Recently I had to have some emergency work done on my central heatingboiler. At the time, the work HAD to be done, so I didn't question thecost. I was informed in advance as to the cost of the parts andrequested a nbreakdown of the cost of each part on the invoice.However, it wasn't until after I had paid (by VISA) that I investigatedthe price of each individual part online.I compared the online price with the manufacturers price and, wherepossible, the B&Q price. The average overall price for the four partswas UKP240 plus VAT. I was charged UKP657 plus VAT. Note that thelabour charge was costed separately.I have written to the company to request, politely, an explanation forthe difference and today I received a reply clarifying this.Apparently, as the company offer a 'rapid response service, the highcost of offering this service" is reflected in their charges and theirpart mark up.Funny, I thought UKP47.50 for each half hour labour charge would usethat ecxcuse.So, experts out there, do I have any justification in pursuing thisfurther, or do I just put it down to experience and accept that Ishould have got more written quotes and gone with a recommended plumberrather than Yellow Pages.

No, yes, yes, yes.You can charge anything you like if the purchaser is told the (correct)price in advance (as seems to be the case here). Had they said it would be"about £" and then charged £, you mighthave had a case.

Overcharged by a plumber ?

Dec 02, 2004 41 Replies

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Al 21 years ago

StealthUK wrote:-

As I explained earlier in the thread, I was given to understand that the old style PCB (since ugraded by Glowworm) had no fuse, therefore the pump blew the PCB and the fan. The replacement PCB will cause only the fuse to blow. Plausible, but as I do not have the old parts I cannot prove this. I make no excuses for my idiocy, but that does not give anyone the right the take advantage of that idiocy without being on the receving end of as much trouble as I can cause them.

The parts WERE replaced, I watched him do it, and the advert in Yellow Pages uses a valid CORGI registration number.

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StealthUK 21 years ago

It's not about idiocy. These guys work on the common decency of others. They act like your 'mate' and as if they're trying to help you out. You in return don't want to offend them by questioning them too much.

Yellow

Well the number may check out but that doesn't mean the guy who actually turned up was Corgi registered. But unless you got a mugshot it will be hard to prove anything. :-)

If you get nowhere through the normal channels there are always other ways! Good Luck :-)

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