Maintenance Work - plumbing price???

[diyplumber1980]

Hi all, I've been asked to do some maintenance work for a local estate agents.

They asked me to change a low level cistern as it was broken, and change the flush also. I changed all this and charged £50 for the materials and £90 for the labour. The landlord then kicked up a fuss saying this charge was far too high. But I felt it was a fair price considering the dirty nature the toilet was left in by the previous tenant.

 

[adlplumbing]

call out is 40 for me other charge more
so 50 for doing the job not bad

 

[Fluffster]

That is a very good price you charged. Never mind the landlord you were contracted out by the Estate agents.
I never work for estate agents anymore been stung several times by different ones from not paying to argueing the price and than charging the landlord full price.

The landlord is probably peed off with the undisclosed admin charge the agents have levied on this job which maybe even more than your labour charge.

Pete

 

[Agile]

You are clearly not a professional or experienced tradesman otherwise you would have known that you quote in advance and have that accepted in writing BEFORE you do any work.

I agree that its a reasonable charge but that is not the point!

You started the work and then charged a price that has not been agreed. Its totally your fault and you might need to take them to court.

Its also partly their fault for not checking the price first and in a court you would probably win if you can speak clearly and put forward your case.

ALWAYS quote your price ( or basis of charging ) BEFORE you start any work.

Tony

 

[lukejames]

Most of us have learnt not to work for estate/ Letting agents . Scum of the earth in my opinion.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Had an email today from a landlord (decent one too) saying that the tenant had asked for a copy of the boiler manual and she needed the model.

My reply. ...

nothing good will come of it.

Tenant had been hopping up and down because the heating wasn't working.

All but one rad turned off.


Love those jobs.

 

[diyplumber1980]

You are clearly not a professional or experienced tradesman otherwise you would have known that you quote in advance and have that accepted in writing BEFORE you do any work.

I agree that its a reasonable charge but that is not the point!

You started the work and then charged a price that has not been agreed. Its totally your fault and you might need to take them to court.

Its also partly their fault for not checking the price first and in a court you would probably win if you can speak clearly and put forward your case.

ALWAYS quote your price ( or basis of charging ) BEFORE you start any work.

Tony

Tony I have never claimed to be a professional or experienced tradesman! I've always been good at DIY type work and recently did a short plumbing course. So have been asked by friends and fam to do a few odd jobs here and there.

I quoted the price before doing the job. The landlord agreed to the price and gave the go ahead. But he kicked off afterwards after seeing the before and after photos, claiming it was only a minor job and I should not have charged so much. (i was tempted to phone him and ask him to pay my bills, as they seem to think we work to do these people a favour, that tradespeople dont have a living to make!) As I have no experience in dealing with full paying customers, I came here to ask you guys if you feel the price was too high.

 

[CBF]

I'm slightly confused, if you had to change the cistern then it would have come with a new syphon or was it another one you had to change ?

 

[Whitespirit66]

Just confirms my attitude to working for landlords/agents. Never.

Aggro getting access.
Aggro over quote/price
Aggro getting paid.

No way José!