Nothing to do MFP, need your advice!!
So, I got a 900$ water bill.. apparently I have a leak.
Never called a plumber before sooooo...
Called a plumber #1, was told it was 79$/hour, and that got me two guys, they would get there, diagnose the problem, and tell me how much it was to fix.
For two days, one guy came and dug two large holes in my yard.
Pretty much said, "I have no clue where it's coming from...be back Thursday."
So Wednesday I called a new plumber, they come, find it within 10 minutes, (no where near where plumber #1 was digging) tell me the price of fixing it.
Plumber 1 calls today telling me I owe 909.50 for the10 hours of work.
My problem...1. You sent one guy when you said there would be two. 2. I was told they diagnose, then give you a quote. 3. YOU DIDN'T EVEN FIND/OR FIX ANYTHING!! 4. You're now charging me more than my original water bill for two random holes in my yard.
What do I do???
Never called a plumber before sooooo...
Called a plumber #1, was told it was 79$/hour, and that got me two guys, they would get there, diagnose the problem, and tell me how much it was to fix.
For two days, one guy came and dug two large holes in my yard.
Pretty much said, "I have no clue where it's coming from...be back Thursday."
So Wednesday I called a new plumber, they come, find it within 10 minutes, (no where near where plumber #1 was digging) tell me the price of fixing it.
Plumber 1 calls today telling me I owe 909.50 for the10 hours of work.
My problem...1. You sent one guy when you said there would be two. 2. I was told they diagnose, then give you a quote. 3. YOU DIDN'T EVEN FIND/OR FIX ANYTHING!! 4. You're now charging me more than my original water bill for two random holes in my yard.
What do I do???
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was the first guy there for 10 hours?0
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Do you have anything in writing?1
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Did you actually agree to / hire plumber #1? Did you sign any document?0
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The first plumber is a crook. But, with nothing in writing it is hard to prove anything. You can voice your displeasure and explain about the other plumber, but odds are he wants to be paid for his time even though it appears he was incompetent and dishonest about what the deal was supposed to be. You have a chance in small claims court if you can prove that the first plumber charged you without being able to diagnose the problem. That was part of the deal. Digging holes, finding nothing and leaving is not finding the problem. You would have to get the 2nd plumber to back you up on this, sometimes they will sometimes they won't. Either way, if you don't pay the first plumber could put a lien on your house. So I would first try to compromise a lesser price to plumber 1, after all they did come out.....if they refuse that, be prepared for court.1
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TavistockToad wrote: »was the first guy there for 10 hours?
Yeah, he came 2 hours Monday and then 8 Tuesday.
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Just_J_Now wrote: »Did you actually agree to / hire plumber #1? Did you sign any document?
I didn't sign anything, I thought after he found it he would be coming to tell me what it cost to fix it, or at least come up and say hey, no idea, but I'm going to keep charging you until I find it.1 -
_barefoot_ wrote: »You pay or take a chance he might take you to small claims court and if he dose maybe the judge will lower the cost cos sounds like the first plumber is robbing you .
So I should prepare for Judge Judy? lol1 -
I wouldn't pay and I would take him to small claims court if I had to. If it's not a big company and a local plumber, he would have to take time out of his day and prove he did more then he did. While you have the 2nd plumbers bill showing that you had to call another plumber to fix the issue.
Take pictures, and don't correspond unless it's in email (if you can) so you have a written record.
First, email him and ask why you owe the money, and depute the charges. That will help in court. Don't tell him you'll take him to court.
I could be wrong but I think the worst they could do is have a collection agency come after you which would hurt your credit alittle.
Also $79 and hour for 10 hours would be $790 so where is that other $119 coming from?
You may also want to do some research on him and report him to the BBB and see if others have had similar issues.
This may help in the future:
Hiring a Plumber
https://www.bbb.org/boston/industry-tips/read/tip/hiring-a-plumber-186/2 -
You pay the guy that you had dig a hole in your yard.
I have no problem paying for the service call of him coming out, but the deal was they find it, tell you what the cost will be, then you can decide to do it or call someone else. Never did I think he would be outside 10 hours and then tell me there's nothing he can do.0 -
I wouldn't pay and I would take him to small claims court if I had to. If it's not a big company and a local plumber, he would have to take time out of his day and prove he did more then he did. While you have the 2nd plumbers bill showing that you had to call another plumber to fix the issue.
Take pictures, and don't correspond unless it's in email (if you can) so you have a written record.
First, email him and ask why you owe the money, and depute the charges. That will help in court. Don't tell him you'll take him to court.
I could be wrong but I think the worst they could do is have a collection agency come after you which would hurt your credit alittle.
Also $79 and hour for 10 hours would be $790 so where is that other $119 coming from?
You may also want to do some research on him and report him to the BBB and see if others have had similar issues.
This may help in the future:
Hiring a Plumber
https://www.bbb.org/boston/industry-tips/read/tip/hiring-a-plumber-186/
Thanks for your response. "Taxes and fees" is what the dispatch lady told me for why the cost was $909.50.
I asked her to send me an invoice.
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He was incompetent that much is clear, however they did tell you the hourly rate and he was there for that amount of time. You can try to call and haggle a lower price since they didn't hold up their end of the bargain, but he'll need to be paid something for his time.1
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They told me the hourly rate was for after the leak was found.0
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They told me the hourly rate was for after the leak was found.
If you said, you're hired and do whatever you need to to fix it and left it alone, you may have to pay it.
Just gather up the facts, and document what they say so they can't change what they say later, and try to contest it.
They could just be really bad plumbers.
Also call the other company and find out why it was so easy to find the leak and if other plumbers would be expected to know what they did. You can even ask them for advice about the bad plumber.1 -
TavistockToad wrote: »was the first guy there for 10 hours?
Yeah, he came 2 hours Monday and then 8 Tuesday.
Then you have to pay him.0 -
They told me the hourly rate was for after the leak was found.
If you said, you're hired and do whatever you need to to fix it and left it alone, you may have to pay it.
Just gather up the facts, and document what they say so they can't change what they say later, and try to contest it.
They could just be really bad plumbers.
Also call the other company and find out why it was so easy to find the leak and if other plumbers would be expected to know what they did. You can even ask them for advice about the bad plumber.
So this just in, called Plumber #2 and they told me that they're services were free because it was a simple fix and they felt bad for my situation with Plumber #1. Said Plumber #1 was a joke. lol0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »was the first guy there for 10 hours?
Yeah, he came 2 hours Monday and then 8 Tuesday.
Then you have to pay him.
You'd pay him the 909 for just digging holes and not finding anything? I know people who would've done that for a case of beer. lmao0 -
Tell plumber #1 exactly what you told us in your original post. Wait for his reply.1
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They told me the hourly rate was for after the leak was found.
If you said, you're hired and do whatever you need to to fix it and left it alone, you may have to pay it.
Just gather up the facts, and document what they say so they can't change what they say later, and try to contest it.
They could just be really bad plumbers.
Also call the other company and find out why it was so easy to find the leak and if other plumbers would be expected to know what they did. You can even ask them for advice about the bad plumber.
So this just in, called Plumber #2 and they told me that they're services were free because it was a simple fix and they felt bad for my situation with Plumber #1. Said Plumber #1 was a joke. lol
Well, no matter what, at least you found a good plumber.1
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