How much to pay my mate back for plumbing/gas work.

[elsmandino]

Hi,

My mate is a qualified plumber and gas installer and having done some work for me, is now refusing any payment for it.

We argued like a couple of old ladies in a tearoom and he refused to discuss it.

I really want to pay him back (especially as it is just before Christmas) but cannot guess an amount in case 1. I undercharge and insult him or 2. offer too much and make him feel bad.

He did the following jobs for me:

1. I bought a replacement central hearing water pump that I could not install, so he took out the old one and put the new one in and replaced the valves either side of it with new ones.

2. He has just pulled out and replaced my Gas Cooker with a new one.

Ultimately, how much would a plumbercharge for the above?

Thank in advance.

 

[Aquaheat]

@elsmandino Take it is a compliment that as a mate he has helped you out and has done it for friendship.

As you said it's just before Xmas and he is probably thinking the same as you.

Easy thing is to get him a bottle of the good stuff, whatever his tipple maybe and don't forget to return the favour at some point in the future.

If he really wanted something for it he would probably of said.

Your post is a very welcome change to the many others we see so fair play to you. Merry Xmas

Jon

 

[elsmandino]

Thanks for that.

Unfortunately, I don't do a job that really offers me the opportunity to reciprocate the favour in any way.

Furthermore, his van has recently packed up so payment for the job would be really helpful at the moment.

This is one of the times that I really am going to insist on paying him so any ballpark figures for the work done would be much appreciated.

Would quickly add that I live in Essex.

 

[Aquaheat]

Ok, well, pump valves call it £10 plus an hour to drain and change pump plus refill. Add £10 for inhibitor if it went in. My hourly would be £70 but I'm ooop north.

Cooker is half hour unless he changed pipework etc. If straight swap then I would charge £75 to include a new hose. Worst case I charge £130 to cover new hose, safety chain, pipework up to 3m plus installation and commission.

I don't think he would feel offended if you gave him £150 seeing as he didn't want anything.

On a side note though, I have done things for friends and family and when I say I don't want anything I do actually mean it. I take a slight offence when they won't take that as my answer!

Hope that helps though @elsmandino

Jon.

 

[elsmandino]

Thank you for that Jon - very much appreciated.

Have a good Xmas!

 

[Agile]

Essex is an odd place where many people will do favours for each other with no payment.

You have not explained just how he is a mate! There are so many variables there.

To help you, to replace a pump then I would charge £84 plus £94 for a typical basic pump plus £12 to supply and fit new valves at the same time which cost say £8.

If I fitted a new cooker then I would supply a new hose ( £12 ) and fit it for £65 inclusive. But this is a little too cheap because I don't want anyone to do this gas job as a DIY and I also hope to get their boiler servicing/repair/replacement in the future.

I would not normally want to reuse an old hose unless I knew that it was pretty new.

Hope that helps.

But perhaps if a good mate then just a bottle of malt whisky if he likes that.

Or the malt and £60 ?

Tony

 

[steve32]

Average cost in East Essex would be £250.00 + vat if registered

 

[Agile]

Sounds as if I am working in the wrong area!

But I suppose those homes in Essex with the large pools in the back gardens are quite expensive.

Not sure I would like the Krays as my neighbours either! Barbara Windsor would be fun though. A customer's mother was just like her! Amusingly her ex-husband left her for a very young Polish girl with very big xxxxx.

 

[steve32]

Sounds as if I am working in the wrong area!.

Or working for the wrong type of customer or under charging but then if you arrive on a bus with a few bits I suppose customers expect a cheap price.

 

[Andy4444]

Sounds as if I am working in the wrong area!

.

Please feel free to stay in your area. Can't think of a more qualified person to apply the word "odd" to......

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I fail to see whats odd about helping other people out, shows the spirit of kindness to others still exists and long may that last!

I have a mate, helped him out countless times. Recently I had to take my car to a specialist for some work to be carried out, so I asked him if he could give me a lift home. Some 100 mile round trip admittedly, but when he asked me for £40 to cover his fuel I was rather taken aback. So when he asked me the other week to help him put a new aerial up for his ham radio, (he suffers from vertigo he claims, so would be me up the ladder etc), I said yes. But will be £60 for my fuel and use of drill etc. He spat his tea across the room, and said 'Really?" I had a call a couple of days later, he'd found an aerial specialist who was going to do it....

 

[Diyisfun]

If hes a mate go out for a meal as a foursome & pay the bill.
If I do things as a friend/mate I'm happy with nothing, if I wanted payment, I would say yes I will do it for £xx.
What sport does play, golf a dozen pro v1's etc.

 

[Steelmasons]

OP possibly carried out these works and wants to know the going rate.

 

[polesapart]

At "mates rates" £120 plus bottle would not be insult IMO.

Refreshing post!

 

[Agile]

Thee is this very friendly and polite lady who I invite when I am having a small party

She comes on the bus but does like a lift home.

A friend of mine lives a few hundred yards from her and gave her a lift home, and then asked for £2 for his petrol!