Just been accused of being a rip-off merchant.

[Destroyer2813]

Ive just been out and sorted out a leak for amate who had screwed through one of the pipes in his bathroom,and charged him a slice of cake and a cup of tea and i to over priced 🙂

 

[AWheating]

Emergency call. Leak coming through ceiling. 40 gallon CWSC sitting on chipboard buckling so bad it probably had minutes left before it came through their ceiling. Didn't discuss price, just set about draining it pronto through taps and through syphoning via hose into buckets. Cut cold in, add isolator so they can put water back on. Remove connections to cistern, pull to one side, confirm base crumbling to pieces. Measure up for replacement. 1hr 15mins.

£50.

"Really? That's a bit steep isn't it?"

you have not charge enough, please go back around and request more money!!

 

[WaterTight]

The bloke just phoned me up to have another go. I left a message on his answerphone on friday asking him to phone me if he wanted a price for finishing job but saying I might need to order a tank to fit the space. He phoned me specifically to ask me to repeat my message to him, which I did and then told me he'd bought one himself, done it himself and then said bye and hung up. The guy must genuinely think I'm a con-man and is still reeling from my £50 charge. And now he's done it himself without getting any quotes and seeing how much plumbing work costs he will go on thinking this. Wonderful. I've half a mind to print this thread off and post it through his letterbox.

 

[Paulus]

I had a call from a mate yesterday who asked me how much I would charge for fitting a new float valve to toilet cistern. He had to have a new one fitted whilst I was away on holiday. A local company charged him £160, I would have charged about £30 even if he wasn't a mate.

You undervalue yourself mate, you did the job for a low price. The guy is a waste of space and you're lucky to lose him as a customer.

 

[BLOD]

You undervalue yourself mate, you did the job for a low price. The guy is a waste of space and you're lucky to lose him as a customer.

spot on - it's frustrating but just put it down to experience.

 

[Resolute]

The bloke just phoned me up to have another go. I left a message on his answerphone on friday asking him to phone me if he wanted a price for finishing job but saying I might need to order a tank to fit the space. He phoned me specifically to ask me to repeat my message to him, which I did and then told me he'd bought one himself, done it himself and then said bye and hung up. The guy must genuinely think I'm a con-man and is still reeling from my £50 charge. And now he's done it himself without getting any quotes and seeing how much plumbing work costs he will go on thinking this. Wonderful. I've half a mind to print this thread off and post it through his letterbox.

Ignore it, he'd probably be a nightmare customer to work for anyway.

I'm surprised he called you out though if he's capable of fitting a new one himself!

 

[AWheating]

Hopefully the new tank will come through his ceiling and cause thousands of pounds worth of damage, and then if he phones you back up for help you can laugh at him down the phone and tell him to jog on.

 

[SimonG]

What a tool, your well out of that one watertight. Bask in the light of the fact he thinks you ripped him off, even though your charge was more than reasonable.

Spread the word to all the tradesmen you know about customer x, that if he ever rings its at least 1.5 a normal job but I would go double and have the camera ready on the mobile.

I'd then just forget about it, it's obviously keeping him up at night if he feels the need to phone you up and go on like a prize plank.

 

[GQuigley67]

sounds like a tight arsed old git

 

[Resolute]

sounds like a tight arsed old git

Straight to the point!

 

[baronwills]

You are well rid of customers like that. They think that the 50quid he just paid you goes straight in your back pocket, tax free, and you'll be off down the pub having a laugh at his expense. They dont seem to understand that, yes, you do pay tax, keep a van on the road, pay for insurances, tools, gsr etc.

Even though times are tough for a lot of us, its just not worth getting involved with tossers like that.

 

[cr0ft]

Customers like that make me laugh to be honest. It really is amazing how little idea some people have of the actual costs of running your own business. +1 to being best not dealing with him again!

 

[pjgas]

and they say southerners have no sense of humour nice one bye the bye £100 undercutting yourself

 

[glenno1]

50 for job id be happy i didnt have to pay for ceiling carpets and treasured possessions and still have to get the job done

 

[leelister6]

Just talking to a woman in the street where we been working and she just asked me for a price to fit a cooker, tells her £45 if its one in one out and you would have thought I'd just asked her for a blowie!! "It'll only take you 5 minutes!" she says. I said "Have a phone round love and get some prices then pop back along and tell me what they said" Saw her an hour later and she wanted to book the job in so I said "It's gonna be £60 cos I'll have to come all the way back tomorrow just for 5 minutes!"

 

[Resolute]

Just talking to a woman in the street where we been working and she just asked me for a price to fit a cooker, tells her £45 if its one in one out and you would have thought I'd just asked her for a blowie!! "It'll only take you 5 minutes!" she says. I said "Have a phone round love and get some prices then pop back along and tell me what they said" Saw her an hour later and she wanted to book the job in so I said "It's gonna be £60 cos I'll have to come all the way back tomorrow just for 5 minutes!"

Priceless - did she go for it?

 

[GQuigley67]

I had that when a woman phoned up about a cooker, told her it would be £45 minimum and I'd preferably do it n 1 day, she wanted me to come disconnect and then go back another day and reconnect, i refused and said no it will be cheaper for you and easier for me to do it in the 1 day, she said oh its ok I've got someone doing it for £40 for 2 visits thanks anyway ! well good for you !!

 

[CES]

I had that when a woman phoned up about a cooker, told her it would be £45 minimum and I'd preferably do it n 1 day, she wanted me to come disconnect and then go back another day and reconnect, i refused and said no it will be cheaper for you and easier for me to do it in the 1 day, she said oh its ok I've got someone doing it for £40 for 2 visits thanks anyway ! well good for you !!

Ill listen out for the explosion..

 

[glenno1]

so thats 4 minute tightness test and 1 minute to fit cooker.she needs to phone a magician

 

[GQuigley67]

typical woman, no sense of how long things take, not all of them of course:stuart:......... (better put that part in to keep the PC brigade happy):6:

 

[yorkshiregasman]

Sign of the times though don't you think - more and more lately I've got people calling me wanting stuff done but they are quick to say how skint they are! Had some refuse to pay me once the job was finished. Price agreed up front and only if I don't get any vibes they aren't going to mess me about. Only way to go....

 

[leelister6]

Just read this on Sheffield forum and had to post it on here!


I am just interested as I have finally managed to receive a quote for my new boiler after all the recommended Boiler men on here have never got back to me, the quote is for £2,500 + VAT, I have looked the boiler up which they have recommended this is £716 + VAT to purchase let's assume another £300 + VAT is required in pipework which I doubt this leaves £1,500 + VAT labour for one days work, does this sound about right?

This is the rubbish we all have to deal with so I replied thus:

I suppose you could spend 5 years at college part time while doing an apprenticeship then buy a van and insure, tax and test it, buy 2 or 3 grandsworth of tools then throw £4500 at a gas training course then £500 to register with gas safe, then you could do it yourself and tell us all we're charging too much eh?!

I despair sometimes, I really do! :rolleyes4:

 

[armourer]

Nice reply.
I think that's half the problem Joe public just do not understand the overheads just to be in this business.

I think they still compare us to other manual trades. While most of them are still skilled, they have no where near the legislation we have to follow.

 

[dontknowitall]

I bet the £716+VAT for the boiler doesn't include the flue, programmer, possible new stat and/or zone valves, possible wiring centre, possible new wiring, cleanser with visit, inhibitor.

I except it's around £500 more than would be charged around where I live but much of my pricing also depends on the customer - the nicer and more patient/co-operative they are the lower the price. For example if they ask if it could be done in 3-4 weeks as opposed to in 4 days my price will be lower. If they offer a cuppa when I first look at the installation, that goes down well.

 

[SimonG]

.........or any profit.

Customers forget that not only do we want a wage out of it but also for the business to be profitable, not to mention pension, money aside for when you are off on your hols not getting paid etc.

 

[mikegas]

A lot of plumbers don't even understand this and wonder why there barely staying afloat

 

[dontknowitall]

.........or any profit.

Customers forget that not only do we want a wage out of it but also for the business to be profitable, not to mention pension, money aside for when you are off on your hols not getting paid etc.

I thought money put aside was for registration fees, bank account fees, accountant fees, enforced public liability insurance, saving up for the MCS and nothing to do with holidays.

Maybe this is why I can't afford to go on hols, let alone eat?

 

[SimonG]

That was the etc.! 🙂

Much on?

 

[dontknowitall]

Much on?

Fantastic week!

Hardly anything, which is great during school hols.

Jobs appearing in pipeline for start of term, which is good.

Have you had some sensible customers asking you to do their boiler service? Had quite a few recently so now they're set up for winter.

 

[SimonG]

Had a couple, picked up a few new ones as well on my travels. But it seems as though more people are deferring the service until it goes pop.
I try and educate people that it's a good idea to have a service in July/August/September rather than silly season, but it's hard work.
I have a spare day next month when I have 6 to do. When people's boilers do go pop though the ones who have regular services will be top of the pile.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Just read this on Sheffield forum and had to post it on here!


I am just interested as I have finally managed to receive a quote for my new boiler after all the recommended Boiler men on here have never got back to me, the quote is for £2,500 + VAT, I have looked the boiler up which they have recommended this is £716 + VAT to purchase let's assume another £300 + VAT is required in pipework which I doubt this leaves £1,500 + VAT labour for one days work, does this sound about right?

Should have told them to get a quote from BG then seen what here response was

 

[mubesjnr]

Not only have I been accused of being a rip off merchant but they won't pay.....called to replace a leaking indirect cylinder. Nothing special a 900x450 open vented on an s-plan C/H set up. Thing was the cylinder had been jammed in an airing cubpoard with all the C/H motorised valves and the pump right in the front so they all had to come out to gain access to get the cylinder out. This was explained to them and the fact that this would all have to be done in that sequntial order.....no magic wand! Quoted the reactive maintenance hourly rate of a figure, including new parts of approximatly £500. Took two full days in the end as new pipework had to be fabricated to satisfy the new orientation of the primary coil F/R and the fact that the existing set up kept leaking when powered back up and twice the female 1" x 22mm coupler on the return of the primary coil kept weaping. Obviously, not being able to pinch up the union I had to drain down, remove motorised valves and pump just to manipulate the effing coupler every time. So have presented a bill at the installation rate of £280/day plus the parts FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR THEM DIRECT FROM THE SUPPLIER and the c**t won't pay. No sound reason has been given other than the final figure is high than was quoted for. How the hell do you get your money from these types of people?

 

[leelister6]

Extreme violence? Filler foam in stopcock hole?

 

[CES]

Not only have I been accused of being a rip off merchant but they won't pay.....called to replace a leaking indirect cylinder. Nothing special a 900x450 open vented on an s-plan C/H set up. Thing was the cylinder had been jammed in an airing cubpoard with all the C/H motorised valves and the pump right in the front so they all had to come out to gain access to get the cylinder out. This was explained to them and the fact that this would all have to be done in that sequntial order.....no magic wand! Quoted the reactive maintenance hourly rate of a figure, including new parts of approximatly £500. Took two full days in the end as new pipework had to be fabricated to satisfy the new orientation of the primary coil F/R and the fact that the existing set up kept leaking when powered back up and twice the female 1" x 22mm coupler on the return of the primary coil kept weaping. Obviously, not being able to pinch up the union I had to drain down, remove motorised valves and pump just to manipulate the effing coupler every time. So have presented a bill at the installation rate of £280/day plus the parts FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR THEM DIRECT FROM THE SUPPLIER and the c**t won't pay. No sound reason has been given other than the final figure is high than was quoted for. How the hell do you get your money from these types of people?

Send them an invoice in writing with your terms and conditions. I would also advise them that goods supplied belong to you until paid for in full, so if they wont pay then threaten to reclaim your materials back. Obviously dont wade in with the spanners going but I would strongly advise them to settle the bill, failing that accept part payment of your quoted figure and pursue them through the courts for the rest. The only thing I would say is that some people will act upon the doorstep selling regs where you need them to sign off their 7 days cooling off period. If you havent given them that opportunity then it could get nasty. Good luck

 

[WaterTight]

I had the exact opposite experience today. Went round a 90-odd yr old man's house. Him and his wife both very much feeling their age, but friendly, happy. He was an ex-gas fitter so knew about pipes and joints and stuff but was "too old" to sort out his leaking WC. Replaced inlet piping, added isolator, re-alligned float valve which had been twisted until it didn't work. £50. They were delighted with price, she said she'd "recommend me to anyone" and he gave me a £20 tip. And you could tell from the house that was no small amount for them. Customers come in all types.