Tony,
Valid points, and well put...However, it isn't that simple...If you work for (let's say) Lloyds bank you will get paid (more or less) the same in Chichester as you would in Wolverhampton...(The yacht mooring is the same price wherever you live, and is optional anyway)...
True, a Ford dealer in Wolverhampton may charge a little less per hour than they do in Chichester but that is principally because the premises (rates, rent, mortgage) cost less rather than because the labour rate is less...
A plumber/heating engineer doesn't have a premises if they are working in your home (I accept that they may also have a shop, but that is unrelated to the engineering rate)...Their overheads are (give or take) the same...Van costs the same, fuel costs the same, road tax, tyres, even the plumbing supplies cost the same...
There are rip-off merchants in ALL trades...people who charge too much and/or provide substandard services or products...
In another thread I asked about a boiler...as in which model I should consider...I got several replies, but no two people recommended the same thing...
I was quoted (by a local firm) £2200+ vat to supply and fit a boiler (open vent, direct replacement into an existing installation)...I thought that excessive and (for me) totally unaffordable...
I bought the boiler (one of the models the firm were suggesting) for less than £1000 all-in including ALL the bits needed and several extras that, no doubt, had I accepted the £2200 quote, been extra to that...
I now have a heating engineer fitting the boiler for a quoted price of £300...Yes I've helped a bit (with wiring, hole drilling, etc) and yes, he is gas-safe registered and so far he has been fantastic...job isn't quite finished as he encountered a small unexpected problem and his last job at the weekend ran over, too, so he started a few hours later than intended...
Even if his final bill is double the initial estimate/quote (and I doubt it will be), then the whole job will still be over £1000 cheaper than the other quote....
By the way, another 2 plumbers failed to turn up to look/quote the job...
The OP asked a simple question...I tried to answer without saying it was too much (or too little) because I had no idea what the installation involved, either...It was up to him/her to make that judgement...
Saw an advert yesterday for a BG offer...£1700 to supply and fit a new boiler on a next day service...
And finally...although I agree, this site has some very useful advice, when it comes to gas, DIY is out of the question...