Builder overcharging?

[Erica123]

as long as he could diddle the 200 GBP out of you.

£200?

Yes, 200 Pound.

Should he have done the job for free then?

I wouldn't think that the only alternative to overcharging a customer is to do the job "for free".

 

[Erica123]

Those lower ranking office employees earn a fraction of the hourly rate of a tradesman.

How do you know?

Quite simple: office employees who sit around all day and chat or surf the net, won't make it into the top position.

If that was the only job he did that week then his hourly rate is diabolical and won't buy the kids a tin of beans.

Quite frankly Ureka you not only don't have a clue what it is like to be a jobbing tradesman but you are also talking out of your jacksy.

I'm sorry but as a customer I can't subsidise a tradesman who can't secure enough jobs to feed his family. Although I understand the "logic": If a tradesman only gets a job every now and then, he has to make "the most" of it and squeeze out as much as he can.

 

[Erica123]

To me the price seems a fair price for a days work be allowed for. He did what was asked within the agreed price didn't start making up extra jobs and charging double. OK he was there a shorter time than you expected still don't change the price. If he had taken twice as long as he allowed for and still only charged £200 you wouldn't be complaining. Like other have said get 3 prices if I was for example pricing to fit doors I would give a price per door now if it took 1 day or 5 days you would still be charged the same. As long as he turned up when he said did the job to a satisfactory standard and left the job neat and tidy I don't think there's much to complain about

Of course not. He'd done his job and I paid the 200 Pound as agreed. Nevertheless, in retrospect I realised that I'd paid a very high price for three and a half hours of work. Unfortunately, when you're dealing with tradesmen, you always have to expect to be clobbered. You can't be careful enough...

 

[wrightwoodwork]

If you don't mind me asking what did you expect to pay before he come and looked at the job

 

[noseall]

I wouldn't think that the only alternative to overcharging a customer is to do the job "for free".

You said "he diddled her out of £200".

So what should he have charged and how much then would that leave as the diddle amount?

I would have booked half a day plus expenses plus materials etc. How much do you think i would charge Ureka? What do you think is fair Ureka?

Unfortunately, when you're dealing with tradesmen, you always have to expect to be clobbered. You can't be careful enough...

You come across as misguided and bitter.
Seems to me like your resentment towards tradespeople as a whole is clouding your judgement.

 

[noseall]

I'm sorry but as a customer I can't subsidise a tradesman who can't secure enough jobs to feed his family.

So then you decline his quotation and say no thankyou.

Ultimately it is market forces that dictate what tradesman can and can not charge.

As you will be aware, finding a tradesman is not as easy as finding a garage. It's a minefield, and it can take a lot of time, patience and effort to find someone who's reasonably competent, trustworthy AND available. If you do get several quotes and you opt for the cheapest, you still don't know if this was a good decision before the job is completed. Often you have to rely on your "gut feeling", however reliable that is, and hope that you won't get ripped off.

Hilarious, absolute cracker!

I missed this little pearl and am astonished at the breathtaking arrogance.

You bleat on and moan about being ripped off then say it takes too much time and effort to sit at home and wait for tradesmen to drive out to your home and provide quotes in their free time.

You need to take that "gut feeling" to the nearest loo and have a good purge.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Me thinks Erica is a nightmare customer!

I will go to a customers property and give them a price for works to be completed which includes a no fix no fee policy,they will either say yes or no. End Of.

What ever I charge is completely up to me.
Also payment on completion, with a satisfied customer.

Andy

 

[Bosswhite]

Me thinks Erica is a nightmare customer!

I will go to a customers property and give them a price for works to be completed which includes a no fix no fee policy,they will either say yes or no. End Of.

What ever I charge is completely up to me.
Also payment on completion, with a satisfied customer.

Andy

Agreed a customer to be avoided,
if Erica walked into shop to buy a pair of shoes or handbag she pays the price on the sales ticket, She knows the price, "take it or leave it"
Why should a builder be any different

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I blame shows like cowboy builders. Maybe there should be a show called customers from hell. Erika would be perfect. I want you to do this that and and the next things. I don't want to give you that. I want to give you peanuts. I'm sorry put pay peanuts you get a monkey.

 

[Erica123]

If you don't mind me asking what did you expect to pay before he come and looked at the job

I didn't have a clue how much the job would cost. But I mentioned this before. This is the point where you have to rely on the tradesman to be honest and to give you a fair quote.

 

[limerockconstruction]

How many quotes did you get?

 

[wrightwoodwork]

If you don't mind me asking what did you expect to pay before he come and looked at the job

I didn't have a clue how much the job would cost. But I mentioned this before. This is the point where you have to rely on the tradesman to be honest and to give you a fair quote.

OK so you didn't have a clue this is why you should get quotes then you can see what is a fair price. A fair price might not be the cheapest they could be saying that to get in and then hit you with extras say it happens and the dearest is most always the best go for a price in the middle and let it be a lesson learned If Looked at a small I would price for a day now my price might be cheaper than the next price and it does not mean the next person is trying to rip you off it could be because the other person has larger overheads. You go out for a meal at a resteraraunt all charge direct and so do trades people

 

[Erica123]

I'm sorry but as a customer I can't subsidise a tradesman who can't secure enough jobs to feed his family.

So then you decline his quotation and say no thankyou.

Ultimately it is market forces that dictate what tradesman can and can not charge..

In this point you're right. Good tradesmen are few and far between, which leaves enough room for the competent ones to overcharge their customers. At the end of the day, and that's what comforts me, an overpriced but decent job is still better than a messed-up cowboy job.

As you will be aware, finding a tradesman is not as easy as finding a garage. It's a minefield, and it can take a lot of time, patience and effort to find someone who's reasonably competent, trustworthy AND available. If you do get several quotes and you opt for the cheapest, you still don't know if this was a good decision before the job is completed. Often you have to rely on your "gut feeling", however reliable that is, and hope that you won't get ripped off.

Hilarious, absolute cracker!

I missed this little pearl and am astonished at the breathtaking arrogance.

You bleat on and moan about being ripped off then say it takes too much time and effort to sit at home and wait for tradesmen to drive out to your home and provide quotes in their free time.

You have no idea, have you? Tradesmen don't come to your door whilst you're sitting around waiting. It can take weeks and weeks of trying to phone a tradesman, leaving messages and sending emails before the tradesman comes back to you, if you get a reply at all. In the course of events, this can mean months of delays.

 

[Erica123]

So what should he have charged and how much then would that leave as the diddle amount?

For half a day's work, 100 Pound is a good wage. I'd be very happy to earn that much.

I would have booked half a day plus expenses plus materials etc. How much do you think i would charge Ureka? What do you think is fair Ureka?

As mentioned above.

By the way, you seem to have problems with my (rather simple) name.

 

[Erica123]

You come across as misguided and bitter.
Seems to me like your resentment towards tradespeople as a whole is clouding your judgement.

No no, you're getting that wrong.

It's not about resenting tradesmen. In fact, a good tradesman can be a godsent.

However, there are lots of rogues and idiots out there, and if you don't want to learn the hard way by having your house messed up, you have to be watchful and sceptical.