Plumbers - unfair reputation as bad guys

[jon]

There seems to be a glut of posts, mine included, inferring that 'most' plumbers are chancers looking for easy money. My experiences. I have had to contact 14 plumbers to get 4 quotes, of those 14, only 5 replied, 1 of which was polite enough to say that he couldn't do the work as he was fully booked up unitl late August. The rest, didn't bother getting back to me, despite me leaving messages on their answer phones asking for a quote for a supply and fit of new combi.

As for the 4 that quoted, well one was British Gas (enough said), but they were polite. The second was a large local firm, trading on length of service, they matched BG's price, however it took 2 of their engineers to work out a quote, it seemed as if they were trying to confuse me, almost like 'good cop, bad cop' or should that be good plumber, bad plumber.

The third quote, was reasonable, about 2 thirds the price of BG. He listened to what I wanted, didn't try to to manipulate boiler choice, etc, and was prepared to let me do some of the work, basically he was polite, and he also knew what he was talking about.

The last quote was from 'dodgy geezer', cash in hand, and unless I went for his choice of boiler he couldn't gurantee it would work porperly( his actual words).

All plumbers contacted were from the yellow pages in the Corgi section.

You can draw your own conclusions.

Jon

[RzB]

Hmm... I had a very similar experience recently with roofing companies...

I did end up with an averagly good (or is that averagely bad) company in the end...

It's amazing just how much crap some of them talk in an effort to make the job look almost impossible... Then don't send a quote even after prompting !

If only there were a web site...

or

Go for it someone !

On the good side, only today, I had a plumber in to give me a quote to replace my boiler. He was excellent

- so It's not all bad... :-)

Roy

[[news]]

same here. I wanted some timbers replacing on a rear valley and some new lead. one 'professional' firm, despite being provided with an accurate description of works, with diagrams, quoted me £2k + for a full strip and relay for a different part of the roof, citing nail fatigue which doesn't exist.

as usual, I did the job (the one that needed doing) myself for a fraction of that

I suppose the cowboys force us DIYers to confront our fears and get stuck in. ateotd. that can only be a good thing

RT

[Rick]

I have come to the conclusion it is most professions. In my profession

50% or the people live on buzwords and bullshit, when the real shit hits the fan they hide. It took me 4 solicitors to find a good one. I have had car mechanics rurin me car etc etc, and don't get me onto teachers or social workers.

Now the scarey bit What if 50% of doctors are crap ?

Having worked in a medical school, I see no reason to suspect that they are all competent, and there are no bovine effluent merchants amoung them.

Rick

[daddyfreddy]

I would never contact anyone in the Yellow Pages. That's not to say they're all crooks but IME they have been. I do all my own work but I would always advise others to get referrals from friends/family.

As for plumbers having an unfair reputation....hmm. They are making very good money, especially down here in London. They can pick or choose what work they want to do as they're spoilt for it. Supply and demand at the end of the day but like Estate Agents and anyone else creaming it I'm not going to defend them.

[andrewpreece]

Same with builders. Half of them are uncontactable. Half of the remainder aren't interested. Half of the remainder say they will come around and give a quote but never actually turn up. Actually I think half is being optimistic, more like three-quarters should be substituted for where I've used half. Result, I do all jobs myself, plumbing, boiler installation, replacing fascia boards, guttering, painting windows, building walls, laying patios, building pergolas, repointing, painting, etc. Also, they never do a job to the same standard that I would do it. Mind you, it does help that I'm 'between jobs'!

Andy.

[Owain]

Don't tell them that at the jobcentre or they'll probably send you on a Wheelbarrowing For Numpties NVQ

Owain

[The Natural Philosopher]

They are actively looking for a complete sucker. If you are not, there are more who are.

[tarquinlinbin]

So did you engage any of them and if so,who? Remove antispam and add 670 after bra to email

Be a good Global citizen-CONSUME>CONFORM>OBEY

Circumcision- A crime and an abuse.

time buyers strike

Sign the petition at .....

[Huge]

1 >Remove antispam and add 670 after bra to email 2 > 3 >Be a good Global citizen-CONSUME>CONFORM>OBEY 4 > 5 >Circumcision- A crime and an abuse. 6 > 7 > 8 >First time buyers strike 9 > 10 >Sign the petition at ..... 11 > 12 > 13 > 14 >

*plonk*

[jon]

Nope, doing it myself. Then i'll get it comissioned by a corgi reg person.

[Lobster]

There's

but AFAIK it's still very 'local' to my area (and not much use either!)

[EricP]

Looks like a newish scam, a development of the local directory one.

They get Joe Public to tell them a good tale about Albert Plumber. Then they ring Albert and tell him about the good report, ask him if he wants to be added to their register, and for only x pounds a year, Joe gets a tenner for his trouble.

[Ed Sirett]

I would like to add the following observations:

1) Many of the good guys have no need to advertise at all whatsoever. No Yellow Pages, not even van stickers. They have enough customers all of whom are pleased with them.

2) The bad guys have a disproportionate presence since they are unlikely to go to the same customer twice.

3) You have to get very lucky (1 in 14 in your test) to find a reasonable fitter from the YPs. I expect that quite soon that fitter won't be in them.

4) The corgi-gas.com web site can be used to find the fitters in your area including the ones that already have enough customers.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

That really applies to all tradesmen.

Or even the likes of me as a freelance in broadcasting. I've not got an agent, or a diary service, etc. I get employed by past results or recommendation from mates.

I'm writing this on my laptop while begging outside Balham station.

[Mark]

conclusion Is that advertising, yellow pages or whatever costs money. The vast majority of good professional tradesmen have more work then they can handle, so why would they need to advertise. So Personal recommendation is realty the only way to find one.