Common Plumbing Scams You Should Avoid

1. Common Plumbing Scams You Should Avoid A good plumber is upfront about their work and their prices, but not all are so honest. Some unscrupulous plumbers run scams that not only cost you money, but can also damage your plumbing system. The most common plumbing scams aren’t always obvious, though, and it’s easy to get reeled in before you realize what’s happening. To protect your wallet and your plumbing, get familiar with the tricks of dishonest plumbers so you can stop a scam before it starts. Dodging the details The responsible local plumbing contractors will be happy to provide their plumbing license number, proof of insurance, and any other credentials you might ask to see to confirm their competence and legal standing. In fact, most plumbers post this information on their website, business cards, and other marketing material. If a plumber hesitates to show you their credentials or makes excuses for why they can’t, that’s a red flag that you’re dealing with someone who’s less than honest. If the plumber provides their license number only after you dragged it out of them, it might be that the license isn’t in good standing. Plumber insisting for payment in cash only A plumber insisting on cash-only payment is likely up to something, especially if they aren’t willing to provide an invoice or receipt for their work. At best, a cash-only plumber is dodging taxes, but will otherwise do good work. In the worst case scenario, the plumber is uninsured or even unlicensed. If the job goes wrong, you’ll have little recourse to get the damage repaired or even get your money back.

2. Likewise, walk away from any plumber asking for a large up-front deposit. Disappearing with a deposit is one of the most common plumbing scams around, in large part because paying 50 percent of a job in advance sounds reasonable to many homeowners, so it’s easy for a plumber to pass off as normal. Elusive estimates Plumbing systems are complex, and it’s impossible for a plumber to accurately estimate the cost of a job before inspecting the situation in person. Some do offer fixed-price deals for simple jobs, such as drain clog removals, but for anything more involved, they can only give a rough, preliminary estimate before they visit you. Any plumber giving you a firm estimate over the phone before they’ve been to your house could be hiding something. This goes double if the estimate sounds too low to be true. Even after a home inspection, a verbal estimate isn’t enough. A plumber who won’t provide a written quote before the work begins might be setting you up to be overcharged. A dishonest plumber might claim to be making mental notes as they look over your pipes, then leave saying they’ll put everything together into an itemized estimate and call you later. Too many plumbers in kitchen This local plumbing services scam is more common with complex, multi-day projects. It starts innocently enough when the plumber you signed a contract with gets started on the agreed-upon work. Soon enough, though, one or more extra people show up. Sometimes, the extra person is an assistant or apprentice doing legitimate work, and there’s nothing to worry about. Your originally contracted plumber will then claim that because the “assistant” is a subcontractor, they set their own rates, and there’s nothing the plumber can do about it. https://www.greensplumbingco.com/