Page 4 | Should we pay plumber?

Dontjumptoconclusions · 2021-05-06T12:19:58+00:00

Plumber came to fix our shower which wasn't working. After sorting what he thought was the issue, turns out, it wasn't the issue and its actually something else. We are getting another plumber, as we don't trust the first plumber anymore. First Plumber wants to charge us for whatever work he did in attempt to solve the problem. His reason being we pay for his time, he could have booked in another job etc. Our issue is that he didn't solve the problem.... So what are we paying him for?! AIBU? Should we pay for his call out charge and time taken to fix what wasn't broken? (FYI, he was a highly rated plumber we found online so didn't expect this issue.)

Starryskiesinthesky · 06/05/2021 20:20

I would be wanting my vet fees back! That is terrible! I don’t get all this still paying for something when you know it hasn’t fixed the problem!

NewPapaGuinea · 06/05/2021 20:28

You’re paying him to do a job which he’s failed to do. He needs to swallow that himself.

madamim · 06/05/2021 20:42

Yes you should pay him call out. I work for a plumbing company and when it comes to showers if it's electric, it's cheaper to replace than repair. If it's running off the mains cheapest option is to replace the cartridge if that doesn't work replace the shower valve.

The reason he's saying he's fully booked is because he'd rather not do the job and wants you to go elsewhere.

Also in regards to removing the new part and re-instating the old part he wouldn't get a refund especially if water has passed through it.

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/05/2021 20:58

He charges for his time + parts - he's spent x amount of time and bought x parts, you pay for them.

You've sent him on his way before the job is done and aren't allowing him to complete the job - you owe him. Pay up.

Some jobs are a process of elimination - change this to find out if its this or that that doesn't work, if it still doesn't work, it ain't that, change the next most likely thing, and it is logical to work from most likely thing to be broken through to least likely thing.

You'd be bloody pissed (or maybe you wouldn't actually notice!) if he'd said it was the most obscure thing possible and charged you mega bucks to strip out all the working stuff to change the LEAST likely element first!

If you are such a great plumber - why didn't you fix it yourself?

Isitsixoclockalready · 06/05/2021 21:06

@WiddlinDiddlin

He charges for his time + parts - he's spent x amount of time and bought x parts, you pay for them.

You've sent him on his way before the job is done and aren't allowing him to complete the job - you owe him. Pay up.

Some jobs are a process of elimination - change this to find out if its this or that that doesn't work, if it still doesn't work, it ain't that, change the next most likely thing, and it is logical to work from most likely thing to be broken through to least likely thing.

You'd be bloody pissed (or maybe you wouldn't actually notice!) if he'd said it was the most obscure thing possible and charged you mega bucks to strip out all the working stuff to change the LEAST likely element first!

If you are such a great plumber - why didn't you fix it yourself?

The last sentence was a bit unnecessary. I don't think that OP was completely out of order for asking what people would do under similar circumstances. Obviously she wouldn't do it herself as it isn't her skill set.

Londongent · 06/05/2021 21:32

@Osirus

Of course you pay - it’s like when you go to the vets they don’t always get it right first time. You still pay them.

My cat was diagnosed with stomach cancer and I paid for treatment for two years before they realised she didn’t actually have it after all, and in fact had something far less dramatic. I still paid them!

You paid two years of vets treatment for stomach cancer that the cat didn't have, and this doesn't bother you? I would be livid. I bet that wasn't cheap

Chalcroft · 06/05/2021 21:32

Of course you pay him!

Tohaveandtohold · 06/05/2021 21:35

I don’t understand many comments on this post. I actually think in this case, it’s fair to pay the call out fees and the parts but surely he has to swallow his hourly rate. He didn’t fix the shower, how will he expect to get paid for it.
He didn’t do the job, I wouldn’t expect to just pay him for turning up and staying upstairs for 2 hours for no result.

Original poster

Dontjumptoconclusions · 06/05/2021 21:40

@widdlinDiddlin
Lol I'm as good a plumber as he was! We both couldn't fix the shower! 😜

OP posts:

Londongent · 06/05/2021 21:47

This must be why it is so hard to find a decent plumber, electrician etc...so many people are paying them full price for jobs that they haven't managed to complete! Where is their incentive to complete a job if they get paid either way?
Yes, I understand that their reputation is at stake, but the really good tradespeople are always booked. There are a lot of cowboys in operation and now I know why

Varnas · 06/05/2021 21:56

My DH is electrician and he wouldn't charge if he couldn't fix the problem.

Bostonbullsmumma · 06/05/2021 22:11

What parts are you paying for if it didn't fix the shower?! Paying for parts that didn't need replacing??

Bostonbullsmumma · 06/05/2021 22:16

@Osirus

Of course you pay - it’s like when you go to the vets they don’t always get it right first time. You still pay them.

My cat was diagnosed with stomach cancer and I paid for treatment for two years before they realised she didn’t actually have it after all, and in fact had something far less dramatic. I still paid them!

Bit like the plumber here, I wouldn't use that vet again! Hope your cats ok now!

Starseeking · 06/05/2021 22:17

You must pay at least the call out fee as a minimum. It's what it says on the tin!

Also he did offer to come back and fix it properly (presumably at no extra cost to himself), you just decided you didn't want that option.

You must pay him OP.

VicarofDibley · 06/05/2021 22:28

@QueeniesCroft

I would pay, for several reasons. Firstly, plumbing problems aren't always due to just one thing. There can be a few things which all need to be repaired before the problem is fully fixed.

Also (having worked in a not dissimilar trade) I think there should be a special tax applied to all customers who have googled it and decide to tell the tradesperson what the problem is. This is a completely biased opinion, but it is very irritating!

In my area, not paying a plumber would mean that no plumber would attend for future problems, no matter who you called. I've never not paid myself, but I know people who have and in one case no other trades would even give them an estimate either. Of course in less rural areas there are more plumbers and they probably don't all know each other, but here that's what would happen, without a doubt.

This.My DH is a plumber and bloody good one for a very long time .We live in a rural area and yes plumbers talk to each other.My DH has turned down work because he has been warned by previous plumbers that someone behaved this way . OP you complain about call out fees you do realise plumbers have overheads such as public liability etc. Sounds like he tried what he thought it was but it was not then you slag him off.Be careful op tradespeople look out for each other you may well struggle in future .

Userg1234 · 06/05/2021 22:35

Wow can't believe people are saying pay him. You asked him to fix your shower....he didn't. I'm a gardener, you asked me to cut your grass and I dont...would you pay me because I came and ran my mower at too high a setting. Would you fuck.

Willyoujustbequiet · 06/05/2021 22:37

No I wouldn't. I can't fathom why anyone would.

I would however give him another chance to fix it.

Eilethya · 06/05/2021 22:51

My step dad is a joiner and he wouldn't charge if he hadn't solved your problem.

He would come back the next day too, even if it mean doing so in the evening.

lawandgin · 06/05/2021 23:02

OP - if he had managed to fix the shower on the first visit, but had to try several things to get to the end result, would you have paid him? Let's say it took 4 hours in one go, instead of 2 x 2 hours... I can't solve everyone's legal problems after one meeting, but I still expect to be paid for the time spent on their matter.

UrAWizHarry · 06/05/2021 23:26

It's not that the guy could fix it though. He didn't fix it first time, which is not uncommon, and offered to come back. Some problems aren't obvious and both refusing to pay and refusing to allow the guy to continue to work on it is completely unreasonable.

PhatPhanny · 06/05/2021 23:48

How do you know that part he fixed wasn't the problem too?

You dont!

So you pay the man for his time!!

Planttrees · 07/05/2021 11:05

Just want to add here that following on from my previous post where I said I wouldn't pay, I have had a similar experience. I actually paid up front for a service and then the service wasn't provided to an acceptable standard. I took the tradesman to small claims court to get my money back and won. They also had to pay my costs. You do not have to pay for shoddy work.