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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to quibble this bill

82 replies

Sillyscrabblegames · 28/12/2019 15:15

Plumber quoted for two days work, lots of different tasks including connecting up several fittings and running new pipework.

He worked one day, didn't finish the whole job, and got something wrong so dh had to redo some work and then finish off the job.

He has now invoiced for the full amount.

Dh doesn't want to pay full amount as it just wasn't good enough and he spent half the time quoted for here anyway. So he offered him one day rate. (the rate is all laid out on the invoice for each day)

Plumber chap not happy with the situation and so has come back to say it was a long day with no breaks so he wants that reflected. And also it will take a few hours for him to sort the building control paperwork for the job as it included wiring in an extractor fan. He will do this from home and that is why there are two days on the invoice.

Dh offered him full day rate plus a pro rata amount extra to reflect extra long day (he was here from 10 to 6).

He then comes back to say also we need to add 20%onto the whole bill as he has to pay the person who gave us his number a fee for matching him up with us. I have never heard of this arrangement before and I don't think it has anything to do with us.

I think he is a cf.

Are we being unreasonable or are we right to be quibbling this?

OP posts:
JKScot4 · 28/12/2019 17:35

I think you need to contact the previous guy who recommends him and ask him some questions.

flouncyfanny · 28/12/2019 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flouncyfanny · 28/12/2019 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DarlingNikita · 28/12/2019 17:53

10-6 is an extra long day Grin
Tell him no fucking way. Don’t even acknowledge the ‘finder’sfee’ rubbish.

kateandme · 28/12/2019 17:54

are you friendly with the bloke who rec. him.because i wouldnt want him to get a bad name if he continued to do so with other.so could you show him what hes been doing.
i understand you dont want to get futher involved with this (your right in all youve said) and also if this means your previous bloke is cf too.but if he is a mate.

cultmaskid · 28/12/2019 17:55

You usually have 'M&E businesses on site they do the plumbing and electric but it's always a gas safe plumber and an electrician niciec working together but don't have each other's qualifications
My husband is gas safe wires in related plumbing extractors if he does bathrooms or hobs but it's not the normal to be qualified in both as they are both so broad

If it's not in an extension that's brand new / attic conversion I've no idea why he would register it it sounds like he is trying to justify his costs

Don't pay that finders fee

And ask him to send a copy of said certificate
I would check he was actually safe to do anything with gas too if he touched that

Ontheboardwalk · 28/12/2019 17:55

£200 a day for someone who is both a plumber and electrician sounds very cheap, especially for work that needs certification doing.

Has he said what the certification is for?

cultmaskid · 28/12/2019 17:56

That's what I was thinking
Ask for his gas safe reg number and the electrical niceic one too

cdtaylornats · 28/12/2019 17:56

Seems simple pay 1 day and do the building control paperwork yourself

gilchrist168 · 28/12/2019 18:27

Ask for his gas safe reg number and the electrical niceic one too
Good post. My guess is he won't have both.
Also, you can check with both organisations to see if he is registered with them.
Perhaps tell him that, if he is so persistent and see what he says.

Original poster
Sillyscrabblegames · 28/12/2019 18:55

He didn't do anything to do with gas.
He says the certification is because he had to put a new circuit it for extractor.
I don't want to be unreasonable about this whole thing.
Does anyone know if half day charge is reasonable for a building control notice for this?

OP posts:
cultmaskid · 28/12/2019 19:07

I'm thinking he wants that 20% to pay his mate who's the electrician to do the paper work for the new circuit..
Ask him for his NICEIC number now
Before you pay the bill
That will clear up what this 20% is for ... he sounds like a fraud

Ontheboardwalk · 29/12/2019 11:53

Sillyscrabblegames I’ve just had a look on Google and it seems a certificate is needed if he put a new circuit in a ‘special location’ such as a bathroom or outdoors

Was it like for like replacing an existing extractor fan or was it a new one?

I would expect the time for the certificate (if needed) to be in origins, quote

Original poster
Sillyscrabblegames · 15/01/2020 20:42

This saga rumbles on.
He then decided that he couldn't actually provide the certificate after all because addition work would be needed to do that. He wants to charge us 300 for this additional work.
Having looked closer at the invoice we also became aware that he has charged us for entire lengths and packs and reels of materials when only part was used on our job. He has then taken away all the left over material. Probably to charge someone else for it. Is that normal practice or is this more cf?
Dh challenged him on this and he said its just the way he does his pricing and its normal and so he doesn't charge for the time it takes to pick the materials up. Well he already told us he did charge for the time and that justified his extra long day charge...

He now wants to come over to talk it through and come to an agreement. We are at a loss on how to resolve this. Only he can give the certificate. Shall we just write it off and give him a final offer for time spent on the job.
It seems pointless discussing anything with him as he is completely dishonest and full of tricks!

OP posts:
WhatsTheLatest · 26/01/2020 00:13

What did you decide to do @sillyscrabblegames?

Surplus2requirements · 26/01/2020 03:25

@Sillyscrabblegames I'm afraid it's pretty standard for plumbers to make on materials, either by not passing on the trade discount they get or by taking away over ordered materials. Lots will even refuse to do the work unless they buy in the materials themselves for this reason.

As a general builder who does a lot of plumbing I've no idea how they get away with it.

I may be wrong but I suspect he isn't certified as a sparks and has an arrangement with a mate to sign off his work for a fee. It's shockingly (excuse the pun) common practice and it's being dressed up as a finders fee.

An extractor circuit is very simple and you'd have to try hard to get it wrong, feed (normally from light or light switch), through an isolator switch to extractor. Certifying it takes moments (though chasing after a mate and chucking him a bung may take a while) but if it's a new circuit it does need certifying. Fitting a new extractor alone doesn't.

If the extra unexpected work was wiring then that could explain why he's making things up to get the extra he'll need to provide you with a cert and still get his day rate.

If I'm right the only saving grace is if he'd said this is an unexpected extra to the quote and done it properly by getting a certified sparky in it would have cost a lot more.

It's up to you what you do but I'd probably give the day rate and allow a little negotiated extra to avoid bad feeling and move on.

Whatever you decide, good luck

EL8888 · 26/01/2020 03:35

10-6 is no way a long day. Standard day at best and a short day for many. Finders fee?!!!? Yeah all sounds CF to me. Don’t put up with this nonsense

PerkyPomPoms · 26/01/2020 03:54

He’s ripping you off

Fr0g · 26/01/2020 03:56

Did he quote a day rate, or to do specific tasks?

If you do as PP suggested and pay by cheque, write "in full and final settlement" on the back of the cheque. It's not watertight, but if plumber banks it without objection, he cant come back for the balance.

Yeahnah2020 · 26/01/2020 06:59

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yogo · 26/01/2020 07:11

Why would he be a traveller? @yeah.

SunshineCake · 26/01/2020 07:45

What a mess

I just hope everything is safe.

Zoecarter · 26/01/2020 07:51

If he has quoted 2 days work and Half way threw a job your husband decided to finish the job and he wasn’t given an opportunity to come back the next day you are being out of order. As self employed he has lost a days work where he could of been with another customer. It is disgusting what you have done. I feel like he has got it to a certain point and your husband has been like oh I can take over now.

R2519 · 26/01/2020 08:20

@Zoecarter. FFS, You clearly don’t bother reading properly do you!! OP clearly stated he rushed everything in 1 day, made mistakes then couldn’t come back until after Xmas even though he had arranged 2 days consecutive work. He had double booked himself and OP needed it done before Xmas, he couldn’t do it and sort out what he had screwed up so her DH has to sort it out!

Raindancer411 · 26/01/2020 08:22

I would get some advice from CAB on where you stand. They should be able to guide you but to me it sounds like he is trying his luck. 10-6 isn't a long day. He must leave you left over materials if you have paid for the whole thing. I cannot see paperwork taking half a day (but I don't know the field but it just seems too much)