A plumbing crisis can occur at any time and it is rarely convenient to have a repair done. Knowing how a plumber charges for his services can prevent a shock to your pocket.
Call-Out Fees and What They Cover
The call-out fee is usually between £50 and £150 for emergency plumbers to attend to your problem. They may include the first half an hour of work in the call-out fee but often there is an additional charge for the actual work that is done. It is always best to ask for the price before they attend.
Hourly Labour Rates
For labour, the charges range from £80-£150 per hour. It is also worth noting that a few emergency plumbers will quote the time it takes for them to travel from their depot to your location before the labour charge begins. It’s worth checking how they charge for time before they start work.
Out-of-Hours Uplifts
Evening, weekends, and bank holiday call-outs can often command a 50% to 100% premium to normal rates. While an emergency plumber in Cheltenham might quote you a flat rate for an out-of-hours call, it’s best to get the full amount including VAT clearly stated in the quote before agreeing to it.
Parts and Mark-Ups
The parts themselves are typically marked up by around 20% to 40% and it is standard practice for a plumber to get you to sign for an itemized list of the parts used, shown against the price you paid for them.
VAT on the Final Invoice
VAT will be 20% on the top of the labour and parts charged by a VAT registered plumber. This will add to the overall cost, so a proper invoice will detail the labour, parts, VAT and the total amount including VAT.
Getting a Fair Price
Ask for a written estimate before work commences. There is more on Emergency Plumber Cheltenham at hprservicesltd.com/emergency-plumber-cheltenham/. Should the final bill differ to the agreed price, your rights are outlined by Citizens Advice regarding a trader charging more than agreed.
With a bit of planning you can avoid getting a nasty surprise when it comes to paying the bill for your emergency plumber.
