just another view.

FIRST, I do think the price is too much and NO I wouldn't charge that at all. YES, we do have a responsibility to charge fairly etc.

However, we do not know the full circumstances of the situation. Was the original call at 2am in the morning or pre-arranged or was this classed as an emergency call out. In which case the fee would be higher.

The plumber (working for a big company or not) did get the hot water working and may have spent a lot of time trying to work out the problem. The plumber did not appear to charge for the first call out and time there, so this must be taken off of the 6.5 hours.

If the plumber is working for a big company then as we know back office staff have to be paid for etc. So the mark up on the cost of parts may be there standard.

The last part is the customer: Surely, a customer has a some level of responsibility!

How many times have we been asked , "have you got a rough price?" "what is your hourly rate?" "do you have a call out charge?" "I think thats a bit expensive, can you reduce it a bit?"

If someone has not asked how much etc. Then although the bill is very expensive etc etc. The customer has got some responsibilty. I've never had a plumber/electrician/tiler before is not really an excuse.

If the quote when asked was £2000 then you can refuse it.
If the quote was £500 and then went up to £2000 then again you can be upset.

Unless its an emergency and water is pouring down the walls I can't remember the last time I was not asked by someone "have you got a rough price"

REMEMBER: just putting forward an alternative perspective..........

 

[GQuigley67]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

it does seem like a big company, and big companys have alot of overheads etc to cover but im pretty sure that £90 an hour will cover that ! don't agree on the mark-ups at all phone their office and complain you never know

 

[Guest123]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

Charging to go and pick up material to do the job? Never heard of that one. If I did that I'd be driving a Rolls Royce.
I try to always have a reasonable stock of all the commonly used things and if I have to nip the mile down the road to the merchants, I just tell the customer that I'll be back later with the parts, not charge them my time for going there, even if the distance to the merchants is further.
Goad we'll be charging for washing our dirty overalls next.

 

[philtheflush]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

i would call them back and ask for an explanation on costs and if your not happy tell them your getting in touch with c.a.b rogue traders trading standards anyone that can help and see what happens let us know

 

[Puddle]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

Do bears boo in the bush,while two birds,saves nine to a blind man, who thinks the grass is always greener with a silver lining,do not many a muckle make it always darkest before the calm !!


Yee,you have been well and truely ....scammed,if it is any constilation,you will not be the last

ps Do not name any names here as it could go against you,if you try to taske any action against them

As said these companies can spend hundreds of thousands of £'s advertising and someone has to pay for it..looks like you have contributed well

There is no reason for all this work to be done without a quotation

imho

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Re: Have I been scammed? £1700 to replace two megalo heating elements + limescale red

the final,wise words on this thread i think,to the op a lesson learned