Plumber leaves for parts / tool

[siouxchief]

Hi,

I had a plumber come out yesterday to cost a job and charge me a call out fee. His colleague turned up today and he said he is missing a part or tool so driving to building merchants. This will take 45 mins so at £55 a half hour cost me.

Do they charge for heading off for 45 mins and if so surely the initial call out should have forseen the lack of a part or tool or whatever he is gone out for?

Thanks

 

[endecotp]

You've paid a call-out charge for someone to quote for a job? That is surprising. Are they treating it as an emergency? What exactly are they doing?
On what basis have you now agreed to pay for the work?

 

[Phill Peck]

I think some plumbers have got a bit carried away with “call out charges”
Imo it’s not fair to turn up do nothing and charge.(some reasons that a charge would be applicable)

I don’t have a call out charge, depending on the type of work it’s either a higher rate for 1st half hour(we charge 1 hour at £90+vat for the 1st half hour) covers travel time and makes small jobs worth the journey.
If it’s for a boiler fault then we will charge a diagnostic visit. That is non time dependant but carries a £90+vat charge wether it takes 5 mins or 2 hours. At which point give a fixed price for repair.

 

[siouxchief]

What about heading away mid job for a "part" when replacing a sink tap? He is gone 90mins now and apparently it's £55 per half hour plus vat! Is that normal to charge for the away time, how do I even know where he is!

 

[Phill Peck]

What about heading away mid job for a "part" when replacing a sink tap? He is gone 90mins now and apparently it's £55 per half hour plus vat! Is that normal to charge for the away time, how do I even know where he is!

If I need to go and collect parts and return to fit then I would charge yes.
But in your situation it sounds as though a 1st visit has been made to asses what’s needed.
2nd visit unless there’s something unforeseen then he should have everything needed.
If I’m returning on a separate day to do the repair then I only charge for my time if I’ve had to make a special journey to collect parts.
If picked up locally or delivered then I don’t.
My boiler spares supplier is a 1hr round trip with no traffic. Plumbing parts I can pick up in the same town so would just do when passing.

 

[siouxchief]

Now gone 1hr 40mins and place he said he was going is a 20 minute drive with current traffic. Surely there is no specialist part for swapping a sink mixer tap too. Hate feeling like I'm being robbed.

 

[Phill Peck]

Now gone 1hr 40mins and place he said he was going is a 20 minute drive with current traffic. Surely there is no specialist part for swapping a sink mixer tap too. Hate feeling like I'm being robbed.

In fairness at this time of year suppliers stock levels arnt always great. He may have had to go to a second supplier.
If you feel something’s not right then ask him.
I can’t teally comment on the charges because each area and each plumber charges differently.
I’ve said what I charge

But tbh it does sound like he’s been upfront with you in terms of him saying I need to get x and it will cost x for me to go get it.
If he based that on being 45 mins and he’s been double that is he charging double that or sticking to the price he gave.

 

[siouxchief]

He didn't give a price for getting the part just said it's 20 minutes away and now gone 2 hours. I just know they charge £55 per half hour so the longer the better for him. He also fixed kitchen sink pipework in 10 mins using no parts although his colleague last night said it would be £90 for parts so obviously was talking rubbish not to mention he didn't highlight to this guy he needed something specific in his initial analysis.

 

[banjodeano]

I think some plumbers have got a bit carried away with “call out charges”
Imo it’s not fair to turn up do nothing and charge.(some reasons that a charge would be applicable)

I don’t have a call out charge, depending on the type of work it’s either a higher rate for 1st half hour(we charge 1 hour at £90+vat for the 1st half hour) covers travel time and makes small jobs worth the journey.
If it’s for a boiler fault then we will charge a diagnostic visit. That is non time dependant but carries a £90+vat charge wether it takes 5 mins or 2 hours. At which point give a fixed price for repair.

if someone calls you about a job, do you make them aware of your charges? or is the onus on the customer to ask?

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Sounds like one of those AAAAAAAAAAAAA11111111 EMERGENCY PLUMBERS type that used to get their place right at the start of the plumbers listings in Yellow Pages. Cranking up the number of hours and charging per half hour never a good sign.

Hope I'm wrong and these came recommended by a friend, colleague or neighbour.

Also hoping he's back soon. or he'll be into his out of hours hourly rate!

 

[siouxchief]

Unfortunately just Googled them but seem like gangsters. Still no sign of him. Could have driven to London and back in this time. Gonna say nothing until job finished and will see what invoice says maybe.

 

[Phill Peck]

Always told upfront.
Saves difficult/awkward conversations.

For boiler repairs they are told £90+vat(£108) to diagnose regardless of time.
They will then be given a fixed price to carry out the repair once I’ve diagnosed and assessed.

Imo can’t get any fairer.
There will be no unexpected costs

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Please keep us informed of the outcome.

 

[Notch7]

Lets hope you arent being marched down to the cash point at this very moment!

 

[HERTS P&D]

Name and shame!

Andy