Please Use Caution When Considering Jim’s Plumbing

Lsilu on 11/06/2018 - 12:28
Last edited 14/06/2018 - 21:13

We requested to install three sets of taps; shower, basin and bath, with us supplying all materials required to complete the job. Labour was $47 per 15 mins plus a $73 attendance fee. The tradesman arrived, but remained in the vehicle for 15 mins, (I later found out they bill on the time of the GPS arrival, not the time they actually enter the property). From the moment he did actually enter the property his main concern was in selling his tapware products rather than completing the task we had asked him to perform (which is to install the tapware we’d purchased). Of the three and a quarter hours billed, over 75 minutes according to our security cameras was spent by him not working, but trying to sell. This amounted to a charge for his sale pitch on our bill of $235.00. A further 30 mins ($94) was spent and billed while he was making personal calls or playing with his phone. Of the three tasks assigned, he only completed two. The total labour charge for this visit was $793.00, which after a complaint was reduced to $650.00, of which only one hour and fifteen minutes ($235.00) was actually spend by their (sales) representative, in the bathroom working (which was to install the tapware we had already purchased).

The above is my personal opinion in the form of a review, of the services provided and is in no way intended to influence the purchasing behaviour of others

Home & Garden Jims Plumber Plumbing

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 11/06/2018 - 12:40
    +7

    Plenty of YouTube videos how to diy this job. Plumber not required.

    A good plumber, assuming no major hurdles, could complete this job in under 60 minutes.

    • fantombloo on 11/06/2018 - 14:59
      +6

      Plumber not required.

      Unfortunately not true for a large number of people. I don't know whether it's a good or bad thing (I have my opinions!) but increasingly people are not bothering to teach/learn basic maintenance tasks for houses and cars. Without a grounding, even following step by step instructions like on YouTube may be daunting for many.

      • SlickMick on 12/06/2018 - 21:25
        +2

        It is true for all. You could find someone cheaper than $47/15 minutes to install taps. That does not require a plumbing licence.

  • Nugs on 11/06/2018 - 12:42
    +1

    ACA em.

  • mrsi on 11/06/2018 - 12:45
    +13

    I wouldn't pay it. If you genuinely have security cam footage showing how long he spent working, I would only pay that amount.

    • upper69 on 11/06/2018 - 14:43
      -5

      The plumber did not charge per hour, he charged for a certain amount of work. If you agreed to pay a quoted price then it should be your concern how he uses his time as long as the job gets done within a reasonable amount of time.
      Another thing is that OP could have googled or asked someone how much time it roughly takes to get this job done. And the ask plumber why is he charging $700 for 90min work!

      • [Deactivated] on 12/06/2018 - 10:29
        +1

        Well he actually did charge per (15 min) not by the job. Also they were not provided with an accurate $ for the time - they were given 3 different amounts.

        Finally, as noted in the OP he did not get the work done in reasonable time and did not complete all of the work specified. So…

    • [Deactivated] on 13/06/2018 - 10:34

      pay the amount you think. Send them a written signed letter detailing it as you have here.

      They may end up sending it to debt collectors but don't worry debt collects are really toothless tigers (I used to be one). They will threaten to take your court, along with fake solictor letters and screw up your credit rating but they wont actually do either of these as this sort of debt is not something that can be listed on your credit report unless it goes to court. It is not worth while going to court for an amount like this.

  • bobbified on 11/06/2018 - 13:10
    +4

    I was quoted three separate rates, first the lowest rate at the point of booking over the phone, then a higher rate when ‘Adam’ (the tradesman) arrived, and finally the highest rate when we received the invoice.

    How much were the quotes to start with? First the phone one and then the one that "Adam" gave? How different are they to the final price?

    Sometimes people come across as easy to rip off and/or gullible and other people try to take advantage of that.

    Jim's operates under a franchise model so I would contact head office first and raise a case of overcharging to see if there's any outcome.

  • dcep on 11/06/2018 - 13:39
    +3

    airtasker next time

  • Melb69 on 11/06/2018 - 13:45
    +1

    Did they offer a fixed price. Or was it on an the 15min rate. You might of been better of getting a few quotes. One over the phone and then maybe 1 after inspection of site and what they need to do. There must be plumbers that give free quotes. Like did they advise it was going to be that high before they started as you may not have been able to pay from the start. At least had the opportunity to say no thanks. No wonder why all the plumbers own brand new utes with trailer hitch for their 80k wakeboard boats and twin off dirt bikes and trailers. Or is that twin jet skis.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/06/2018 - 16:22
      +2

      twin off dirt bikes and trailers. Or is that twin jet skis.

      By my observation it is both

  • upper69 on 11/06/2018 - 14:23
    +6

    In my opinion, Op's made a mistake by letting franchise plumbing company do the job. The plumber who turned up for work obviously didn't spend years building company's name and reputation by providing excellent service, Jim did it. The plumber simply taking advantage of an established well-known brand and charging higher because he still has to pay a percentage to Jim's empire.
    Should have called Tom Sawyer's plumbing and let Tom do all the work. At least there is a better chance that Tom would have cared more to keep his customers satisfied.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 12/06/2018 - 13:42
      +1

      Pretty sure Tom Sawyer would've had the client do all the work.

  • MITM on 11/06/2018 - 14:31
    +1

    Pay the phone (lowest) rate. He's probably not happy he can't mark up the tapware because you supplied it. Ring Jims and tell them how much difference there is between the phone quote and final bill. 15% variance is acceptable, but no more.
    I would think all Jims plumbers must belong to a Plumbers Association. Report him as overcharging, they wont like it as they try to keep their industry "clean".

  • Sofie519 on 11/06/2018 - 15:59
    +5

    That's why I never accept an hourly rates quote. If they give you an hourly rate, and estimate the time it takes for them to do the job etc, IT NEVER ENDS WELL, because it's never their fault if it takes longer. It was only an estimate.
    I always insist for an actual quote of the whole job! surely they know how much to charge to change 3 taps. That way anything waste of time, is wasted on their time

    • foxmulder on 11/06/2018 - 18:14
      +1

      Yes, those hourly rate should have been made illegal for this kind of task. If they are very competence, they will know how long and (thus) how much they will charge for the whole job.

  • foxmulder on 11/06/2018 - 16:17
    +3

    If I'm you I will contact the franchise company first to complain. It seems you pay for their incompetence.

  • chumlee on 11/06/2018 - 16:26

    Over the phone is hard to quote and may have been subject to inspection so i wpuld just pay the price Adam gave you.

    I got a quote of Jim's Plumbing a few years ago & was 3 times the next highest quote & 4 times the quote i went with.

  • vinni9284 on 11/06/2018 - 16:48

    Yep. Totally agree with OP!
    Used them once, emergency leak, charged like a wounded bull for idling as well as work, paid them for the job .. adios and never again!

  • geeza182 on 11/06/2018 - 17:36

    This work is licenced and has to be done by a licensed plumber by law. Warranty voided if not done by plumber too.its a shame these guys give plumbers a bad reputation.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/06/2018 - 17:51
      +1

      This work is licenced and has to be done by a licensed plumber by law.

      Fair enough the initial rough in etc but to replace tapware? You don't need a plumber to replace a washer and it's not much different to that. Weird rule.

      Edit: maybe you do need a plumber to replace a washer???

      • onetwothreefour on 11/06/2018 - 18:35

        Replacing a washer is about the only thing you are allowed to DIY

    • SlickMick on 12/06/2018 - 21:32

      ??

      If you shop around, not all warranty's require plumber installation. If OP bought tapware that requires a plumber, he needs to decide whether the warranty is worth that extra expense.

      Personally, I find products I can install myself. Otherwise, I would still install myself, and prepare for war if I need a warranty claim and prove item was not fit for purpose and my installation was not a factor.

  • geeza182 on 11/06/2018 - 19:09

    Technically as a washer is a backflow mechanism it's plumbing work.

  • altomic on 11/06/2018 - 19:43
    +1

    over 75 minutes according to our security camera’s was spent by him not working, but trying to sell.

    send that to Jims plumbing as part of your complaint

  • Scrooge McDuck on 11/06/2018 - 23:12
    +3

    Please Use Caution When Considering Jim’s Plumbing

    I didn't read the OP (seriously, who has time for that?), but I'll be sure to avoid serving spicy foods to Jim.

  • Candour on 12/06/2018 - 07:24

    in all these cases lodge a dispute and fight it through the consumer tribunals set up. make sure your legl case is airtight and you have all the evidence at hand.
    trades are a hit and miss affair.
    hard to find honest businessmen who are not greedy - see the big banks who do this in a white collar way.

  • psdillon on 12/06/2018 - 12:11
    +3

    Compile the footage, send it to both ACA and Jim's, and see who bids the highest. I'm sure you'd make at least $10,000 out of the experience.

  • SlickMick on 12/06/2018 - 21:36
    +1

    Good tradespeople are hard to find. It's great when you have somebody good and trustworthy. I've had a good run lately, and it feels good.

    You should have asked around beforehand. There are probably better places for inquiring and leaving feedback than here, though here is good too.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/06/2018 - 10:35

    Don't use Jims for anything they are notorious for overcharging.

    However as you supplied the taps you could end up in a difficult situation if there is a warranty problem with them and you need a plumber to remove them and replace them, legally you probably could lodge a claim with the supplier of the taps but they will really stuff you around on that.

    It is best to get tradespeople to supply and install, if there is any warranty problem then it is all on them for labor costs.

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