Overcharging help please

[secret squirrel]

Can I play devils advocate here for a moment.......... Having recently been ripped off by an old woman who called me out at 8.40pm, I clearly didn't deserve the £40 I asked for.

Anyway thats a previous post and feels like a lifetime away. Yes, I realise what I'm going to put is controversial and will get some abuse.

Firstly, let me make it clear that I think the 2 bills are outrageous and cannot be justified. Thats that said.

Trying to keep this general:

Secondly, was there cohersion used? did the customer loose free will? was there bullying involve? were the costs explained up front? was the problem immediate? why weren't other quotes taken?

Thirdly,

Where were the customers relatives? its ok to shout the odds after the situation has ballooned out of all proportions but was the customer given the support she needed by the family at the time the customer needed it?

Lastly; what about the contractor? No one has heard from them, I'd like to invite them on to the forum to justify there costs and explain what happened from there prospective. As the customer stated in this case they have little or no plumbing experience.

I genuinely hope, I've not offended anyone and its not my intention to be inflammatory.

 

[david williams]

it will continue to happen,untill all plumbers have to be licenced and a body put in place to oversee it,good points raised by secret squirel,but the older person is quite easaly browbeaten into having the work done and paying in cash,was it reactfast useualy charge between£100 to £160 an hour.

 

[moony]

i know plumbers who charge 100 quid call out, so even if its a tap washer its 100 quid. rip off yeah but they have their ways of operating. may not get repeat business ? thing is though they go there and they sort it and thats their price. but the original poster here has been ripped off but if thats the price they agreed before they started the work then not much they can do.