Q for the plumbers - not paying you due to wishy washy invoice?

[Mr. Clueless]

So I had a plumber come out to fix my boiler. Nice enough guy. Quick with the replies. Looking back I think he was sewing the seeds on his pricing perhaps (we got chatting about work & story short he said it's quite dear for plumbers & plumbing parts around our way & much cheaper down south, which I found a bit back to front).

Told me the repair would cost "a few £100" as it's a dear part causing the leak. Few days later he sends me the quote. Bit more than I thought it'd be.
Then when I got home to reply I spotted in his text .... he's one of these +VAT talkers (a huge pet peeve of mine) so it worked out that the fix was just over £500. Needed the leak sorting so said ok.

All in all he was at the house around 1hr-ish.

I send over my email for the invoice & more days than I expected later he finally emails the invoice through.

Description - "boiler repair".

No mention of what parts were replaced, no mention of what else was done (he mentioned that while he was in there then he may as well do xyz since he has access). No mention of duration & labour cost for this duration.
Just "boiler repair" & the total amount owed to be paid by in a few days time.

I've had numerous in my ear telling me the guy was really quite dear for what he's done (a manifold was mentioned on initial inspection & some plastic part). That aside - I accepted his price so it was what it was.

I'd like to know what ACTUAL work was carried out though. 1) for my own records because I'll forget otherwise, as I'm not even sure right now exactly what was done 2) if anything goes iffy in the near future then I know XYZ was done rather than me asking what was done 3) I assume the parts/work come with some kind of warranty but maybe they don't.

So I sent off a response email asking for either an updated invoice or just a response email to details the actual work carried out so that I know what was done. I've not yet paid him (because if I do then he has no incentive to give me this detail). I have no problem paying him, I just want the info.

So plumbers, if a customer requested this, do you think this is being unreasonable? Do you detail your invoices or do you also put wishy washy descriptions? I don't actually know the norm.


Side note - how much would you expect for a service? On a Worcester boiler. This chap said he'd charge £125. Now as he's clearly a +VAT talker, I don't actually know if that's £125+VAT or inc. VAT.
Our previous was £70-£80inc. VAT.
I spoke to another plumber who came to where I work & he said his company charge £80+VAT.
So this guy based on just 2 other plumbers seems really quite dear. Or maybe they're just really cheap.

 

[BigSnoopy01]

Worcester boiler service depends on parts but its normally £70 to £90 plus parts. Most models need electrodes, burner seals every 4 to 7 years ideally. If its a compact it needs opening and flushing every 2 to 3 years so new seals then.

As for invoice I list all parts fitted. If you want a price breakdown I explain my parts price includes my markup for warranty and business costs ontop so you know why the price may be slightly higher than a googled price.

 

[CountryFan]

Worcester fixed price repair might have been cheaper, sounds like a hydro block/manifold, if left hand, that’s quite expensive as the part is only approx £30. If right hand block then price still dear but not as bad, depends what else he’s done. As for a breakdown it’s not unreasonable.

 

[Mr. Clueless]

Thanks for feedback on the warranty. It's a Greenstar 25 or 30 Si.

Also I'm aware (although I was only aware AFTER giving him the go ahead) of this fixed price repair & how it would've been cheaper, although allegedly that would've carried the risk of them deeming it beyond economical to repair & maybe they wouldn't have done it & I'd have been hit with a callout fee & then needed to get someone to fix it on top of that.

Whether that's true or not I don't know.

The situation I was in was I had a boiler leaking minimum 2 litres per day & it had already started staining the ceiling of the room below. I wasn't using the timewaster of a plumber we'd been using (was decent to begin with but then started to take the wee-wee over time) & just picked someone local. I wanted it done quick, he did it quick. I was also on a limited timeframe due to annual leave so it was also a short notice, short window job.

Regards where the leak was coming from - as you look at the boiler it was rearmost on the right hand side. Now whether it was leaking from there or leaking elsewhere & tracking there, I've no idea. It was also cold water too & the leak did not impact the boiler pressure whatsoever.


I also don't wish to challenge him on his price. I'm not interested. I'm well aware that he's likely on the dear end but I had the option of saying no. It was my choice to go ahead. I just want a breakdown of the job, materials etc.

Although in a few days we'll be at his deadline with no payment. I suppose he'll be in touch then.