To not believe a word these plumbers say anymore?

[petal2008]

Need a not insignificant job doing. Will take about three days and cost about £2000 so not just a dripping tap.

They arrange to quote but don't turn up. Dont't return calls etc.

Eventually got someone to quote, a week later than arranged due to some excuse.

He was supposed to start today but now had the "excuse" text.

DH and I have rearranged shifts for this so am so very pissed off. Feel like telling him to shove quote.

How do these people run a business? I have had the most pathetic excuses and now don't believe any.

Because they can cancel by text it's easier to let people down now. My text back was a bit curt. DH thought I should have been more sympathetic.

I think they all do it. They will be doing another job and then come to you for a few days and then disappear again. All cash in hand of course.

You need to find someone different. Anyone who messes you around is not worth it. Stick a review of them online saying the lack of notice etc. there are good guys out there

There are SO many tradesmen like this. It's why it's such a godsend when you find someone good.

As a general rule, get rid at the first sign of flakiness because it will only ever get worse.

Seriously, having just finished with a tradesman who absolutely took the piss - get rid!

Find someone who actually wants your work and treats you and your time with respect. It sounds silly but it's horrible to have people working on your home when you have bad experiences with them - the memories linger!

By the way, I found when I stopped being sympathetic and kind the job actually got done. I wish I'd just gotten rid earlier but I'll know for the future!

A few years back, I had a new kitchen installed while I was on holiday, with the plumbing done last. I got back on the evening of a bank holiday Monday and was surprised to get a knock on the door at about 10pm. It was the lead contractor, wanting to check the kitchen because - he said ominously while staring intently at my U-bend - " you can never trust a plumber "

hahah amicissimma, did you challenge him on it?!

I had a horrendous one the last few weeks. He;

• didn't turn up for a paid job (that he had tried to reschedule and I couldn't) due to an 'emergency police callout . His 'dead phone battery' meant obviously he couldn't call to tell me about the emergency callout until the next day. Obviously this callout was very unfortunate for him as he had been out with friends that lunchtime which is why he wanted to reschedule the job in the first place. Poor lamb
• then didn't turn up to the reschedule due to a late-running job
• then dislocated his knee (I think that one might actually have been true!)
• turned up 3 hours late for the final reschedule due to 'traffic'
• went AWOL for 2 hours when popping to B+Q (10 mins away). When I called him to find out where he was, he text to say his tyre had burst and he had to 'keep the line clear for the RAC to call'. Amazingly, when I text back to say I was leaving the house as planned at 2pm and he could collect his tools when I was free that evening, his tyre was magically fixed and he was able to return Amazingly efficient service the RAC provide these days!

He did finally finish the job, but not before wasting about 10-15 hours of my time in total.

Never again

A plumber I used a few years ago parked his van in a disabled spot on my road. He got a £70 ticket which he added to my bill! I refused to pay and he went into some rant about how he was a 'nice guy' and I was taking advantage of him and that it never pays to help people out because bitches like me will always take the piss.

If he is messing you around before he even starts the job then whats he going to be like if there is a problem after it has been done and already has your money ?

We had the opposite - thankfully...
called a plumber to quote for a job, (2 taps, 2 radiators)
turned up on time -
took his boots off at the door,
provided a reasonable quote,
said it was an easy job,
arranged a date that was convenient to us,
then turned up when he said he would (after phoning to check)
and did the job for the price he quoted,
tidied up
and then checked by phone 4 days later to make sure all was still ok!

guess who we are now getting to fit our new boiler next year!!

I can't even describe the utter nightmare I have had getting the bathroom done. The kitchen needs doing next and I just can't face it. Clearly there's too much work out there for plumbers/bathroom fitters. The only decent one was my plasterer.

Plumbers are mostly unreliable, lazy, work-shy git bags. I speak from experience. I would look for another plumber and tell this one that he can shove it up his U-Bend!

Justashopgirl
you any where near South Wales? I'm looking for a plumber. Had two out to quote to change sink and toliet in downstairs loo and service boiler and put some TRVs on two radiators. One showed up to quote but no quote ever came. The other came and changed the toilet (now white) but never came back to change the sink (still beige), boiler and TRVs still not serviced/changed.

Yes I'm afraid you are right ChippingInLatteLover at the moment there is too much work around.

The building industry in general is facing awful skill shortages and because of changes to the building regulations many jobs previously done by unregistered plumbers and other trades now have to be certified and checked so all the registered people are in even more demand leaving the less reputable free to pick and choose domestic projects.

Closure of many courses run by local FE colleges thus forcing potential plumbers, electricians and so on to go to (expensive) private sector training companies of course has not helped the situation at all.

Sorry Ruhrpott - in Gloucestershire...which is just over the border from bits of S wales I guess..but mine only cover N Gloucestershire - Basically Cheltenham and the Cotswolds

Trustatrader.com is quite good to get reliable plumbers ect. They tend to be reliable due to fear of bad reviews. It's worked for me so far :-)

Hi, would you mind sharing the name of your lovely plumber? I live in Cheltenham. Many thanks

Hiya, it is Cotswold Plumbers - they deserve a shout! Really cannot recommend them enough - so professional, hope you don't put too much work their way - I neeeeeed them next year!

My area has a (whisper it) FB page for local news - people often ask for recommendations for various trades, which usually get 20 or so recommendations -- so if 10 are for the same person/firm with 5 or 6 others, that's the one to go for...
I've just had my bathroom completely replaced - followed this method and now have a fabulous local firm who will do a wide range of jobs quickly, on time and at a reasonable price...

It's very satisfying when you come across reliable, professional tradesmen. A local firm of plumbers fitted my bathroom four years ago and have just done my neighbour's on my recommendation. They are coming back this week to service my boiler. They aren't the cheapest but far and away the best value.

A local electrician I chanced upon recently was a real find. I only needed a lighing circuit checked as I thought there was a fault. There wasn't but he spent a good hour thoroughly examining fuses and fittings and explaining his findings in plain language. All for £35.00. Then he installed the new light fitting and returned a week later to rectify a problem of someone else's doing which he'd spotted. No extra charge. And he never stops talking which I don't mind because he clearly likes his customers and loves his work. Great man to know.

I can recommend an ace plumber I'm the Bromsgrove area!

We've had our plumber for 22 years. He's replaced cylinders, pumps, radiators and come out in the middle of the night to sort a burst rising main.

Coversely, our kitchen fitters managed to install a 1.5 sink trap and over flow backwards. Bloody glad I'd already done the tap outlets before they arrived.

Thanks, JustAShopGirl