Dealing with a Tradie

Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 19:22
Last edited 12/12/2024 - 22:21 by 1 other user

Just need opinions from unbiased folk to tell me if i am in the wrong.

Needed to replace an old hot water system. Hired one from Airtasker who had good reviews. Wouldn’t give me a quote or even a rough estimate before having a look. Fair enough I said. Had a look then told me he would replace it with a reliable system total cost would be $1400. I asked how much is the system he is getting and he said around $1100. I said: “sounds good go ahead.” All of that was over the phone as we were both at work and I asked my brother to go there just to let him in.

He later sent me photos and what he got was slightly bigger than the space, so the cupboard doesn’t shut all the way. About 5 cm gap. I was a bit frustrated, but I was like oh well that is a problem for another day and didn’t want to be too difficult and ask him to replace it with something that actually fits.

I then looked up the heater he got and turns out it is from Bunnings and costs $820. I asked him for the invoice of the heater so I can claim warranty if needed. He is refusing to send me the invoice and coming up with all lame excuses that are clearly lies and not worth repeating here.

This guy is just a sole trader so I am probably on my own if the system breaks down in a couple of years. I don’t want to shaft the guy but he is saying he wouldn’t mind coming back to rip it out as he had done similar things in the past. I then told him to just send me the invoice regardless of how much he paid for it, and I would still pay him $1400 and call it a day as I don’t like escalating these kind of issues but at the same time, I am not a pushover.

What do you guys think?

Edit: all sorted. He finally sent me the Bunnings receipt. He was just trying to cover the fact that he paid $820 not $1100 for the system that he was going to buy “from Reece” according to him.

Thanks everyone.

Home & Garden Plumbing

Related Stores

Airtasker
Airtasker

Comments

  • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 19:25
    +1

    Is the installer qualified? Did you receive a compliance certificate?

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 19:26
      -3

      He did say he was a qualified plumber on airtasker. His invoice says handyman.

      • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 19:28

        Gas or electric unit?

        • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 19:39

          Electric.

          • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 19:50
            +2

            @Save 50 Cent: @Jimothy Wongingtons is the installer required to provide a certificate of testing and compliance in Qld for HWS replacement?

            • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/12/2024 - 22:07
              +1

              @MS Paint: I don’t know, but it’s a bloody good question.

            • Muffinman01 on 13/12/2024 - 09:36
              +2

              @MS Paint: I had one replaced in QLD earlier in the year, and yes the installer is required to complete a Form 4 for a HWS replacement.

      • Gunnar on 12/12/2024 - 20:22
        +1

        He did say he was a qualified plumber

        By the sounds of things the key word is was

        As per other advice, approach the consumer affairs agency about your issues (make sure you keep written logs of your communication - email works a treat for issues like this)

        Also there’s the ATO you can log it with
        https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s000000Qt5n/p002…

  • ihfree on 12/12/2024 - 19:25
    -1

    How did this guy compare to other quotes?

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 19:27
      -3

      He was the first to reply and i just assigned it to him. We hate having cold showers

      • ihfree on 12/12/2024 - 19:54
        +5

        There's still generally time to call around and get a few quotes. You could have saved 50 cents.

        • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 20:09
          +1

          I did call around. No plumber was available to do it within a couple of days. No point arguing about what i could have done differently. I just want to know if supplying the original purchase invoice is a reasonable request and should i stand my ground?

  • timthetoolman on 12/12/2024 - 19:25
    +1

    If you were happy with the price then it doesn't really matter what the labour /parts split was.
    If you wanted it cheaper, could have sourced it yourself.

    Are you saying he's offering to just take it back out completely and not replace it at all?
    If you haven't paid him, don't. Let him fix it properly or remove it and be done with it.

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 19:28
      +6

      I am happy to pay him and told him that. Just need a receipt so i can claim warranty if needed.
      His offer was more of a threat i think.

  • randomusername2017 on 12/12/2024 - 19:29
    +3

    around $1100 delivered

  • SBOB on 12/12/2024 - 19:29
    +12

    what he got was slightly bigger than the space so the cupboard doesn’t shut all the way

    Screams quality tradesperson.

  • sidesw1pe on 12/12/2024 - 19:49
    +2

    "Hired one from airtasker who had good reviews"

    I guess you can leave him a "good" review too. Just let the facts do the talking.

  • JIMB0 on 12/12/2024 - 19:52

    Why didn't you go down to Bunnings, buy it and install yourself? A handyman is no more qualified than you are. If you really want to escalate things you could get the building commission onto him for performing unlicensed work.

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 20:04
      -1

      Question is: is it reasonable to demand the invoice so i can claim warranty if needed? Because he won’t entertain me again the moment the payment is received. I am not debating anything else.
      This guy appears to be a handyman with abn that is not gst registered. I only realised that from the invoice he sent met. He said he was a qualified plumber before.

      • yippy on 12/12/2024 - 21:38
        +12

        Read the fine print of the warranty, some warranties won't cover if it isn't installed by a qualified plumber.

        • xuqi on 12/12/2024 - 22:45
          +3

          Pretty much every warranty I've come across where a plumber is normally required, is void if not installed by a qualified licensed invidual or business.

          Insurance coverage / payout would also be an issue, should an issue arise caused by the appliance.

      • DoctorCalculon on 13/12/2024 - 20:51

        He said he was a qualified plumber before.

        WTF does that mean? He is either licensed or he is not.

        Would you hire an electrician without checking their REC number (QEC in QLD)?

  • altomic on 12/12/2024 - 19:55
    +5

    bunnings has an installation service.

    why didn't you do some research first?

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 20:05

      Will keep that in mind for the future. Thanks.

  • wimpykid on 12/12/2024 - 20:08
    +1

    Ask him to provide his own companys invoice mentioning warranty

    • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 20:10
      -3

      Bro is handyman with an abn registered a week ago. I just rushed into hiring him without asking for certification and shit.

      • djkelly69 on 12/12/2024 - 20:50
        +2

        So he had good reviews but his ABN was only registered a week ago? I appreciate this knowledge may have come after the fact, but that is something of a red flag for me.

      • wimpykid on 12/12/2024 - 22:51

        Yeah but he can now give you a invoice

  • SmiTTy on 12/12/2024 - 20:14
    +2

    If he's wiling to just take the system back and you not having to pay him, then maybe that's a good option.

    This buys you time tomorow to goto bunnings and see if you can buy one yourself or find another tradie to install it.

    I would be insisting on something for warranty purposes. Those things give you something like 7 to 10 year warranty (?) so I wouldn't be skimping out on that….

  • Sye on 12/12/2024 - 20:23
    +4

    Most plumbers would only charge $420 for labour

    • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 20:40
      +2

      I guess 69%* is most.

      *Probably

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/12/2024 - 22:08
      +1

      Yeah… per minute charged in 30 second increments.

  • skid on 12/12/2024 - 21:31
    +2

    Asking for the original invoice (or any invoice) is a reasonable request. Keep pestering him. Been in your shoes before and persisted, but didn't get an invoice.

  • Downvoter on 12/12/2024 - 22:29
    -2

    What kind of rubbish hot water system costs $1100.

    • MS Paint on 12/12/2024 - 22:32
      +3

      An $800 unit from Bunnings with a 30% markup.

      • Downvoter on 12/12/2024 - 22:34
        +1

        $300 pickup and delivery fee 🤷🏻‍♂️

        • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 22:51
          +1

          I’d love to do pick ups and deliveries for a living if it paid that much.

  • Save 50 Cent on 12/12/2024 - 22:51
    +2

    “All sorted. He finally sent me the Bunnings receipt. He was just trying to cover the fact that he paid $820 not $1100 for the system that he was going to buy “from Reece” according to him.

    Thanks everyone.

  • 7ekn00 on 12/12/2024 - 23:14
    +1

    Hired one from airtasker who had good reviews.

    At least you Save 50 Cent doing it that way …

  • shadyscab on 13/12/2024 - 06:39
    +2

    I’d be reporting the dude to the electrical safety office, they take airtasker gronks pretty seriously.

    • JIMB0 on 13/12/2024 - 12:44
      +1

      A plumber can do the electrical work if they hold a restricted electrical licence and it is like for like replacement. I doubt both are true in this case as the unit is bigger and they're not a plumber.

  • stickingly on 13/12/2024 - 08:27
    +3

    People are very trusting. I don't use any tradie that doesn't give a written quote with details of exactly what he is going to do.
    If it is someone like the concreter I used (who was recommended) who didn't know which end of the pen to hold I actually wrote up a scope for him and got him to sign it.

  • netjock on 13/12/2024 - 09:08

    The incompetence on his part.

    He quoted $1400. He could have said the hot water was $820 and not moved on the total price and sell it on the basis it is a named brand with a good warranty.

    Most tradies like on another planet where common sense goes out the window.

    I see them complain on a product all day if they don't think they'd make enough money out of it or they just don't stock it simple. Best tradie I ever had was one who sold me a boiler (in the UK, it is combined hot water and heating) and said get this brand the insides are basically the same as the top brand (because it is owned by them) but 50% of the price.

  • afah0447 on 13/12/2024 - 14:06
    +3

    Now you know why tradies in Australia are so rich!

    So few of them around because everyone went to university and now they can charge whatever they like.

    Licence to print money.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join