I had a plumber come over to inspect a leak I had, and I showed him exactly where it was and how the pipes ran. He said I would need to remove my tile before he could fix it, but that's all he did during the visit. Now I've received a bill for $174. This includes a $50 trip charge and a $124 labor charge for essentially just looking at the problem and discussing it with me. There was no mention of these charges before he came out. How should I approach this situation? Should I try to contest the bill or just settle for the trip charge?
3 Answers
You definitely want to reach out to the plumber and get clarity on this bill. It seems like they might be trying to charge you for what’s typically a consultation or diagnostic visit, which most places don’t bill you for unless it’s disclosed upfront. Politely explain that you weren't informed about the charges beforehand and try negotiating down to just paying the trip fee.
Honestly, I’ve been in a similar spot, and I totally get your frustration. Most companies will have a standard trip charge, but it should be communicated to you beforehand. If the plumber was just there to look at things and didn’t actually perform any work, then it feels excessive to charge you that much. Try to negotiate down; being polite yet firm usually helps in these situations.
Thanks for the encouragement! I’ll make sure to stay calm when I call.
Yeah, I'd also suggest giving them a ring. Let them know that there was no discussion of potential charges when you scheduled the inspection. Many plumbers do have standard fees for diagnostic visits, but if you weren’t informed about this, it’s definitely worth arguing for a reduction in the bill.
Great advice! I plan to call them soon.