What a cheek!

[secret squirrel]

Just had a call from a customer and they have a problem with there toilet syphon, self diagnosis. The customer has already bought the part from a supplier, apparently taking the old one to the shop. I couldn't ascertain whether the customer has had a go at fitting it, would suggest someone has had a go.

I was TOLD that I can go and have a look, providing I don't charge (which I wouldn't have done) and it will only take half an hour to do. I explained like most plumbers would do,

1. its never as easy as you'd think, (otherwise you'd do it yourself, didn't say that)

2. are you sure that you've bought the correct part?

3. can I isolate the water just before the toilet?

Tried to explain that I have to travel there and back so its longer than half an hour and the job will take longer than that by the time you get rags tools etc.

Pushed on price I said probably £60, I was then told not to bother £60 for half an hour blah blah blah.

Anyway thanks, I feel better now.......

 

[ian4147]

some people dont seem to realise you have tax insurance fuel etc to pay for and like you say travelling etc before you have seen the problem and provided that is the problem,if they removed it why not just put it back unless they have buggered something in the process.there are ways of talkin to people,some peole struggle to grasp this

 

[johnmcginty]

If they are so certain of the time it will take charge £40 for "only half an hours work" if you are not finished by that time collect the £40 and wish them all the best!

p.s I think this is what the pub is for innit?

 

[bathroomboy]

I like plumbing but i hate dealing with people who want it done for nothing.

 

[stevetheplumber]

in east london we have a surplus of property developers
you turn up to do a job they then tell you that they or their brother /cousin are property tycoons with many properties and if i do a good job and charge them very little ill become their plumber and i can have all there work
i explain that it works the other way round i do this job at full price and charge less for each job they give me strangly i dont normally see them again

 

[badbob]

oh the irony..

 

[leadpig]

the ones who "think" they know what there talking about are the worst,normally the ones with money and/or a job with power.
they always reckon they know better than you and your trying to exploit them

 

[badbob]

the ones who "think" they know what there talking about

I've had that arguement with a builder, he made a bodge job said it was fine when it was not. Sorry his "years" (and his GNVQ from builders retard college) of experience mean squat when it falls to bits and he tries and worm way out of it. Anyone with half a brain would see his mistake, and tough cookie if he doesn't like it. He can lie all he likes saying it's fine, he's just a cowboy.

I have to watch them like a hawk, as they'll pull any stuff to get the job done in half the time.

 

[leadpig]

I've had that arguement with a builder, he made a bodge job said it was fine when it was not. Sorry his "years" (and his GNVQ from builders retard college) of experience mean squat when it falls to bits and he tries and worm way out of it. Anyone with half a brain would see his mistake, and tough cookie if he doesn't like it. He can lie all he likes saying it's fine, he's just a cowboy.

I have to watch them like a hawk, as they'll pull any stuff to get the job done in half the time.

no offence m8 but it works both ways,as being closely watched all the time gets annoying to say the least,this is no excuse for bad work though.
plumbing can be a very stressful job and if things don't go to plan(which they often don't) its even worse.
get the appropriate trades to do there jobs,yes i can brick up a fireplace but i would not attempt to take down a load bearing wall if that makes sense.
there are cowboys in most trades unfortunately

 

[MarkB]

.....there are cowboys in most trades unfortunately

There's good and bad on both sides of the Trade / Customer relationship.

Some customers think all trades are on the fiddle and some couldn't be nicer or more understanding. Exactly the same goes for the trades. It's about the individual - Unfortunately we all get tarred with the same brush.

When are they going to make those programmes "Customers from Hell" or "Rogue Householders"

Mark

 

[leadpig]

now that i would watch

 

[david williams]

had all of that working in london ,guy rings sayes he has a few jobs in his flat need doing,[ lives in picadily all double red lines you get a ticket even if vans on fire] i say 60 an hour he says can you come and give estimate i say no phone goes down.2 hours later same guy says ok i say it will be £70 an hour[he did not want to pay and phoned around for other quotes i have thought about it will have to be droped of by son and then picked up loss of earnings on son]phone goes down.1 hour later same guy ok £70 an hour did not do the job. pimlico plumbers can have it £150 an hour

 

[obseen16]

Had one guy about a year ago who thought we were ripping him off at every chance, in his own words "i wont let you spank ME im not a fool". the builder that was on the job was practically forced to fit the internal stuff at cost. and we had to show him the receipt for what we paid for his new boiler, it was £1500 all together and he still thought we had talked the merchants into making a fake receipt for us cos he found a boiler on the net for £400 or somet (probably the crappest boiler make you can get). then had to wait 4 months for him to pay up. then a few months later we ended up doing more work for him, needless to say this time we got some documents made up and signed so he couldnt try it on again, lol

 

[Bernie2]

Funnily enough!

I was working on a multi million pound contract as foreman of a Plumbing sub contractors. And was told that the main contractor, a well known national company, had a whole division that was specially for sorting out contract disputes.

Its not only the little guys who will dispute things it seems.

 

[heinz57]

Most of my customers are good as gold (most not all!) What is the longest that you
should wait for a bill to be paid before you go round and rip all the work out
again. Just curious to see how you guys deal with people who dont cough up for
no good reason and by the way, your comment was right on the ball leadpig! Had
one like that a while back, cheers for any comments fellas.

 

[leadpig]

there are a lot of them over here possibly because of the tax.
the working class are normally fine pay you there and then and thank you for a good job,as do the uber rich its the ones in the middle that give you grief.i now normally ask them if they want to supply,as it saves a lot of stupid questions/accusation's .
why wont they listen,you spend years getting a decent reputation do they honestly think i would damage that for a few extra quid