What would you do about this plumbing quote?

Posted by Helicreature@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 12 comments

I was quoted to move a radiator to a different position and replace the old with new (supplied by him) by a plumber about four weeks ago. He then decided he wanted me to supply the radiator so I asked him to revise the quote. Radiator is about £350 and the revised quote was only £110 less which I queried. He tells me that he now has an apprentice and that as he will be assisting that is the extra cost. I think it's odd that I appear to be paying for an apprentice to assist when he didn't have one at the point he originally quoted so presumably was going to do it alone. What would your response be?

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12 Comments

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Global-Mix-1786@reddit

It's already going wrong and he hasn't even started yet. Take the hint and walk away. Something tells me that you are going to regret it if you deal with this man.

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BroodLord1962@reddit

Cancel the job and get 3 quotes

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Fine_University3913@reddit

You always want 3 quotes for any job like this - it helps you narrow down what price you should be paying and finding out who the chancers are. Don’t be afraid to say no if you’re not happy with the price!

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Helicreature@reddit (OP)

Thanks and I agree - but we live in nowheresville and I must have contacted 20 plumbers in a 30 mile radius, over several months. He's the only one who turned up :(

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Markrugby23@reddit

I would ask him if he thinks it's acceptable that you pay his apprentice wages. If he has an apprentice he's obviously getting grants so the price shouldn't go up. Ask the apprentice to do the job. I got screwed over for 2 years getting paid £75 a week while the cowboy was claiming £350 for me.

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Helicreature@reddit (OP)

Thank you. You confirmed what I was thinking he was up to!

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One-eyed-bed-snake@reddit

Ditch him and get someone else in seeing as he's changing everything you wanted/agreed to. In situations like this, I always step back and think that if I'm having concerns like this before any work has even started, I'm probably going to have an even bigger nightmare getting the person back if anything goes wrong after it's finished.

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Helicreature@reddit (OP)

Wise advice - thank you.

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reddog_72@reddit

Find another plumber! One willing to do the job how you want, it's always best to get at least 2 or 3 different quotes for household jobs.

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Helicreature@reddit (OP)

Thank you - and I wish re the 3 quotes. We live rurally and I've been trying to get a plumber to even quote since February :(

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Hypselospinus@reddit

My response would be get stuffed you greedy little chancer, and I would take my business elsewhere. Even if it costs a bit more, that chancer wouldn't be getting a penny from me.

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