Answers for problem between plumber and general

Any advice out there for discrepancy between general and plumber?

The long and the short - we finished the whole house: Repipe w/ aquapex. Gave them a not to exceed number and it came to within $200.00 of estimate - plumber advised general to replace 15 feet of cast-iron sewer line. General wasn't sold on that idea. Four days later while general was digging water line trench, he broke sewer line. Plumber replaced, time and materials with the small area to work in, trench already cut, tractor in close quarters, it took 6.5 hours, water line, sewer lateral. Billed general for work on sewer line. $385 in labor + materials. General is upset - is plumber out of line?

Sounds like someone got a screaming deal.

It could have been much much more.

bill

$385.00 doesn't do much more than get the truck to the job and tools out of the truck. If the plumber actually took 6 1/2 hours, and that was not the total time including digging and refilling the ditch, then it was less than 1/2 half of what it should have been. in any case, it would have been a T&M 'add on', so the bill is whatever the plumber charged, and those can get expensive on a "not to exceed" job.

Thats a bargain from where I sit!! Sears charges a minimum of $100 to look at something.

Your GC broke the line. If the plumber didn't fix it, it would still be broken unless another plumber came by. Your GC should accept responsibility for his mistake and be thankful that the plumber attended to it so quickly and reasonably.