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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Plumber being unreasonable or me?

39 replies

Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 19:56

I rang a plumber for a quote. He came over and said that he didn't know how much a part would cost so could not tell me a price. I asked if he could find out and let me know. He agreed and said he needed to take the old part to show the merchants. The next day he asked when he could do the job. I explained that I needed a price first. He told me (it was alot), I explained I would talk with my husband first and ring him in the morning. He shouted at me saying that," I had wasted his time. He made a journey and bought the part." I never asked him to do this, I wanted a quote. Am I being unreasonable? Also he still has my part which makes it difficult for the next plumber.

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 14/01/2020 19:58

HIBU.

SagaBauer · 14/01/2020 20:01

What a dick. Bet he took the part deliberately. I wouldn't use him, I'd get another quote!

PlanDeRaccordement · 14/01/2020 20:01

He took the part hostage. I’d complain. He could have taken a photo of the part anyway. He didn’t need to take it away with him.

TreeTopTim · 14/01/2020 20:03

HIBU but I think he did that on purpose so that you will feel forced into using him.

TiddleTaddleTat · 14/01/2020 20:05

I would avoid him. I've come across bullying types like this, plumbers too actually (no offence to the rest of them!)

BaolFan · 14/01/2020 20:06

Him.

I have never in all my years of boiler-wrangling, ever had a plumber need to remove a part so that they could order it.

He did it deliberately to force you to use him so that he could inflate the price. Wanker.

A good plumber will know what's missing anyway - worth telling them when you ring round what make of boiler you have, so that you can try and get a plumber who is familiar with that manufacturer. E.g. ours is a Baxi boiler and our plumber is a Baxi specialist and knows them inside out.

Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 20:08

The worst part is that he's local. My husbands working nights so it didn't cross my mind to stop him from taking the part. My husband asked why did I let him?! I feel so stupid now. It's the whole inside part of the toilet (internal system). My husband said there are loads for sale, so the next plumber needs the part to know which one it is.

OP posts:
BaolFan · 14/01/2020 20:08

Do you have any neighbours you get on with? Best idea is to chap on doors and ask them for recommendations and who they use. Unlikely to go wrong as if that plumber is also doing several houses in your street then it's not worth playing fast and loose and pissing everyone off!

danni0509 · 14/01/2020 20:09

Have you asked for your part back?

BaolFan · 14/01/2020 20:09

X-post - assumed it was a boiler issue.

Message the plumber and tell him that if he doesn't return the part you will name and shame him in the local FB pages and also on Google reviews.

Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 20:09

@TreeTopTim Yes I absolutely think this is true.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 20:14

@danni0509 when he finished shouting, I started to ask for my part back. I only got half way through my sentence, when he put the phone down. I feel sick and annoyed with myself. Think I'll ring him in the morning and ask for it back, hopefully he wont put the phone down again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 20:42

@BaolFan good idea, will try this if he ignores my call tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Hingeandbracket · 14/01/2020 20:46

It's the whole inside part of the toilet (internal system). My husband said there are loads for sale, so the next plumber needs the part to know which one it is.
Any decent plumber will know which parts are needed - many will have them in a van already. This guy is a useless chancer - don’t worry, just get a proper plumber.

Pipandmum · 14/01/2020 20:48

Any plumber will know what's needed.

danni0509 · 14/01/2020 20:55

I called the plumber before Xmas for my toilet that wasn't flushing and leaking a constant stream of water into the bowl and he asked for a brief description of what the problem was he came the next morning with a couple of parts and one fitted.

As others have said, they usually know.

Ring another tomorrow and you'll probably find you don't even need the part back.

I would be leaving some shitty reviews for the other one though, what an arsehole!

Newname1978 · 14/01/2020 21:49

Will your husband phone instead of you?
I know this should not be necessary but he sounds like an ass and he might not be as much of an ass to a man

Pipeworks · 14/01/2020 21:58

Don't bother calling him back, he's a cowboy. I usually ask my customers for a quick photo of the inside of the cistern, identify the correct valves from the photo, phone back with a quote and have the correct part when I show up the FIRST time to install it.... Job done. Just phone a decent plumber and they'll sort it. Let him have the stuffed part......

CurlsandCurves · 14/01/2020 22:03

DH is a plumber. Agrees he is being a dick. No need to remove a part to get a replacement.

Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 22:16

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your comments. I feel less upset about it now. I'll ring around in the morning for another plumber, hopefully they'll know what it is (and I wont be held hostage by the plumber). My husband has phoned me from work, he thinks we should pay him as he did remove the part so maybe that counts as labour?! To be honest after the way he shouted at me, I dont even want him in the house.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautiful3 · 14/01/2020 22:26

@Pipeworks thank you, that's reassuring to know. I feel like he's taken the part hostage to make me believe that he is the only one who can do it now. The thing is I probably would have given the go ahead to his over inflated quote in the morning(its double what we paid for the same issue, for the downstairs toilet last year) as we do want it doing soon. Never mind lesson learned, never let trades people take away a part again!

OP posts:
Useful22 · 14/01/2020 22:38

I know this is sad but get your DH to ring him. He wont feel as able to bully him and you want to make sure you get the right part back.

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2020 22:55

Get the part back. We had a new toilet fitted about 6 years ago, we’ve had to replace the internal workings twice now, but it turns out it can be fixed by thoroughly cleaning the area around the washers. The parts are no longer available.

Betterbegoing · 14/01/2020 23:00

Don’t feel annoyed with yourself, the plumber sounds like an absolute arsehole. To be honest, it’s unlikely another plumber will need the part if he knows his stuff. I work in a builders merchants and most of them buy several parts, then fit the one that’s right and return the others/keep the others in the van as spares, and I think this is fairly common practice.

Turquiose · 14/01/2020 23:19

Had similar happen where asked someone for a quote. Said he would email (it too was a lot) and then expected to go ahead a few days later even though I didn't reply and turned up on the door step. I refused. Longer story actually but basically tried to bully me into having the work done. Left me with a horrible feeling so understand where you're at OP. He should return the part as it's yours. Don't let him get away it. If he refuses get your dh to ring cos some men will only listen to other men sad to say but it's true. I'm saying that as a woman who will stand up to any tradesman. Good luck though.