9 Ways to Avoid Cowboy Plumbers
Author: Service CentralNine ways to avoid Cowboy Plumbers
- Legitimate plumbers will be able to provide you with a business or home address and a land line phone number as well as their mobile number. If they can’t provide this information then you should look elsewhere.
- Quality plumbers will be able to provide credentials and certificates if you ask for them. They may also show that they are members of the Master Plumbers.
- When you ask for a written quotation, good plumbers won’t have a problem providing one but cowboy plumbers may only offer a verbal quote or a scribbled note with some figures written on it and if this happens you should avoid using their services.
- You should also ask to see their Certificate of Public Liability Insurance. Any plumber without this type of insurance is sure to be a cowboy plumber.
- Ask for references. Most reputable plumbers will be able to supply the names, addresses and phone numbers of past customers that are willing to vouch for the quality of their work. Cowboy plumbers on the other hand will probably make excuses why they can’t provide such references.
- Most tradesmen today, and this includes plumbers, offer a standard contract that guarantees the work they do in return for the agreed payment. Cowboy plumbers almost certainly won’t offer this extra service which means their work will in no way be guaranteed should something go wrong with it later on.
- Along with the standard contract, good plumbers will also offer a warranty on the work that they complete.
- Good plumbers can be booked up for weeks in advance. You may need to be wary if a plumber says he can start a major project tomorrow. However, in the case of blocked drains and other small plumbing jobs, plumbers that specialise in these do need a constant flow of new work so should be able to start straight away.
- Good plumbers are often recommended by people to their friends and family whereas cowboy plumbers aren’t.
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