Call out fee valid?

Totally different to bad weather - there is an allowance in the Construction Industries On-site Award for inclement weather.

Why? It is not corrupt or collusive conduct. I can see the headlines now "Royal Commission to investigate contractors for charging customers", "Job description was wrong", "Contractor couldn't complete job, wrong tool in truck", "Consultant Hydraulic Engineer - I didn't get a call".

 

I don't see a call-out fee where a tradie diagnoses something for you but advises nothing can be done as being any different from going to the GP to check if your sore throat is bacterial and requires antibiotics (in which case he'd write a script), or to determine if it is viral and that you just need to go home, rest, drink fluids and gargle aspirin or something. Either way, the GP has done work and given you information you needed and thus needs to be paid. Similarly, tradies need to be paid for their efforts.

 

@TMNT - wrong tool in truck (had the eel/water blaster as per the job description), job turns out to be different ie: needs to excavate 2m of pipe to replace collapsed section.

 

as previously mentioned, I have paid the fee,

I wasnt totally against it, but I was annoyed that on the phone I got quoted something very high,

plus I sent another plumber in, who quoted me less, plus even offered a cheaper alternative solution

 

He might work out cheaper, or he might not realize the magnitude of the job till he starts and then want to up the invoice anyway?

 

I like the GP example. You pay your consult fee regardless of whether they find something wrong with you or not, they've still utilised their expertise and time.

 

Grrrrr..

If that happens, expect another rant thread from me

 

And if not I'm sure you'll find something else to rant about

 

Happens in every industry in Australia. There's always been a few bad eggs, and desperate people looking for work. Hospitality businesses find it harder though if they want decent workers and more experienced players usually make sure they are paid.

 

Hi everyone,
I wanted to add, I had this plumber that I found on the website.... so I paid a call out fee, and work for every 1/2hrs for a total of 3.5 hours But the plumber also charge me for a trip he is taken to a shop as he needed to get some materials, he took two trips a total of about 50 mins. So I question him is unethical to charge me for a trips to a shop because you need to drive there to get somethings. If you told me I have to pay for his driving to Bunning, I could do it myself. Do you think is ethical for plumber to charge a driving time to be included, is like $90 for each 30 mins?

 

Of course it’s ethical to pay for his time to collect materials. It’s a business not a charity! Usually this would be covered in the cost he charges you for the materials.

As he worked, it may have become clear that different materials were needed (what was it that he bought?)

If you wanted to get the materials yourself to save money, you should have mentioned that to him. However, how would you know what to buy?

 

I understand the materials cost but I wasn’t sure if ethical for him to charge travelling time from my home to a shop to get some materials to do the job which plumber should kept stock In his van

 

What materials did he buy?

Be specific and we can probably give an opinion on whether they would normally be kept in the van.

Also, what exactly was the work he was doing?

 

Classic plumber move that one. Easiest way for them to make another $100 on top of the job.

 

I am sure he would have been happy to sit around scratching his bits with the meter running while you drive to Reece and get the material, then again when you have to go back because you have picked up the wrong thing.

Tools

 

WELL if you expect him to have a fully stocked van of items he may never need you can expect to pay a lot more than the 50 mins he spent driving g around. He would need to be charging you for larger overheads and credit interest for him to be able to afford to hold stock that may not be used for years. Every job is different. He also has to factor in time spent ordering and loading supplies etc. Again don’t expect people to donate their time that is needed to run their business for free! Laughable that u think you could go to Bunnings and buy the materials for him- Bunnings don’t even stock most plumbing items that a plumber will need! While your doing that do you expect him to wait an hour unpaid while your gone? And your also forgetting you would not have a clue how to find what he needs! I forgot that anyone can learn 4 years of plumbing expertise in five minutes. Why should the plumber share his product knowledge with you if your not paying for it. He’s knowledge shouldn’t be free. I say good luck go get the products, hope he charges you double for having to go back to get the correct items when you bring back the wrong stuff. If you don’t like the industry and dont like paying for it go learn to do it yourself so tradies don’t have to waste their time and earning capacity on tyre kickers.

 

I'm sure that you can do the whole plumbing, gas-fitting, air-conditioning, bricklaying, stone-masonry etc thing on a shorter You-tube video. It can't possibly take that long.

 

True. I should be a jack of all trades.

 

I was speaking to my electrician of Friday, I had to call him out to investigate a fault on a 3 phase board. He says he uses an app to track his time from leaving the office until he clocks back off with the job complete.

I'm sure that I am not going to grumble about someone having to come to site, investigate the fault, drive to the nearest electrical wholesaler to find the replacement parts and complete the repair when the tenant is burning cash at $1,000's/hr because he has no power.