2007-08-25 01:28:38 · 13 answers · asked by pete6356 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You are required to pay for any work done up to the point that he discovered that he couldn't fix the problem. The problem may be out of his scope as a plumber, may require a different type of skilled labor, such as an electrician, or may be due to damage or age of the house that is such that he is unable to fix the problem without you undergoing major construction through a licensed building contractor. That is not his responsibility. He did his job, and you are still required to pay him.
If you don't pay him, he is allowed to take you to court to recover his fees, plus he can put a "contractor's lien" on the title of your house that will make it impossible to sell until the lien is satisfied.
Next time, get an estimate in writing that stipulates what the repair person can and cannot do.
2007-08-25 01:58:01 · answer #1 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Others have given you the basics. Usually a homeowner and a real plumber would both insist on a written contract. The homeowner gets their work done, the plumber gets paid and everybody is covered insurance wise.
Usually a plumber will know if he can do the job when he does an estimate. When they start work they will quickly know and inform you that this is going to cost more or you need to hire an additional person. How big of job and how long did they work on this?
If they just came in messed with it and said "I can't do it" you usually have to pay a flat fee. If it was longer you will still have to pay for some. But this can all be negotiable. If it is an expensive job well you might have to go to court. It all depends.
And yes it does sound like some sort of handyman and not a real plumber. Or someone trying to take advantage of you. But without more detail it is impossible to give a really good answer.
2007-08-25 05:18:50 · answer #2 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you didn't hire a plumber. It sounds like you hired a handyman. A real plumber should be able to fix any plumbing problem. He should be a union certified master plumber, or at the very least, work for one. If you went 'bargain' hunting, you may have gotten someone that isn't well trained.
It would be very rude of him to come to your house and charge you for the estimate if he can't do the work. Most plumbers charge for estimates, but only if they can do the job. On the other hand, if he got halfway done with the job, and found that he was 'out of his league', you might pay him for the work that he has done...AFTER you find out how much money he saved you.
In other words, get a couple of estimates on finishing the job. When the 'real' plumber shows up, ask him how much he would have charged to do what your handyman already finished. If the plumber says," Well, it's gonna be more expensive, because now I have to fix this other guy's work.", then don't pay your handyman. Explain to him that his incompetence cost you money.
Good luck.
2007-08-25 01:42:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends...if he said "I can't fix the problem because it's a problem you need a backhoe for, and I don't do that type of work," then you ought to pay him, since he probably couldn't have known that without looking at it...if he said, "I can't fix the problem because I don't know my butt from a hole in the ground," then I wouldn't pay him...i.e., if a plumber can't fix a faucet, I am paying him nothing...
2007-08-25 01:36:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not obligated to pay for the repair, however, you are required to pay the diagnosis fee. Ex: if you take your veh to the shop they want a fee just to tell you what's wrong. Just think he did drive over there an hopefully was able to tell you what is wrong so that you can relay it to the person that will repair it. The gas alone should sway you to pay him something with gas being $5,93062.93 a gallon in most areas.(lol)
2007-08-25 01:35:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think of you're able to desire to good purchase with him because of the fact he misdiagnosed the subject. tell him you will pay him a sprint over 3000 if he can restoration it, how approximately 3500?. he's requesting 2,000 and in case you upload the extra suitable 1500, could be 3.500 besides. or you're able to desire to discover yet another plumber and touch the BBB and ask them to arbitrate. after all he did not restoration the subject. He can placed a lien on your assets in case you do not pay him for valid artwork completed.
2016-10-03 05:24:19 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he says that after working a while, you have 2 pay him, legaly, i think.
But you can ask him, before he starts, Can you fix it? And if not, you will not get paid!
Make sure that the person who workes for you know very good what YOU want. You pay him/her, so at that time, you are his/her boss.
It is easy for a plumber to take advantage, if they want, because the customer doesn't know.
2007-08-25 01:39:55 · answer #7 · answered by Murdock 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you are not. it is understood that since the job has not been done nor completed you should not pay for the unfinished work unless there is an agreement between you and the plumber that you are going to pay him in the basis of the time spent in work.
2007-08-25 01:50:59 · answer #8 · answered by rockwell 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
you are for only the work he did,if however he made the problem worse,you can charge him for haveing to fix it
2007-08-25 01:39:39 · answer #9 · answered by notsohardtofigure 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes even though he did not fix the problem at least he tried and you should at least be gratefull that he tried and pay him for his time .
2007-08-25 01:34:29 · answer #10 · answered by Kate T. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋