I think I got ripped off by a sexist plumber — do I still have to pay him?

Agreeing on a price first is usually a good practice when you hire a trader, but that wasn’t an option for this week’s Metro Money Problem readers.

Sally, from Stroud, tried to fix a leak in her flat before it caused more damage than it already was, and trusted the plumber she found when he said he was affordable.

But not only did he charge the 49-year-old a much higher price than he expected, he also intimidated him when he refused to pay.

When Sally is convinced that the plumber is tricking her because she is a woman, Metro Consumer champion Sarah Davidson provides her input.

The problem…

I have no way to prove this but I just know that I was scammed in a big way because I am a woman.

On Sunday evening I noticed a large puddle of water coming from under the washing machine and then I heard a gurgling sound. I lived on the top floor of an apartment block and my heart sank when my neighbor came and told me there was water seeping under his walls. I called some emergency plumbers but they charged £150 just to turn up.

Then I brainstormed and found someone local on Facebook who agreed to come right away and said the price was affordable. In about 10 minutes he had replaced the rubber washer that had broken and was causing the hose to leak.

I was hoping to pay more for an emergency call but I was completely gobsmacked when he told me I owed him £375 + VAT. I felt sick – I lived alone and didn’t have that kind of cash. I also think it’s a total scam.

I refused to pay him, and said I would pay £200, which I still think is a lot of money for such a small job. He became very aggressive with me, demanding I pay and refusing to leave. I finally had to contact my neighbor and we managed to get him to agree to charge me and leave.

I haven’t paid him and I don’t think I should, but I’m afraid he’ll come. I really think he thinks he can get away with this because I’m a woman who lives alone. What do I have to do?

Suggestion…

When you called me about this Sally, I could hear how upset you were – and how scared. It is not acceptable for someone to intimidate you to this degree, especially not in your own home.

There are several aspects to this.

Firstly, if you are worried about bullying or threatening behaviour, seek advice from Victim Support, online or by calling their free Support Line on 0808 1689 111. You don’t need to report anything to the police to get help to stay safe.

Next, let’s look at the costs. I agree, £375 + VAT is a staggering £450 bill for what sounds like a small job. And based on what plumbers around Gloucester and Stroud are wearing, I’d say he’s definitely taking the mickey.

Although plumbers typically charge between £75 and £150 to attend an out-of-hours emergency, plus the cost of any labor and parts, the typical hourly rate is around £75 to £150. Rubber washers cost a few pounds from Screwfix.

It might be reasonable (though still interesting) for him to charge you around £200 – the highest amount.

After that, the next problem you face is that you are disputing the bill and you need to find a way to resolve the problem.

The law states that rates must be ‘reasonable’ so it’s worth contacting some local plumbers to ask what they charge for the job.

You need to find out if he works for a company, and if so, the first step is to contact them directly to complain. They may agree to negotiate a lower price, especially if you speak politely to them, explain why you think the price is too high, and let them know that your neighbors are nearby and can corroborate how long it will take to do the job.

If he works for himself, find out if he is accredited through an approved scheme overseen by WaterSafe.

If you can’t reach an agreement on his claims directly with him, you may be able to complain to the scheme he is registered with – especially if he states how much he will charge you or gives you a quote before carrying out the work. Make sure you share written evidence of this – such as a Facebook message – as part of the complaint.

Another option is to contact WaterSafe directly on 0333 207 9030.

But if it still doesn’t work, you might consider using alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which is a lower-cost way to resolve disputes without having to go to court but involving a third party to mediate the deal.

For further free and confidential advice on this, call Citizens Advice customer service on 0808 223 1133.

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