Any plumbers out there?

[thechickenchick]

Let me explain. I own a rental house in town. (we live 13 miles out.) My tennant called one morning. Her toddler had flushed something down the toilet. I called a plumber s office. The office is in a different town 15 minutes away. He said he had a employee that lives across the alley from the rental who could take care of it. This gentleman called me from his cell when he got to the house. I told him it was unlocked, go in and call me when you find something out. 22 minutes later according to cell phone records he called me and told me it was fixed and he was already gone. Yesterday I get the bill, it was $105 . I was charged for 1.5 hours of labor. Is this fair? If there is travel charges shouldn't I have been told that upfront. I know the office is in a different town but the man who fixed it did not have to travel, except from his back door to hers! Does anyone have any suggestions how to handle this? I don't want to upset them or be out of line and I will pay what is fair. But what is fair? To you plumbers, does this sound right, am I just being picky?

 

[chicken_angler]

I am not a plumber but I think that sounds a little bit pricey. I would call and check with them on what all the cost is for. Just say you werent sure why the bill is so high and if they run around and lie, use a different plumber like a handyman next time.

 

[arlee453]

Most places have an hour or two hour minimum, regardless of how much time it takes them. My plumber charges $60 per hour, plus expenses, and he's pretty reasonable compared to some big companies.

It's worth a call to the company - it may be that it was a simple mistake on the invoice to charge you that extra 1/2 hour - like the plumber said 30 min and they tacked that onto the 1 hour minimum or something.

Also was it outside of normal bus hours? If it was a weekend a lot of repair services charge extra for that.

 

[firem3]

Master plumber here and a FORMER business owner (too many headaches for me) there is an hourly minimum (mine was a 2 hr min.) you must charge to break even at the end of the day because of the price of fuel, insurance, endless business license, permits and the list goes on. every government, city, state and federal has fees that people dont think about. its crap but like everything the cost trickles down to the consumer. Also most people dont realize that plumbing supplies such as pipe fittings glue etc. is directly affected by the petroleum industry prices, most things "plumbing" are petroleum based.

 

[firem3]

so the term fair is according to the market standard in your area. if it had been me it would have been $130.00 minimum plus parts. thats the cheaper rate where im from.

 

[hooplehead]

My hubby is a master plumber and charges $75 an hour for labor. We are in a small town and his rate is cheaper than others in the area.

 

[thechickenchick]

Thank you everyone. It sounds like it is a fair bill. I guess I will just pay it and hope her little boy stops flushing things down the toilet!!

 

[DuckLady]

If he can't stop flushing, maybe she can pay the next bill.

 

[seismic wonder2]

I charge my tennenat for things like that.

If tree roots brake the pipe, or if the water heater craps out, Sure, I pay for it.
But if they clog the toilet with a kitten, brake the windows playing squash in the house, or burn up the kitchen trying to dry socks in the oven, they are on their own.
(don't ask how I came up with that list.....being a slumlord is hard work)
"You can't fix stupid"

 

[thechickenchick]

seismic, Believe it or not I never thought about that! I am new to this land lord stuff. I only have 2 so far. So far it has been pretty easy, well until now! Thank you for the advice and the giggle! You mean a kitten would clog the toilet?!