Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

I was scammed out of £3400 today and I feel suicidal

157 replies

MoSalahsBeard · 26/06/2024 18:50

Scammy plumber firm ripped me off today to the tune of £3400. They ripped everything out of the bathroom to ‘investigate’ the problem for which they charged me £300 an hour emergency rate when I never said it was an emergency at any point. Was my word against theirs. Turns out they operate under many different company names and after doing digging into the other company names there are tonnes of awful reviews saying they rip you off by saying either they or you classed it as an emergency and charge a fortune. The man wouldn’t leave my house til I paid him, I’m on my own in the house as husband is away on business.

i spent all afternoon bawling my eyes out on the phone to Trading Standards, lawyers, and the company itself. I absolutely lost it. SENSITIVE CONTENT REDACTED BY MNHQ

Called the Samaritans crying saying I feel like killing myself. I’m trying to hold it together for my kid but I feel utterly broken. Ashamed, embarrassed, furious and feeling like I don’t deserve to eat for months until this is paid off. I don’t know how to cope with this. I’m utterly devastated.

OP posts:
LawrieForShepherdsBoy · 27/06/2024 10:14

Blouson · 26/06/2024 20:52

Dont be silly. Police wont care.

So about 8 hours @£300/hour and a £950 part. They should at least have given you an invoice.

Show quote history

Of course police will care. Operators like this rely on the murky area between legitimacy and scamming. By perpetuating the idea that the plumbers were acting legally, you are facilitating the environment within which crimes like this happen.

@MoSalahsBeard The shame will pass. I know it doesn’t feel like that, but the intensity of this emotion is not going to grow and grow. Today will be hard, but it will get better after you sleep.

Right now, you are experiencing powerful negative emotions, and that is distorting the way you think. The thoughts you have about yourself are not true.

Get through today. Distract yourself. Do what you need to get to bedtime. Every time you think a negative thought about yourself, push back, don’t go down that rabbit hole.

Tomorrow is a new day. Make an action plan about the money tomorrow. They have committed a crime and it will probably be retrievable.

💐

Original poster
MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 10:17

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 10:10

I don’t understand op, were you not there when they started ripping the bathroom apart, could you not have stopped them?

also on the part, they can charge as they please, they don’t need to pass on what it cost them, as shitty as that is.

I as working from home while this was going on. I’m juggling everything on my own while my husband is working abroad.

I directly asked the plumber how much the part would cost, first he said £600ish then he told me a grand when my bill came. He told me where he bought it from, so I rang them up this morning and they said nope it’s £450. So they literally overcharged me by £500 just for the pump.

OP posts:
Feelingleftoutagain · 27/06/2024 10:20

Call the bank asked for it to be stopped! Don't feel bad about this as you were being bullied I would report it to the police as well. Sending big hugs x

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 10:21

MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 10:17

I as working from home while this was going on. I’m juggling everything on my own while my husband is working abroad.

I directly asked the plumber how much the part would cost, first he said £600ish then he told me a grand when my bill came. He told me where he bought it from, so I rang them up this morning and they said nope it’s £450. So they literally overcharged me by £500 just for the pump.

Show quote history

Ok, I understand this, but I am not sure you’ve answered, are you saying you sent them up there and didn’t go up with them, and didn’t know they started to work, but you agreed the part.

you just need to be really sure here as there is a dispute, you need to be sure this isn’t a case you agreed the work, and didn’t ask cost before hand other than for the part.

BodenCardiganNot · 27/06/2024 10:27

also on the part, they can charge as they please, they don’t need to pass on what it cost them, as shitty as that is

nope it’s £450. So they literally overcharged me by £500 just for the pump
.
They charge for supply and fit. That is standard practice.
We got a new boiler fitted last year. The cost of boiler and all pipework etc. came to about £1800. It was another £1400 to fit it and certify it.

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 10:46

BodenCardiganNot · 27/06/2024 10:27

also on the part, they can charge as they please, they don’t need to pass on what it cost them, as shitty as that is

nope it’s £450. So they literally overcharged me by £500 just for the pump
.
They charge for supply and fit. That is standard practice.
We got a new boiler fitted last year. The cost of boiler and all pipework etc. came to about £1800. It was another £1400 to fit it and certify it.

Edited

Absolutely and they can charge what they wish for the part, what they paid for it is irrelevant

op, the point I’m making is as you’ve raised a dispute, you will need to be very clear on what work you authorised.

the bank will want to know why the work went ahead for several hours with you in the house, but not stopping it. If you asked for a quote up front for the job, can you then provide this to them etc,

as the plumbers will say you authorised it, and this is their charges, you simply didn’t clarify. Basically it’s not a scam if the work was done as requested, simply they charge much more than you had thought as you didn’t ask, but basically has them there for several hours working on it,

Original poster
MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 10:47

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 10:21

Ok, I understand this, but I am not sure you’ve answered, are you saying you sent them up there and didn’t go up with them, and didn’t know they started to work, but you agreed the part.

you just need to be really sure here as there is a dispute, you need to be sure this isn’t a case you agreed the work, and didn’t ask cost before hand other than for the part.

Show quote history

Yes I did go up there with them but obviously I can’t stand there and stare at them while they start investigating the problem over a period of time.
Trading Standards are helping me and I’m writing a letter to the company citing the consumer rights act.

OP posts:
Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 11:05

MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 10:47

Yes I did go up there with them but obviously I can’t stand there and stare at them while they start investigating the problem over a period of time.
Trading Standards are helping me and I’m writing a letter to the company citing the consumer rights act.

Show quote history

Well no, I didn’t suggest that. So you went up there and you saw them start the work. Why did you not stop them at this stage.

do you see where I am going op. I am not sure you were scammed. I think you were over charged, but failed to do due diligence on costs before you agreed the work, then when you saw the bill have panicked.

Original poster
MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 11:16

Ok let me clarify. I called a normal plumbers number. They started the work then showed me their hourly fee. I ok’d it because the work had already started. When I queried it with the plumber an hour later he admitted to me that they had put me on their emergency hourly rate which was ‘naughty’ of them. I said to him I never said it was an emergency. He said ok we will stop the emergency tariff now and start from here with our regular rate.

I left him and went to call the head office number. I was angry that I had ever been put on an emergency rate when it wasn’t one. The woman there was reading off a script, foreign and just kept repeating that this is an emergency number. I said it’s just listed as a normal plumber on Google. No it’s an emergency line she kept saying. I repeatedly asked for the name and phone number of the manager and she refused to tell me.

the manager called me a while later and said I ‘should have known’ that the first 5 numbers on Google are all emergency plumbers. I said what are you talking about, it says nothing of the sort. He said people just ‘know it’. He was really rude and dismissive.

meanwhile plumber says ok I’ve got your part ready and I’ll be back with it tomorrow am, should only take an hour. My bathroom is in pieces, I’ve got no shower and I’m struggling to juggle kids and wfh amongst all this. I say how much is the shower pump, around 600 he says.

next morning he comes back with the pump. One hour becomes three. He tells me the pump was actually £950. I ask where the receipt is. I don’t have it he says. He gives me the final bill and says I need to pay now. I nearly have a heart attack at the price but I have this man hovering over me waiting for me to pay and wants me to say I’m happy with the work. I have no clue what to do. I’m on my own in the house with this stranger who I know is probably ripping me off but I have no proof. So I cave and pay.

He must have been faffing for ages in order to make me pay more. He kept telling me don’t worry, your insurance covers this, I’ll give you a full report so you can claim. Turns out that’s bollocks too.

The place he got the pump from told me this morning that they sold it to him for £450. And it takes less than an hour to install.

it’s so easy to judge when you’re not the vulnerable person in the situation alone.

OP posts:
Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 11:39

MoSalahsBeard · 27/06/2024 11:16

Ok let me clarify. I called a normal plumbers number. They started the work then showed me their hourly fee. I ok’d it because the work had already started. When I queried it with the plumber an hour later he admitted to me that they had put me on their emergency hourly rate which was ‘naughty’ of them. I said to him I never said it was an emergency. He said ok we will stop the emergency tariff now and start from here with our regular rate.

I left him and went to call the head office number. I was angry that I had ever been put on an emergency rate when it wasn’t one. The woman there was reading off a script, foreign and just kept repeating that this is an emergency number. I said it’s just listed as a normal plumber on Google. No it’s an emergency line she kept saying. I repeatedly asked for the name and phone number of the manager and she refused to tell me.

the manager called me a while later and said I ‘should have known’ that the first 5 numbers on Google are all emergency plumbers. I said what are you talking about, it says nothing of the sort. He said people just ‘know it’. He was really rude and dismissive.

meanwhile plumber says ok I’ve got your part ready and I’ll be back with it tomorrow am, should only take an hour. My bathroom is in pieces, I’ve got no shower and I’m struggling to juggle kids and wfh amongst all this. I say how much is the shower pump, around 600 he says.

next morning he comes back with the pump. One hour becomes three. He tells me the pump was actually £950. I ask where the receipt is. I don’t have it he says. He gives me the final bill and says I need to pay now. I nearly have a heart attack at the price but I have this man hovering over me waiting for me to pay and wants me to say I’m happy with the work. I have no clue what to do. I’m on my own in the house with this stranger who I know is probably ripping me off but I have no proof. So I cave and pay.

He must have been faffing for ages in order to make me pay more. He kept telling me don’t worry, your insurance covers this, I’ll give you a full report so you can claim. Turns out that’s bollocks too.

The place he got the pump from told me this morning that they sold it to him for £450. And it takes less than an hour to install.

it’s so easy to judge when you’re not the vulnerable person in the situation alone.

Op, no one is judging. What’s being said is you’ve said you were scammed, and raised a bank dispute, so you need to be very clear on what happened for it to be successful

yes they were unprofessional, yes it took longer than expected, yes costs were not clear, I am still not sure it was a scam though.

the fact you’re classed a vulnerable person is also new information, and you should clearly detail that in the claim with the bank,

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 27/06/2024 11:40

Lazydomestic · 26/06/2024 20:52

If you move funds from your bank account would the payment then bounce if it’s not gone through yet?

This was my first thought

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 27/06/2024 11:46

Sorry, just seen you’ve opened a dispute with the bank

ageratum1 · 27/06/2024 11:53

They started the work then showed me their hourly fee. I ok’d it because the work had already started. When I queried it with the plumber an hour later.....'

This isn't a police matter , or even a TS one.
You cannot agree a rate, let a person continue working , and the decide you don't like it!
You cannot pay a bill and then come back and say actually you would rather have liked it yo be less
You cannot expect a company to charge you fir parts at cost to them!
The only place where you MIGHT have been able to claim £300 is on the shower pump he said would be £600 and he charged you £900.But as you have paid the bill now without raising the matter, I don't think you have a leg to stand on.
You have learned an important lesson the hard way.ALWAYS get a quote before they start.
You have

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 12:14

ageratum1 · 27/06/2024 11:53

They started the work then showed me their hourly fee. I ok’d it because the work had already started. When I queried it with the plumber an hour later.....'

This isn't a police matter , or even a TS one.
You cannot agree a rate, let a person continue working , and the decide you don't like it!
You cannot pay a bill and then come back and say actually you would rather have liked it yo be less
You cannot expect a company to charge you fir parts at cost to them!
The only place where you MIGHT have been able to claim £300 is on the shower pump he said would be £600 and he charged you £900.But as you have paid the bill now without raising the matter, I don't think you have a leg to stand on.
You have learned an important lesson the hard way.ALWAYS get a quote before they start.
You have

This is what I was trying to get at. I am struggling to see how this was a scam. The op was not defrauded.

however she says she’s classed as a vulnerable person. But not explained why. So potentially she didn’t have the capability to agree as she was.

Sasqwatch · 27/06/2024 12:29

coldcallerbaiter · 26/06/2024 18:57

Op! Fear not, this is great news. Call the bank and tell them that it was under duress, you were alone and the terms were not explained

Show quote history

Really good advice.

Also report to the Police.

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 12:38

Please also report to Action Fraud. They also refer to services which help you deal with the impact it has had on you personally (mental health etc).

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

ageratum1 · 27/06/2024 12:58

Sasqwatch · 27/06/2024 12:29

Really good advice.

Also report to the Police.

Show quote history

How was she under duress?

ageratum1 · 27/06/2024 12:59

Mossstitch · 26/06/2024 22:56

Something similar happened to my son on a much smaller scale, he had burst pipes in freezing weather. Plumber knocked huge hole in his plaster and turned water off then said he was going to get some copper pipe and got him to sign a piece of paper then never returned. Money was taken out of his bank account but he raised it with the bank (can't remember the terminology) and they got his money back.

Completely different.He did not get the work he paid for

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 12:59

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 12:38

Please also report to Action Fraud. They also refer to services which help you deal with the impact it has had on you personally (mental health etc).

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

How was it fraud?

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 13:17

Operating under various names, falsely putting the OP on an emergency hourly rate and still making her pay for some of it, ruining her bathroom without any quotes, forcing her to pay there and then, claiming that the number is an emergency line when it is not. I bet you a little investigation will unearth a lot.

But they can only investigate when they get reports.

If it isn't fraud then so be it, but some of the tactics used are very similar to the various phone scams that are in existence. So may well amount to fraud as there appears to be no intention to do what is asked, instead doing extra work without any prior approval.

heartbroken22 · 27/06/2024 13:24

I'd report them to the police and say they were intimidating. Give them a shock.

heartbroken22 · 27/06/2024 13:24

It's not your fault lots of people are out there to get money.

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 14:05

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 13:17

Operating under various names, falsely putting the OP on an emergency hourly rate and still making her pay for some of it, ruining her bathroom without any quotes, forcing her to pay there and then, claiming that the number is an emergency line when it is not. I bet you a little investigation will unearth a lot.

But they can only investigate when they get reports.

If it isn't fraud then so be it, but some of the tactics used are very similar to the various phone scams that are in existence. So may well amount to fraud as there appears to be no intention to do what is asked, instead doing extra work without any prior approval.

She agreed the rate, she said so herself, she only challenged an hour later,

and she also states she wasn’t forced to,pay, and they didn’t ruin her bathroom, they fixed the issue.

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 14:13

One hour becomes three. He tells me the pump was actually £950. I ask where the receipt is. I don’t have it he says. He gives me the final bill and says I need to pay now. I nearly have a heart attack at the price but I have this man hovering over me waiting for me to pay and wants me to say I’m happy with the work. I have no clue what to do. I’m on my own in the house with this stranger who I know is probably ripping me off but I have no proof.

He absolutely threatened her. A man standing over a lone woman watching her make the transfer there and then is pure intimidation. Not to mention the 1 hour becoming three hours, and the pump more than twice the price versus the verbal quote the day before. The OP hasn't consented because through the intimidation and fear she couldn't consent.

Janehasamane · 27/06/2024 14:23

acatcalledjohn · 27/06/2024 14:13

One hour becomes three. He tells me the pump was actually £950. I ask where the receipt is. I don’t have it he says. He gives me the final bill and says I need to pay now. I nearly have a heart attack at the price but I have this man hovering over me waiting for me to pay and wants me to say I’m happy with the work. I have no clue what to do. I’m on my own in the house with this stranger who I know is probably ripping me off but I have no proof.

He absolutely threatened her. A man standing over a lone woman watching her make the transfer there and then is pure intimidation. Not to mention the 1 hour becoming three hours, and the pump more than twice the price versus the verbal quote the day before. The OP hasn't consented because through the intimidation and fear she couldn't consent.

Ok, I understand that’s your take, I think the police will have a different take.