Should a plumber tell you if they hike the price of boiler maintenance

Before they begin the work?

2015 annual tuneup = $195

2016 annual tuneup = $325 (no difference in service effort)

More than 50%, ouch. Time to shop around.

I'd pay $195 and let them figure out how to recoup the rest.

which plumber is it?

Well known MOL advertiser who has been very helpful to the community at times. I would have expected 10%, this shocked me.

It is a free market, so good for them if they can get it. Last two times we used the opportunity to have them fix other items while they were servicing the boiler. But I have to shop around now.

Did you talk to them about it? Sometimes mistakes are made, other times they may offer you a break. If you have a good relationship with them and trust their work I would at least talk to them.

Thanks for the tip off. I will check with the people I use to make sure I don't end up with that hefty bill. That's too much.

Left a message with their service a week ago, the day after we got the bill - have not been called back.

FilmCarp said:

Did you talk to them about it? Sometimes mistakes are made, other times they may offer you a break. If you have a good relationship with them and trust their work I would at least talk to them.

Sorry you were blindsided. We experienced the same issue. There must have been some complaints from previous clients because when I booked the appointment I was told the price had changed. We're still looking around.

They should have told you the new rate prior to service.

yahooyahoo said:

They should have told you the new rate prior to service.

Absolutely !

I would be ok with a single digit % increase without advance notice, but no way something like this.

Why is the name of the business being withheld? I think it would be helpful to know, so that I can be aware of such issues if I call this particular plumber. His price changes should not have to be a secret. Frequently, businesses are discussed openly on MOL, and this isn't even a subjective opinion, it's an objective fact.

Well, We don't know all of the details. I am not attacking the OP at all, because i'd be disappointed as well, but did they ask what the service would cost in advance? Did they get some break in previous years that we don't know about? Was there any extra done that the OP forgot about? On the surface I don't like it, and I agree with the OP, but there are sometimes other things involved, so I wouldn't publicly trash a good company.

Glad to see that my reaction to the price increase wasn't way off base. But I am not comfortable naming the business.

It is too easy for one employee's lapse to affect the fortunes of all others. I wanted folks to be aware so it wouldn't happen to them, but there were other times when they did good work for a good price and I didn't start a thread to say thanks and give praise.

des said:

Glad to see that my reaction to the price increase wasn't way off base. But I am not comfortable naming the business.

It is too easy for one employee's lapse to affect the fortunes of all others. I wanted folks to be aware so it wouldn't happen to them, but there were other times when they did good work for a good price and I didn't start a thread to say thanks and give praise.

One employee lapse? You said above you left a message and never got a response. Also, its a well known MOL advertiser. One would hope the well known advertiser would look at plumbing threads on this site and respond appropriately to you.

However, when I have routine maintenance done by a business I get the price before its done. Even with businesses that have done the same maintenance before.

This is fishy

any opinions on whether its reasonable to make annual prep a DIY? What's really involved?

Our price have gone up this year for boiler services $30 after 8 years. Prices to run a business have gone up so need to catch up to the times. I think they should tell you the cost before they begin the work to give you a choice. Every business has different cost to run and my price should probably be a little higher but going to see how this works for a while.

Phil Masucci

Phil Masucci Plumbing 973-763-8420

Philtheplumber.net

@Phil-Masucci - just want to give a shout out to you and your business for its courtesy. To explain, today when I was trying to cross the Jefferson Avenue and Brookside crosswalk several vehicles sped by without slowing down at all. Your company's red van stopped to let me and our dog and a bicyclist cross the street. Thank you!

That's awesome i will give jimmy some props for it. I see it all the time in town it is really bad even taking my daughter to Tuscan school. Thanks