Horrible experience with MK Plumbing
Horrible experience with MK Plumbing: My regular plumber was not available for a same day unblocking of the siphon under my kitchen sink (it had started to leak) which is why I ended up calling MK Plumbing. To be fair, the plumber and his assistant did arrive as scheduled within a couple of hours of me calling. Without having examined the problem, the plumber announced the cost would be €600. Every fifteen minutes or so, the plumber announced that something else was wrong with the sink. I should have known something was fishy, as I was regularly asked how many debit cards I had and whether or not I could make immediate bank transfers. Less than two hours later after doing the unblocking, replacing the siphon and the two sink strainers (see pictures) the assistant was sent away and I was presented with a bill of FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EUROS. I was made to pay on the spot, which meant I had to make an emergency bank transfer, and max out two debit cards and a pre-paid card.
I asked for an itemized invoice which was never provided. Probably because that would have required too much creative accounting—how about TWO THOUSAND EUROS PER HOUR for labor for a plumber and an assistant and a 900% MARKUP on materials (including the 6% VAT, if you please).
When I confronted the plumber about the exorbitant cost, the rebuttal was [We] can charge whatever we want. (!!!) €4700 is a fair price. (!!!) In addition, he said, I have a quote for €4700 signed by you, hence you approved the cost. (!!!) I obviously would have lived without a sink until my regular plumber was available had I known I would be royally ripped off in this way. The “quote” in question was originally presented as an attestation that the plumbers had been there and carried out the work. The paper (old school carbon copy) was filled out with my information and signature by me at the outset, but only filled out by the plumber AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE. When I asked for a copy of the paper (which was NOT presented as a quote) or to at least be able to take a picture of the paper, I was told it was not for me, it was for the landlord. Well, my landlord never received the bogus quote, either. It is not defamatory to call this type of practice fraudulent.
In keeping with the customary procedure in a situation like this, I sent the plumber a registered letter with a request for a €3000 refund making the total invoice €1700. This still amounts to €1280 for two hours of labor for a plumber an an assistant and a 500% markup on an estimated €70 in materials. My offer was rejected outright and was met with derision and laughter via voice message and subsequent phone calls. There was “no way” I would get anything near what I was asking for. The plumber suggested meeting in person to make a counter offer. Frankly, I don’t have much of an appetite to meet with someone who not only ripped me off, but is also unscrupulous in his tactics. Honestly, what could be easier than just sending the partial refund requested back to my bank account?
I have been advised by the police on the course of action to take moving forward if MK Plumbing does not acquiesce. A judge will likely award me a more substantial refund than the one I originally requested.
If you want to avoid being ripped off and save yourself the ensuing trouble of finding a way to get a partial refund, then STEER CLEAR of MK Plumbing. HIGHWAY ROBBERY is the best way to describe their practice.