I'm being robbed right this very moment

[Mizmoon]

My furnace isn't working because I have a frozen pipe. Where it is, no one knows. Had to call an emergency plumber and they are charging (hold on) $150 for an emergency visit, $350 for the first hour, and $250.00 per additional hour. They claim this is their standard pricing.

I'll never get another plumber out here tonight, my efforts to find and thaw it on my own have failed, and it hasn't burst yet so I need it worked on right now so I had no choice but to agree. The fucking robbers are in my house right now and I hate their stinkin guts.

That's my tale of woe.

ON EDIT: To make myself feel better I'm looking around as to where to report price gouging in my county. I suppose I could refuse to pay when their done, but I did sign a work order.

[Left Is Write]

1. 350/first hour and 250/each additional hour is their STANDARD pricing?

Yes, I'd say you are being robbed. I'm not surprised at the $150 emergency fee, but those hourly rates are outrageous!

[BikeWriter]

2. You ARE being robbed!

:(

[trotsky]

3. I assume you have hot water heat?

If not, they are REALLY taking you for a ride.

[Mizmoon]

4. yes

I know, I want to cry but it's not going to turn the heat on. Maybe I can report them to Elliot Spitzer tomorrow, after the heat is back on.

[MadHound]

5. OK friend, do you know anybody with an old arc welder?

If so, then this is what you do. Clamp the positive terminal onto one pipe, then run the negative terminal to the opposite end of the piping, and clamp it there. Turn your arc welder onto a low amperage setting. See if this thaws the pipe, if not, gradually increase the amperage until pipe is thawed. Be patient, and don't apply too much amps, as you could easily burn through the piping. Patience and time is the ticket. Good luck

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Hairdryers work too, if the area is not wet. Also mega heaters like

they use on farms. Our last landlord had a dairy farm and let us borrow his turbo heater at times like this.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Save this nation one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[Mizmoon]

9. we bought two utility heaters

and ran them on the pipe at the vulberable points for hours. No luck. Believe me, I would have kicked them out if I hadn't tried everything I could think of.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Booger. :^(

[Astrochimp]

17. hours? maybe....

if you would have called sooner it would not have been an after hours call?

Sorry, but I always hate it when someone cant do something, so they call in an expert, yet bitch about the bill.

And when you are charged $$ to replace a fuse, or plug something it, ALWAYS be happy- it could have been actually broken, maybe even un-repairable.


The whole idea that trades/service people are idiots who over charge pisses me off. Sorry, rant I dont want to get into.

[CarpeVeritas]

22. i agree with you...

people don't think twice about the rates for dr.s or lawyers- but let a tradesperson try to charge for their skills and services, and all of a sudden it's "I'M BEING ROBBED!"

pisses me off too.

[Mizmoon]

23. Who says I don't think they charge too much too?

you're being a bit hard on me considering I've had a rough day, don't you think?

[Mizmoon]

24. They said the $350/$250 was their standard fee, not after hours

The emergency service fee was $150, no matter what time it is. So there, smartypants.

[CarpeVeritas]

20. did you try running hot water thru the system?

if i understand correctly, you have a furnace with a boiler and hot water radiators, right?
how big is your house? how many stories? where are the pipes exposed to the cold?

[CarpeVeritas]

13. I used to do this a lot.

in my days as a non-union ironworker for a guy who had his own crane and welding trucks.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. WAY too much.. Holy crap, said hubby

-----------------------------------------------------------
Save this nation one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. Say WHAT??????

You're being robbed!

:wow::wtf:

[MadHound]

10. Hell, for that much friend, you could go out and buy enough heat tape

To cover every single inch of your pipework, and have money left over. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about frozen pipes ever again.

[Mizmoon]

12. *sigh* I know

my kingdom for some heat tape

[tjdee]

11. $85 to push a button. That's the last time I had the pleasure of a plumber

He pushed the reset button on our garbage disposal and charged us $85.

Nice.

Plumbing seems to be a great profession if you can get into it--because what are we going to do? We need to use our water and heat.

on edit: If that was your guy, ours would have charged us triple that! Geez.

Sorry you're spending so much, hope your heat comes on soon.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

14. Contact the Better Business Bureau as well.

These people are ripping you off big time. Also find out if they're licensed Union plumbers. If they are, report them to their Local.
Those prices are outrageous....

[bleedingheart]

18. I second this...Call the Better Business Bureau...

[DainBramaged]

28. The BBB is a STRONG supporter of * and gets it's funds from

The very businesses they rate.

[CarpeVeritas]

16. there are alternatives- do it yourself or shop around.

where do you live?

are they the only plumber in town?
I do most of my own work, but if I have to call in a pro, I always try to get pricing or estimates from 3 before I give the job to 1.

[Blue Gardener]

19. Absurd

You are being robbed. Nobody needs to make over $350 an hour.

[goodboy]

21. throw them out...get somebody else...there are laws against price gouging

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. You need a pipe thawer

like this one:

[amazona]

26. how about your state attorney general ?

I don't agree with calling the Better Business Bureau. I mean you can if it makes you feel better but if they pay to be a member of BBB, you won't get satisfaction. BBB is not a real gov't agency. It is a protection scheme to get money from small business. Join and they say nice things about you, don't join and they don't.

Call the state attorney general's office and find out where you report price gouging in your state.

My partner defrosted a frozen pipe with a hair dryer and it worked just fine for free. And it has been years and years and it has never leaked. But even if it had leaked, he's a great amateur plumber so he would have just swapped out that bit of pipe.

I have to remember to appreciate him more!

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[DainBramaged]

27. Pay with a credit card, contest the charges when bill arrives

Ask them for a written estimate stating their prices, or ask them for any form they have that states whre their standar pricing is what they quoted you. DO NOT forget to get their license number of their truck or on their reciept. If they DON'T have a plumber's license in your state (if required) call the cops right now.