*** job

guess that plumbing prices are unregulated and that the contractor has the right to name his/her price, and the client can choose whether to accept or search for a cheaper quote. Unless you are happy to part with what I consider to be a vast sum , I advise that you don't follow my example of the past weekend: We noticed that the toilet had stopped draining and that the grate outside the bathroom was overflowing. All plumbers that I knew were busy or away. It was saturday afternoon. I phoned a range of numbers found via google. Eventually got through to Call-A-Plumber. They - a woman running their phone service - told me that the plumber would give me a quote before commencing. About ten monutes later I had a call from the plumber on the road. He arrived within an hour. I asked if I would have to pay a special price for weekends or after hours and was told NO. After showing them the drain and opening a side gate, I went back to the computer - I had been busy ordering a book online when they arrived and the transaction was half complete. Within ten minutes ( I swear - I was still busy completing the transaction, entering card number, etc) one of the plumbers called me to the passage to say the job was done. I asked for an invoice, expecting to pay about R1500 based on previous experience of similar blockage, admittedly years ago, but on a Sunday. I was shocked to be charged R3400, broken down as "unblocking the drain - R1000', 'use of 4 drain rods- R1500 and ' supply of x2 drain acid - R900'. I have run this account by other plumbers and they tell me that I was mercilessly **********. I have twice contacted Call-A- Plumber, the owner is away but the men that did the job are adamant that they charged me the standard prices as laid down by their boss. I had to pay on site after the work - I was to discombobulated by their speed, by the stress of being interupted in the middle of an internet banking transaction and BY THE PRICE. I should have refused to pay. I should have said " your office told me that you would give an estimate up front. You didn't. The wortk is done, it cant be undone, so let me phone your office and negotiate, or you can sue me'. But it is difficult to turn on such aggression at my age, especially alone in a house with two hulking young men, the scene perfumed by the sweet stench of accumulated ****. I was only able to say, quite lamely, " It must be a *** job?".