Tiggy Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 its been a long time since i had to call out any tradesmen but the mixer tap in my kitchen broke this week and I was unable to turn it off. Hot and cold water pouring down the sink. I found a firm in the yellow pages and they sent a very nice chap around quickly - I'd had no idea how much an hour these people charge £75 per 30mins !!! plus VAT at 20% plus 5% because they don't accept cheques and I had to use my credit card. All in all cost me £1025 to replace my broken mixer tap Anyone out there know if thats the going rate or not or should I get hold of some organisation or another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Have you typed the right figure there? When I had a new mixer tap put on last year I got charged £30 & it was done in 20 minutes!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Good grief. I hate to say it, but you have been well and truly ripped off, even taking into account that fact that it was an 'emergency' job. Did they state their terms and conditions and costs before they started the job? Did you sign anything? I'd be thinking of referring them to trading standards/OFT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 That's a huge amount I had a friendly handy man fit new basin & bath taps a few weeks, think he charged about £60 - he painted our bath panel for us while he was here too! We'd already bought the taps when they were on offer, think they were about £50, so still nowhere near your figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 I could believe it either, but he said all the local firms charge about the same. Im definately in the wrong job!!! Trading standards sounds like a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Is that really the right amount? by my very rough calculations that would mean he spent ten hours repairing the tap ... surely that's not right. I definitely think you should go to Trading Standards if that's what he charged you. Did you get a receipt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Olly & Eglutyne are right. What was agreed beforehand (it doesn't need to be in writing), how long did he spend there & what does the final receipt say? Ring round a few other local plumbers, mentioning no names & ask what they would have charged. What a cowboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 That seems too much. I know some firms try it on in an emergency. A friend recently asked me about a plumber as they had been quoted a very high call out figure. They contacted the firm I always use who charged £30 plus the cost of the new mixer tap. I think it all came to around £100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Good grief. I hate to say it, but you have been well and truly ripped off, even taking into account that fact that it was an 'emergency' job. Did they state their terms and conditions and costs before they started the job? Did you sign anything? I'd be thinking of referring them to trading standards/OFT. Ditto. Husband isn't a plumber as such but he does do plumbing when he fits kitchens & bathrooms,so often gets called out for emergencies. He wouldn't charge a 10th of that to fix a mixer tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 My son, who is a plumber has just come home and says that if the tap had been replaced with a fairly standard unit, you shouldn't have expected to pay more than £150 and even that is going some. The job shouldn't have taken more than 15 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 they charge £75 every half hour and he was here for 3 and a half hours and charged me another 30mins for getting the new tap and fittings which cost £225, he added 20% VAT and another 5% because they don't accept cheques so I had to use my card. Ive rung the company and spoken to the boss today to complain about the cost and pointed out that his labour charges are double what local plumbers are charging. I had no idea what plumbers charge and with water pouring everywhere wanted it fixed. I accept that I have an old house and nothing is ever straight forward but goodness me it was quite a shock when I was handed the bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Have you been able to verify the actual retail price of the tap & fittings? Goodness why he spent 3 1/2 hours on it. I'd contact Watchdog at the very least as well as Trading Standards,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 That's shocking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 3 1/2 hours to change a tap? I have no experience with plumbing, but could probably do it in less time. I'd be straight onto the Boss and kick off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I need a local plumber ...but I don't know who I can trust so I am in a similar situation...I would pay what they asked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 its been a long time since i had to call out any tradesmen but the mixer tap in my kitchen broke this week and I was unable to turn it off. Hot and cold water pouring down the sink. I found a firm in the yellow pages and they sent a very nice chap around quickly - I'd had no idea how much an hour these people charge £75 per 30mins !!! plus VAT at 20% plus 5% because they don't accept cheques and I had to use my credit card. All in all cost me £1025 to replace my broken mixer tap Anyone out there know if thats the going rate or not or should I get hold of some organisation or another? COntact your local council - mine has a scheme to stop these kind of traders! FInd out if you have one locally. Then complain to the OFT - I did with a company last year and with my evidence and other peoples - they were taken to court and fined! Can I be very rude? Are you elderly? - If so some areas have schemes running in conjunction with the police to put an end to these cowboys - it may not get your money back - but it could stop other vulnerable people being taken advantage of! Fir the future.....ask around your friends - someone muct know of a good workman who can be trusted in the future - it would pay to have his number handy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
