Plumbers ramp up fees on emergency call outs by 117 per cent
Plumbers ramp up their fees by a staggering 117 per cent if they are called out in an emergency, new research has found.
Householders who desperately need a tradesperson to fix a water leak end up paying a “plumber premium” on the normal hourly rate, with some plumbers quoting up to £300+VAT an hour, according to data from Direct Line Home Insurance, taken from a sample of 102 plumbers across the UK.
42 per cent of plumbers have a minimum charge for an emergency call out, which can be up to 500 per cent higher than the normal quoted hourly rate.
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“A burst pipe or leaking water tank can cause thousands of pounds of damage in a short space of time,” said Morgan Simpson, Direct Line home emergency response manager.
“If you don’t have emergency cover with your insurer there is the temptation to call the first plumber you can find, but you may discover even if the hourly rate quoted is low they have an expensive minimum call out rate or emergency call out surcharge.”