Advise regarding dispute with plumber

[WaxLyrical]

At least try to get a discount.

 

[Uraeus]

Unfortunately I have no idea what they have done. They are registered plumbers so we have to trust them based on that.. I have to dig up again anyway to add a drain. Which is why I dug in the first place. The numbers just don't add up on the invoice, although I don't have a degree in plumbing.

I always wondered how my granddad always knew what to do around the house to fix things.. reason he learnt was so could actually keep his pension instead of paying builders every time! I guess there is more reward in the whole DIY thing, just that time is always a factor.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Nope, you never trust them.....

Unless they can prove whats on the invoice you don't believe it.

I know thats rough and harsh, but hell too many companies are just out to screw the customer, that you have to be vigilant these days. I've had a plumber try and tell me that x y and z was done... i had my Horticultural Engineer expose said "work" area, and nothing the plumber claimed to have done was done. So I called the moron on it, and all I got was excuses, so I didn't pay a single cent on the invoice.,

 

[Uraeus]

Consumer Protection Act?

Hey folks,

Still got the plumbing debacle, haven't paid them anything yet.

Did some reading into the consumer protection act, although I cant find what the threshold is.. could only find it for Juristic Persons it is R2 Million.
Link

Pre-authorisation of repair or maintenance services
15. (1) This section applies only to a transaction or consumer agreement—
(a) with a price value above the threshold prescribed in terms of subsection (5);
and
(b) if, in terms of that transaction or agreement, a service provider supplies a
repair or maintenance service to, or supplies or installs any replacement parts
or components in, any property belonging to or in the control of the consumer,
and—
(i) the service provider has, or takes, possession of that property for the
purpose contemplated in this paragraph; or
(ii) in any other case, the consumer requests an estimate before any services
or goods are supplied.
(2) A service provider to whom this section applies, must not charge a consumer for
the supply of any goods or services contemplated in subsection (1), unless—
(a) the supplier or service provider has given the consumer an estimate that
satisfies the prescribed requirements, and the consumer has subsequently
authorised the work; or
(b) the consumer, in writing, or by another recorded manner or form, has—
(i) declined the offer of an estimate, and authorised the work; or
(ii) pre-authorised any charges up to a specified maximum, and the amount
charged does not exceed that maximum.
(3) A service provider to whom this section applies must not charge a consumer for
preparing an estimate required in terms of subsection (2) (a), including—
(a) any cost of performing any diagnostic work, disassembly or re-assembly
required in order to prepare an estimate; or
(b) any damage to or loss of material or parts in the course of preparing an
estimate, unless, before preparing the estimate the service provider has disclosed the price for
preparing that estimate, and the consumer has approved it.
(4) If a supplier has provided an estimate for any service, or goods and services, the
supplier may not charge the consumer a price for that service, or those goods and
services, that exceeds the estimate, unless after providing the estimate—
(a) the service provider has informed the consumer of the additional estimated
charges; and
(b) the consumer has authorised the work to continue.
(5) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, prescribe a monetary threshold for the
purpose of subsection (1)(a).

Consumer Protection Act

So is this saying that this only applies for "amounts above the threshold"?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

According to contract law no contract has been agreed to here. You offering to him to do the quote is an invitation of business and nothing more. No meeting of minds has taken place by the sounds of it because you did not give him permission to go ahead and do the work therefore no contract has been formed and legally you can tell him to bugger off.

However you can still be charged for the work done in achieving the quote because you agreed to that but the cost of repairs will fall to the plumber.

But get another plumber in to estimate how much he would charge for a similar job and if it's about the same and you were planning on doing the repairs anyway just pay the guy.

 

[Uraeus]

Thank you for your feedback Scott.

It is a sticky situation. Although i feel like the ass in the end which is wrong. I had no intent of it turning nasty.

Sheesh, I'm going to have to remember to be very firm with getting quotes. Don't let anyone do jack until you have a scribble on paper. Rather have that to protect the consumer and supplier

According to contract law no contract has been agreed to here. You offering to him to do the quote is an invitation of business and nothing more. No meeting of minds has taken place by the sounds of it because you did not give him permission to go ahead and do the work therefore no contract has been formed and legally you can tell him to bugger off.

However you can still be charged for the work done in achieving the quote because you agreed to that but the cost of repairs will fall to the plumber.

But get another plumber in to estimate how much he would charge for a similar job and if it's about the same and you were planning on doing the repairs anyway just pay the guy.

 

[Celine]

look - it is clear that you requested a quote from him and nothing more. sometimes one needs to be firm about things like this and take him to task on it. that way he will be very careful not to ignore the next customer when asked to "quote" and not just simply do as he so wishes. if it were me i would refuse point blank to pay any more than what a quote costs, if it costs anything at all. put your foot down and tell him you're not paying as he clearly disregarded your request and therefore you cannot trust that the job was done.