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Original poster

what would you do-pay up or keep schtum?

15 replies

layla · 05/03/2004 12:25

If you had a plumber in to fix your toilet,he hadn't given you a quote yet.He fixes it while you are at work and leaves.He tells you he's on holiday the next day.You expect him to come back for his money but he doesn't.Now 3 and a half weeks go by.
Would you
a.Phone him and pay up
b.Say nothing and don't use him again?

OP posts:

dinosaur · 05/03/2004 12:29

Good plumbers are like gold dust - if the bloke did a good job, I'd be tempted to phone him and pay up, and store up some good will for next time!

(But I may be biased - I live in an old house with dodgy central heating and plumbing and our plumber is about the most important person in my life!)

Kayleigh · 05/03/2004 12:29

Do you mean you don't even know how much it is ? Or did he leave a bill ?

ponygirl · 05/03/2004 12:31

I agree with dinosaur - if you find a good plumber/builder/electrician etc you want to hang on to him!

Twinkie · 05/03/2004 12:35

I would ring him, remind him and pay - not being funny but if we do am job and a good one at that we deserve to get paid for it, its nothing more than you would expect for a job that you yourself had done - he would probably be surprised with your honesty but you would feel good about it.

Galaxy · 05/03/2004 12:38

message withdrawn

katierocket · 05/03/2004 12:39

I'm self employed and I know how difficult it can be to keep on top of invoices etc so please pay up.

WideWebWitch · 05/03/2004 12:56

I'd wait since I reckon he'll send you an invoice and just hasn't got around to it. Ideally you shouldn't have let him do the job without getting a quote first (though I do see it may have been an emergency) since he could pretty much charge you anything. But I think if he's a good plumber then I'd leave it another week and ring him and ask what you owe him. Oh, did he leave an invoice? Can't tell from your message. If he did then I'd pay it I think.

Marina · 05/03/2004 12:59

Definitely pay, good plumbers are like gold dust but can still go bankrupt awfully quickly if people don't pay promptly. He could be languishing in hospital with a broken leg or something...

noddy5 · 05/03/2004 13:02

Pay-- good plumbers are virtually extinct

marthamoo · 05/03/2004 13:14

I would ring him and pay up. As everyone else has said good plumbers are to be valued, cherished and nurtured. And it's different getting away with it when it's a huge company (anyone remember my Vext thread ?) - I assume this bloke is self-employed. you may find he says it was such a minor job there's no charge (I have had that happen odd times) in which case you'll be in a win-win situation.

momof2 · 05/03/2004 13:26

Layla
I would call him, purely because I am a plumber's partner and know how good they can be about sending out bills, but also how they contact collection company's for outstanding debt - the invoice may well have gone astray.
If you were having a problem fixed, then would he have given you a quote? He may have just advised you of a call out charge +parts+vat.
Also know how my DP gets inundated with calls for work and if they are busy enough already then you wouldn't want to be refused if you needed work in an emergancy and they refused to come out because of an outstanding bill.

Original poster

layla · 05/03/2004 14:14

Seeing as I'm quite honest I think I'll give him a ring he's probably forgotten.
I wondered what the majority of you would say,I didn't think you'd all say pay up though.What an honest lot we are
Bit stupid of me not to get a quote first.
He is a good plumber so I'd like to hang on to him.He fitted our shower.I hope he's just as honest about the price of the job.

OP posts:

Original poster

layla · 05/03/2004 14:15

Anybody disagree?
Forgot to say thanks folks.

OP posts:

sis · 05/03/2004 16:42

No, I don't disagree, you're doing the right thing as far as I am concerned.

Easy · 05/03/2004 17:12

Back in December a gas plumber came to service our fire in the living room. He serviced it, and to test it had to turn off our central heating boiler. He left, telling my husband that we owed him £35 for the fire, but didn't give us a bill. 1/2 an hour after he left, the gas boiler wouldn't re-light, so we had no central heating. I tried to get him to come back about our boiler, but he didn't return our call. 2 days later, while I was at hospital he came back, but my cleaning lady didn't have any money to pay him. She mentioned the boiler, but he muttered about being busy, and went away.

After a (very cold) week anothe plumber came and we paid £1250 for a new boiler.

We haven't paid bloke no. 1. Fortunately he hasn't been back to ask for his money either.

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