Most people will agree that modern indoor plumbing and sanitation are among the best inventions ever! Along with indoor plumbing come clogged toilets, dripping faucets, and leaky water heaters. A good plumber is essential for maintaining a home. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous plumbers in Las Vegas would love to scam unsuspecting customers out of their hard-earned money.
There are many common plumbing scams in the area.
When shopping around for a plumber in Las Vegas, be on the lookout for the following tactics:
- Inaccurate estimates.
Sometimes, customers have a hard time saying no to the lowest estimate. Unless you’re in an emergency, it is advisable to take the time to get several quotes and ensure that the service is clearly outlined. Make sure a contract is spelled out, and if necessary, ask a plumber why a price is higher or lower than a competitor’s price.
- The bait and switch.
Some scamming plumbers have been known to switch out high-grade materials for lower-grade materials, thereby increasing their profit margins without the customer being aware that a change has even been made. The best way to avoid this scam is to find out exactly what supplies and materials your plumber intends to use and have them outlined in the contract. Any materials that have an extremely high markup over the price at a local hardware store are a big red flag.
- High mark-ups in nice neighborhoods.
- High cost for the first hour of labor
As mentioned before, plumbers don’t have any set hourly wages, but, understandably, they would have a minimum one-hour fee or service call fee. Assuming the issue only takes about 15 minutes, the plumber should be willing to fix other minor issues such as tightening faucets or replacing gaskets, provided the additional work is still within the first-hour time frame.
- Sending in extra workers.
Unless they’re training an apprentice, most plumbing issues are one-person jobs. Some scammers send in “subcontractors” to do part of the work and charge you a markup because of it. Avoid this scam by asking how many workers or apprentices will be present, what work each individual will be doing, and if there is an extra fee involved for the additional worker(s).
Since plumbers don’t have set hourly fees, they can essentially charge whatever they want for their services. Some may try to scam customers in nicer neighborhoods out of money because they suspect they have more to spend. Again, the best way to avoid this kind of scam is to shop around. Take note of any extreme estimates and steer clear.
Just as in any field, some would try to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. If you’re in the Las Vegas area, you can be sure that you’re in good hands with Pure Plumbing & Air. They offer honest and trustworthy services, competitive prices, free estimates, and emergency services. Call (702) 534-1910 today!
