Plumbing Dispute

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#1012158 25-Mar-2014 07:39

You are able to request the days/times that are claimed as "labour" and an hourly rate. You are also able to request that he tells you what the part was he supplied.

If these don't tally with what was charged then reject his invoice and tell him what you consider reasonable, and offer to pay that.

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#1012170 25-Mar-2014 07:46

When I asked a plumber what he charges he said includes travelling time from the previous job. That's crazy.

It seems he has charged you for travelling 100km from somewhere, probably twice (first time and second time).

I'm beginning to think why anyone wants to be a lawyer just be a plumber.

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#1012172 25-Mar-2014 07:52

surfisup1000: I did this myself , having had a friend who was a plumber show me how.

I think the rubber washer was $3.00, time was 10 minutes tops, maybe.

Not sure if it was the exact same thing you had done though.

One thing though -- those washers are garbage -- they get 'blistering' which causes them to leak. I can't believe they can't make a washer that doesn't blister after a year.

Even $3.00 is on the expensive side. I recently replaced a rubber washer in one of my two header tanks (same setup as a cistern) so brought 2 washers as I figured it'd be good to have a spare - $1. 50 for the two. Twenty minutes of my own labour, job done.

Handle9

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#1012173 25-Mar-2014 07:59

joker97: When I asked a plumber what he charges he said includes travelling time from the previous job. That's crazy.

It seems he has charged you for travelling 100km from somewhere, probably twice (first time and second time).

I'm beginning to think why anyone wants to be a lawyer just be a plumber.

This is normal practice for a service based business - you'll find this with electricians etc. If you ask someone to come to you the cost of travelling there is a legitimately chargeable expense. If you are coming to replace a washer, which should be a 20 minute job it's not unreasonable.

It's not normal for quoted work - these are normally bigger jobs where travel is a much less significant part of the cost of the job, or it gets costed onto the job if it's a small job.

surfisup1000

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#1012187 25-Mar-2014 08:10

Handle9:
joker97: When I asked a plumber what he charges he said includes travelling time from the previous job. That's crazy.

It seems he has charged you for travelling 100km from somewhere, probably twice (first time and second time).

I'm beginning to think why anyone wants to be a lawyer just be a plumber.

This is normal practice for a service based business - you'll find this with electricians etc. If you ask someone to come to you the cost of travelling there is a legitimately chargeable expense. If you are coming to replace a washer, which should be a 20 minute job it's not unreasonable.

It's not normal for quoted work - these are normally bigger jobs where travel is a much less significant part of the cost of the job, or it gets costed onto the job if it's a small job.

But, if they must come out twice because they do not have the bits (assuming a washer might be rather common) then can they charge travel twice? I could ask my plumber friend.

surfisup1000

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#1012188 25-Mar-2014 08:11

Dratsab:
surfisup1000: I did this myself , having had a friend who was a plumber show me how.

I think the rubber washer was $3.00, time was 10 minutes tops, maybe.

Not sure if it was the exact same thing you had done though.

One thing though -- those washers are garbage -- they get 'blistering' which causes them to leak. I can't believe they can't make a washer that doesn't blister after a year.

Even $3.00 is on the expensive side. I recently replaced a rubber washer in one of my two header tanks (same setup as a cistern) so brought 2 washers as I figured it'd be good to have a spare - $1. 50 for the two. Twenty minutes of my own labour, job done.

I think the OEM part costs $30. $3 was from memory, it may have been a bit less.

Aredwood

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#1012819 25-Mar-2014 22:58

surfisup1000:
Handle9:
joker97: When I asked a plumber what he charges he said includes travelling time from the previous job. That's crazy.

It seems he has charged you for travelling 100km from somewhere, probably twice (first time and second time).

I'm beginning to think why anyone wants to be a lawyer just be a plumber.

This is normal practice for a service based business - you'll find this with electricians etc. If you ask someone to come to you the cost of travelling there is a legitimately chargeable expense. If you are coming to replace a washer, which should be a 20 minute job it's not unreasonable.

It's not normal for quoted work - these are normally bigger jobs where travel is a much less significant part of the cost of the job, or it gets costed onto the job if it's a small job.

But, if they must come out twice because they do not have the bits (assuming a washer might be rather common) then can they charge travel twice? I could ask my plumber friend.

Short answer - yes. Since it was time that was required to do the job. If they weren't doing that job for you they could be working for someone else. And charging their time to them.

If you ask a lawyer to represent you in court, Im sure they will charge for the time they spend driving from their office to the courthouse.

Problem is Van stock = money. Keeping a large amount of stock isn't free. Therefore someone who keeps alot of van stock has higher overheads than someone who doesn't.

If it is a common washer. You could try asking for a discount. And the only washers I would call really common are the Dux/Caroma flushing valve washer, The Geberit flushing valve washer, The Nefa reducing valve washer. Standard 15mm tap washers. And the washers that go in the ends of washing machine hoses.

And if it is an uncommon washer you will just end up annoying whoever is responsible for accounts.

Almost any washer that is for an inwall cistern would count as a uncommon washer. Same with washers for flushing valves. (Toilet flushed directly from a remote header tank or from the council main). Problem is some people always complain about anything just to try and get a discount. Which in turn makes it harder to get a discount for people who have a genuine complaint.

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#1012855 26-Mar-2014 07:40

KiwiNZ: $40 each for Stopcock washers, holly heck are the Titanium implanted. Sheesh Also $320 for labour seems a tad steep,

Yes, plumbing parts are super, ridiculously expensive.

You know Bunnings has toilets - complete- for $139?

Often if you need a tank, or the bowl it's cheaper to buy that instead?
However, his labour is excessive.

Are you rural? I know some charge $1 per KM....even so, that's high.

pctek

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#1012864 26-Mar-2014 08:04

I asked husband.
The ballcock itself is expensive.
However the washers are not. Less than $1.

He'd charge $80 for that, inc travel, labour.

Did this guy itemise? Did he charge 2 labours - himself plus apprentice or some such?

Travel at some massive distance?
I know down South they used to charge excessively at $1 per km.
Even so you must be a long way......

surfisup1000

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#1012870 26-Mar-2014 08:17

pctek:
KiwiNZ: $40 each for Stopcock washers, holly heck are the Titanium implanted. Sheesh Also $320 for labour seems a tad steep,

Yes, plumbing parts are super, ridiculously expensive.

You know Bunnings has toilets - complete- for $139? Often if you need a tank, or the bowl it's cheaper to buy that instead?
However, his labour is excessive.

Are you rural? I know some charge $1 per KM....even so, that's high.

We recently had some work done to repair something at our holiday house... every tradesperson (out of 3) quoted $1 per km.

Our job required some rather expensive parts, tools, and skill (installing a new door lock) and ended up costing around $300 in total. This seemed fair to me as it was a fairly long trip for them. Hopefully this door lock will survive the marine conditions better than the last.

networkn

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#1012911 26-Mar-2014 09:25

Well travel was 10 minutes, and 5KM from our inlaws place, so travel isn't really a consideration. Still no word from them. I am going to put $135 in a cheque to them.

surfisup1000

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#1012913 26-Mar-2014 09:27

networkn: Well travel was 10 minutes, and 5KM from our inlaws place, so travel isn't really a consideration. Still no word from them. I am going to put $135 in a cheque to them.

Let us know their response.

Batman

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#1012959 26-Mar-2014 10:01

Travel is from previous job not from home.

They love fixing baches far away then come to your place. Twice. :)

pctek

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#1013592 27-Mar-2014 08:09

networkn: Well travel was 10 minutes, and 5KM from our inlaws place, so travel isn't really a consideration. Still no word from them. I am going to put $135 in a cheque to them.

Bad idea.
What you need to do is tell him you dispute it, then pay nothing and take it to Disputes Tribunal.

andrewNZ

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#1013594 27-Mar-2014 08:16

pctek:
networkn: Well travel was 10 minutes, and 5KM from our inlaws place, so travel isn't really a consideration. Still no word from them. I am going to put $135 in a cheque to them.

Bad idea.
What you need to do is tell him you dispute it, then pay nothing and take it to Disputes Tribunal.

I agree. At the very least, if you do send a cheque, it needs an accompanying letter stating that you believe the cost is bollocks and that banking the cheque puts an end to the matter.

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