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Hello all,
I haven't posted in years, but you were really helpful before, so here I am crawling back! Apologies if this isn't in the right place, but I couldn't see any similar threads anywhere.
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My sister called an emergency Plumber last night, a national company who sub-contract to local plumbers.
The agreed time was 0830HRS this morning and £180 call-out fee. In the meantime, I've been able to attend and fix the issue (a blocked toilet.)
She tried to call the company at 0820HRS to cancel, but got a pre-recorded "this number is busy".
The plumber only arrived between 0855-0900HRS, just as I was finishing up.
When turned away, I tried to discuss the issue with them (Plumber present and a chap called "Eddy" on the phone) and paid £10 cash (all I had on-hand) to the Plumber for his fuel and time, which I felt was more reasonable (and avoids failure to pay route.) He said to expect a letter taking her to small claims court for the rest. (He then jumped in his car wearing no seatbelt, sped and drove without due care - But I digress...)
I managed to flag him down on his way back past and recorded a very civil conversation (with his knowledge and consent) which boiled down to:
The local plumber gets half of any fee (so £90.)
The job would be £180 per hour, despite no work to be done.
The call-out charge is £180 whether he is there for an hour, or for 20secs.
He was told the job was booked for 0830HRS but agreed that he didn't make 0830HRS because of "traffic" (first thing on a Saturday morning...)
Was asked by the company to make it for 0900HRS, but HE asked THEM if he could attend 0830HRS, to fit in more jobs.
I asked "Does that seem reasonable; £180 to turn up and do nothing?"
He said "Not at all, mate, but you've rang 'em and agreed the fees."
He accepted that I'd paid the £10 for his time, but doesn't feel it's enough.
He then explained the national company will charge him half the fee, as he has essentially failed to collect it.
I asked him to have the manager call back, so I could discuss a more reasonable fee (I'd expect a call-out turned away to be MAX of £50.)
I appreciate my sister agreed to £180 fee in the stressful situation she was in, but again, I feel that £180 is SO steep as just a call-out.
I fully appreciate we should pay for their wasted time, travel etc, but what should I be expecting here, please? In my opinion, I don't feel a small claims court would entertain £180 for a plumber to arrive late and be turned away at the doorstep, with us having already called to cancel having fixed the issue in their absence/lateness, but am I wrong? My sister doesn't have £180 to spare, let alone court fees etc (hence why I had my hand up the u-bend at 8:30 in the morning) It just seems so unreasonable!
Also, presumably we can still fall back on paying an invoice (for £170 given £10 cash was paid) before any fees are added/court involved?
Thanks for your help.
I haven't posted in years, but you were really helpful before, so here I am crawling back! Apologies if this isn't in the right place, but I couldn't see any similar threads anywhere.
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My sister called an emergency Plumber last night, a national company who sub-contract to local plumbers.
The agreed time was 0830HRS this morning and £180 call-out fee. In the meantime, I've been able to attend and fix the issue (a blocked toilet.)
She tried to call the company at 0820HRS to cancel, but got a pre-recorded "this number is busy".
The plumber only arrived between 0855-0900HRS, just as I was finishing up.
When turned away, I tried to discuss the issue with them (Plumber present and a chap called "Eddy" on the phone) and paid £10 cash (all I had on-hand) to the Plumber for his fuel and time, which I felt was more reasonable (and avoids failure to pay route.) He said to expect a letter taking her to small claims court for the rest. (He then jumped in his car wearing no seatbelt, sped and drove without due care - But I digress...)
I managed to flag him down on his way back past and recorded a very civil conversation (with his knowledge and consent) which boiled down to:
The local plumber gets half of any fee (so £90.)
The job would be £180 per hour, despite no work to be done.
The call-out charge is £180 whether he is there for an hour, or for 20secs.
He was told the job was booked for 0830HRS but agreed that he didn't make 0830HRS because of "traffic" (first thing on a Saturday morning...)
Was asked by the company to make it for 0900HRS, but HE asked THEM if he could attend 0830HRS, to fit in more jobs.
I asked "Does that seem reasonable; £180 to turn up and do nothing?"
He said "Not at all, mate, but you've rang 'em and agreed the fees."
He accepted that I'd paid the £10 for his time, but doesn't feel it's enough.
He then explained the national company will charge him half the fee, as he has essentially failed to collect it.
I asked him to have the manager call back, so I could discuss a more reasonable fee (I'd expect a call-out turned away to be MAX of £50.)
I appreciate my sister agreed to £180 fee in the stressful situation she was in, but again, I feel that £180 is SO steep as just a call-out.
I fully appreciate we should pay for their wasted time, travel etc, but what should I be expecting here, please? In my opinion, I don't feel a small claims court would entertain £180 for a plumber to arrive late and be turned away at the doorstep, with us having already called to cancel having fixed the issue in their absence/lateness, but am I wrong? My sister doesn't have £180 to spare, let alone court fees etc (hence why I had my hand up the u-bend at 8:30 in the morning) It just seems so unreasonable!
Also, presumably we can still fall back on paying an invoice (for £170 given £10 cash was paid) before any fees are added/court involved?
Thanks for your help.