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01/09/2005
Which? uncovers plumbers’ price variations
Plumbers’ prices in the UK “vary wildly”, consumer watchdog Which? has discovered.
The consumer magazine found that hourly rates ranged from £9 in Wales to £130 in southeast England.
The Which? survey involved 240 plumbers across the UK. Researchers posed as consumers wanting to swap a new dishwasher for an old one. The researchers asked how long the job would take, the plumber’s hourly rate and whether they belonged to a trade association.
The researchers found that quotes for disconnecting an old dishwasher and installing a new one varied wildly, ranging from £10 in the Midlands to £90 in southeast England.
The survey found that many plumbers charged more for the first hour – one Cardiff plumber wanted £50 for a one-hour job, although he claimed to charge £9 an hour.
Call-out charges were also found to be a potential hazard. The survey cited the case of a plumber in Romford who said that he charged £30 per hour, but later admitted that he charged a £40 call-out fee.
Which? researchers found that the typical rate for plumbers was £30 - £50 for the first hour and £25 – 40 for subsequent hours. However, not all plumbers gave hourly rates, with some preferring to provide a specific quote for the job.
One plumber told Which? that those who charge by the hour tend to “disappear for half an hour to read the paper”.
Commenting on the survey, Malcolm Coles, Which? editor, said: “There is a lack of reliable pricing information for plumbers so some get away with daylight robbery. We’ve carried out a nationwide survey to show how much you should pay. It’s time people stopped throwing their money down the drain.”
The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) said the problem was worsened by a shortage of plumbers.
The Construction Industry Training Board calculates almost 32,000 more plumbers are needed in the UK by 2008, in order to meet demand.
An IPHE spokesperson said: “An industry where demand outstrips supply leaves open a gap for the cowboys to thrive.”
(KMcA/SP)
The consumer magazine found that hourly rates ranged from £9 in Wales to £130 in southeast England.
The Which? survey involved 240 plumbers across the UK. Researchers posed as consumers wanting to swap a new dishwasher for an old one. The researchers asked how long the job would take, the plumber’s hourly rate and whether they belonged to a trade association.
The researchers found that quotes for disconnecting an old dishwasher and installing a new one varied wildly, ranging from £10 in the Midlands to £90 in southeast England.
The survey found that many plumbers charged more for the first hour – one Cardiff plumber wanted £50 for a one-hour job, although he claimed to charge £9 an hour.
Call-out charges were also found to be a potential hazard. The survey cited the case of a plumber in Romford who said that he charged £30 per hour, but later admitted that he charged a £40 call-out fee.
Which? researchers found that the typical rate for plumbers was £30 - £50 for the first hour and £25 – 40 for subsequent hours. However, not all plumbers gave hourly rates, with some preferring to provide a specific quote for the job.
One plumber told Which? that those who charge by the hour tend to “disappear for half an hour to read the paper”.
Commenting on the survey, Malcolm Coles, Which? editor, said: “There is a lack of reliable pricing information for plumbers so some get away with daylight robbery. We’ve carried out a nationwide survey to show how much you should pay. It’s time people stopped throwing their money down the drain.”
The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) said the problem was worsened by a shortage of plumbers.
The Construction Industry Training Board calculates almost 32,000 more plumbers are needed in the UK by 2008, in order to meet demand.
An IPHE spokesperson said: “An industry where demand outstrips supply leaves open a gap for the cowboys to thrive.”
(KMcA/SP)
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