Did I get ripped off?

Plumber came to house to do repair several matters that needed fixing! He charged $115.00 and hour! He claimed he was here for 2.5 hrs, but the most he was at the house was 1 hr, but then he said well, I went to get the parts I needed to the store. He even billed me for that time! grrrrrr, I almost said sarcastically, well you should have billed me for the mileage as well, but I did not! I paid him and he left.

My bill was almost $350.00 Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Cost for parts was minimal.

And I live in a city where labor is cheap! Sure my derriere!

Sorry people, but I am venting.

Oh well, at least I don't (I hope he did a good job, we shall see!) have plumbing problems anymore, but what a bill.

PS The plumber came highly recommended, now I know why the highly, his fees!

him charging you for his labor & parts is all he should have charged. You should NOT have been charged for the time it took him to get the necessary parts..that sounds ridiculous to me..

I agree dear, and I know better, I am an attorney, but instead of getting into a heated argument with im, I just let it go.

He told me initially when he first came to my house that it was going to take between 3 to 4 hours, but likely 3.5 and the bill was going to be $300.00. I even bargained the fee with him. But I never asked him about his hourly rate, since I did not think plumbers billed by the hour. But then when I got his bill and I saw the little time he was here but billed me for 2.5 hrs, it was when I asked him about his hourly rate and I was numb! He charges as much as an attorney and I did tell him that (he did not know I was one) He said he had a masters, and even show me his card. A masters in plumbing that is, which is not like a College degree masters! But instead of getting into a debate, I just paid the bill and learned a lesson! :D

Lesson learned = Attorneys are not the only ones that bill by the hour! ;)

ouch!!

so is a college masters better then earning a plumbing license?
sorry alta, but the remark came across kinda arrogant...
he told you the bill was gonna run around $300...you agreed, now you feel he overcharged. i think all of us can say that about any professional at some point in time.

I worked for a private home builder for almost 6 years, I know the business fairly well from all aspects, and I can certainly tell you that, he probably got the winning hand on that bill.


As a norm, a written agreement and or QUOTE is costumary when it comes to construction/renovation or anything that involves fixing as well.
Having had a quote would have given you fair advice on what he would have been charging you and or what to expect.

All in all, no sense in arguing with a plumber, that although they work hard and long to get to where they are at, it will be a no win situation lol

During my time with the company, I also had my fair share of interaction with lawyers lol :( specially writing big fat checks to them :(



Attractive31

Christina he told me the repairs would be a 3 to 4 hours job. His bill was not stated as a flat fee but as a hourly rate bill, thus my compliant that he did not spend the hours, he stated on his bill, at my house doing repairs...

I am not putting a plumber masters down, not at all, sorry if that come out as arrogant, it was not my intention. What I was trying to convey was that it was the guy's attitude that he was bragging about his masters and then when I asked him about it was not a college masters, as he was trying to imply and as he was making it seen, but a plumbing master's license.

I just think the whole deal on how he went about billing me was deceitful.

C'est tout!

ok, that makes a bit more sense...BUT!!!! is it any different then a lawyer's bill for 10 hours upfront for a divorce($2500), anything over that $250 an hour(right down to the 2 minute phone call...rounded to 15 minutes)... has anyone seen a refund if its less then 10 hours? ;)

so *shrug*...ya pay.. for their knowledge...cause one couldn't do it oneself

I agree, you were "taken". Sorry that it happened to you.

Is he a in business for himself, or does he work for a plumbing company? If he works for a company, I would call and talk to the owner. They don't want bad press, you know. :)

YROSE, he is the owner...