How To Ensure Your Plumber Does Not Over Charge You
August 20, 2010 by Charlotte Buckley
Filed under Finance
It is often said that you will never see a poor plumber! This is because they are in short supply and high in demand, so knowing how to ensure your plumber does not over charge you is mainly a matter of smart handling.
It is important to be very careful. Never ever pay in cash for a door to door service. Insist on checking their identification, specifically by getting in contact with the local trade association. There have been numerous reports of vulnerable people being targeted for this kind of sham work. If you are a carer or know an elderly neighbour, it is vital you make sure they know about this as they are the ones most likely to fall victim to this kind of work.
For a larger job, such as a kitchen fitting you will often be asked for a deposit before the job. A reputable plumber should not ask for the full price before starting work. If they do insist on the full amount upfront, then it is extremely important you do not take them on.
Having chosen your plumber, the next part is to draw up a clear contract. There should be a reasonable time frame, the price of materials clearly shown and the price of the labour itself. It is also worth checking if there are any guarantees or insurance, making sure that they will correct any mistakes and cover any accidental damage.
When getting a quote, you must make sure it clearly states what the cost of the parts and labour will be, as well as the eventual time frame of the work done. Make sure you get the full amount of information from them, such as if there are any guarantees or insurance with their work.
With half of enquiries on search engines being for local services, it is worth searching for forums and news stories about the companies you are getting the quotes from. If they have a bad reputation then it is best to avoid them and find the more reputable companies.
Like any contract, this is an agreement between two parties and should benefit each of you on equal terms. There are templates available online that can help you fill out an unambiguous, plain English contract. A decent plumber should be fair and want to work on those terms. If you want any more information on this, contact your local plumbing trade association.
Looking for a way to ensure your plumber does not over charge you ? Get the ultimate low down on top notch UK plumbers in our Plumbers Ealing and Plumbers Twickenham guide.
