Common Plumbing Scams You Should Avoid
A good plumber is upfront about their work and their prices, but not all are so honest. Some
unscrupulous plumbers run scams that not only cost you money, but can also damage your plumbing
system.
The most common plumbing scams aren’t always obvious, though, and it’s easy to get reeled in before
you realize what’s happening. To protect your wallet and your plumbing, get familiar with the tricks of
dishonest plumbers so you can stop a scam before it starts.
Dodging the details
The responsible local plumbing contractors will be happy to provide their plumbing license number,
proof of insurance, and any other credentials you might ask to see to confirm their competence and
legal standing. In fact, most plumbers post this information on their website, business cards, and other
marketing material.
If a plumber hesitates to show you their credentials or makes excuses for why they can’t, that’s a red
flag that you’re dealing with someone who’s less than honest. If the plumber provides their license
number only after you dragged it out of them, it might be that the license isn’t in good standing.
Plumber insisting for payment in cash only
A plumber insisting on cash-only payment is likely up to something, especially if they aren’t willing to
provide an invoice or receipt for their work. At best, a cash-only plumber is dodging taxes, but will
otherwise do good work. In the worst case scenario, the plumber is uninsured or even unlicensed. If the
job goes wrong, you’ll have little recourse to get the damage repaired or even get your money back.
Likewise, walk away from any plumber asking for a large up-front deposit. Disappearing with a deposit is
one of the most common plumbing scams around, in large part because paying 50 percent of a job in
advance sounds reasonable to many homeowners, so it’s easy for a plumber to pass off as normal.
Elusive estimates
Plumbing systems are complex, and it’s impossible for a plum