Sally, a 49-year-old woman, experienced a plumbing emergency when a leak from her washing machine caused water damage to her flat and a neighbor's. She contacted an emergency plumber who arrived quickly and fixed the issue by replacing a rubber washer. However, she was shocked by the bill of £375 plus VAT. Sally believes the price is exorbitant for a small job and suspects she was overcharged because she is a woman living alone, as the plumber became aggressive when she refused to pay the full amount and only agreed to leave after her neighbor intervened and an invoice was agreed upon.
Consumer champion Emily explains that the charged amount is indeed excessive for the described work, with a rubber washer costing only a few pounds and typical emergency call-out fees and hourly rates for plumbers in the area being significantly lower. She advises Sally to first seek advice from Victim Support if she feels unsafe due to the plumber's intimidating behavior. Regarding the bill, Emily suggests Sally contact the plumber's company if he works for one, or his accreditation scheme if he is self-employed, to dispute the charges.
If direct negotiation fails, Emily recommends exploring alternati... download the app to read more
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