WWMLD? Plumber Hack

[kiminky]

We had a plumber (who was recommended by our floor installing company) reinstall our toilet and sink after having new floor laid. He installed the sink, then went to work on the toilet-for 5 hours and 6 trips to Lowe's. Finally he gave up and said he could not get it to stop leaking and did not know why. He didn't charge me, but I gave him $15 for whatever supplies he got from Lowe's. Called new plumber to come out the next day, w/in 5 minutes, he showed me the crack in the toilet (which must have been done by previous day's plumber). New toilet-$175, installation-$224. Sent old plumber a couple texts, emails and now a mailed letter asking for him to pay for cost of new toilet. No response. WWMLD?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards

[motzie]

He's not going to call back, and you can't prove he did it anyway. I'd say your out that $175 for the new toilet.

[Captain Serious]

Around here, standard practice would have been for him to charge for all his time, even if he couldn't fix the leak, so I'd call it a wash.

[eb777888]

Haha! Good luck with that one.

[kiminky]

I figured it was a wash. I did email the flooring company to let them know they may not want to hand out his number anymore. Oh, and he didn't turn the cold water back on for the sink.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[emjacobs]

Even if the toilet was brand new you can't prove that the first plumber damaged it. It may have come damaged, been damaged by the flooring company, etc. Unless the first plumber gave it to you then he has no responsibility.

[kiminky]

Mar 5, 2014 22:46:22 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

Even if the toilet was brand new you can't prove that the first plumber damaged it. It may have come damaged, been damaged by the flooring company, etc. Unless the first plumber gave it to you then he has no responsibility.

The first plumber initially removed the toilet prior to floor installation and then attempted to reinstall. I understand we don't have 'proof', just the bills and a cracked toilet

Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards

[fezzik]

Mar 5, 2014 22:30:12 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Mar 5, 2014 22:27:27 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

Around here, standard practice would have been for him to charge for all his time, even if he couldn't fix the leak, so I'd call it a wash.

Really??  Charge for his time when he didn't fix the problem that he was spending his time hired to fix and, on top of that, damaged the property?  That just sounds wrong.  I mean, if he could charge for his time like that, then what would stop dishonest plumbers stretching out a 20 minute job to 3+ hours just because they could?

I think they usually charge a service fee, but it's not by the hour.  It's a flat fee for coming over and checking everything out.

[mrsjuleshs]

I can't believe you were charged that much to install a damn toilet. New wax ring, pluck it down on the existing bolts, tighten them and hook up the water line. Even if you have to install the toilet innards it is super simple. Even if they had to put in new bolts it takes all of 2 minutes. Can you tell we have had multiple toilet issues over the years?

[kiminky]

Mar 5, 2014 23:00:17 GMT -5 mrsjuleshs said:

I can't believe you were charged that much to install a damn toilet. New wax ring, pluck it down on the existing bolts, tighten them and hook up the water line. Even if you have to install the toilet innards it is super simple. Even if they had to put in new bolts it takes all of 2 minutes. Can you tell we have had multiple toilet issues over the years?

I was surprised by the installation cost, especially when the box the toilet came in made it sound like installation is easy peasy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards

[txgrandma]

You're stuck with the broken toilet.

As PP said that is an outrageous installation fee.

[Captain Serious]

Mar 5, 2014 22:30:12 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Mar 5, 2014 22:27:27 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

Around here, standard practice would have been for him to charge for all his time, even if he couldn't fix the leak, so I'd call it a wash.

Really??  Charge for his time when he didn't fix the problem that he was spending his time hired to fix and, on top of that, damaged the property?  That just sounds wrong.  I mean, if he could charge for his time like that, then what would stop dishonest plumbers stretching out a 20 minute job to 3+ hours just because they could?

Just recently, I was charged for someone who didn't fix the problem and spent half a day trying.  It was clear he was trying, but our slow drain was just a hair quicker when he left.  He recommend other, more expensive fixes, but we declined.