Scammed by an emergency plumber? 8 warning signs and what to ask beforehand

The best way to avoid being scammed by a plumber is to ask about the price beforehand. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the consumer information service of the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, some emergency companies take advantage of your emergency. A reliable plumber states their rate in advance, is listed in the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) register, gives you an invoice and does not pressure you into paying cash on the spot.

In this article you will read the 8 signs by which you can spot a rogue emergency plumber, which questions to ask before anyone comes out, what to do if the engineer is already at the door and which steps to take if you receive a far too high bill afterwards.

Scammed by a plumber? Spot these 8 signs

You can usually spot a rogue plumber on the phone already: they are vague about the price and mainly want to come quickly. The signs below come from the advice of ACM ConsuWijzer on emergency jobs and of the Dutch consumer programme Radar.

1. No price indication beforehand. The company wants to come and look first and does not mention an hourly rate, call-out charge or minimum amount. The ACM sees this as a warning sign.
2. No address or incorrect contact details. According to the ACM, a company that gives no address or has incorrect contact details on its website may be unreliable.
3. Big promises at the top of the search results. The top results are often paid adverts. Words like “the fastest”, “the best” or “the cheapest” say nothing about the quality or the price.
4. Not in the KvK register, or the details in the register do not match the website.
5. Pressure to pay cash or by card straight away, without you getting an invoice.
6. You have to sign something before the work starts, while the form has not been filled in completely.
7. Extra work or costs without consultation. Radar warns that some emergency companies quote a price beforehand and add costs afterwards, such as VAT or items that were not mentioned earlier.
8. Lots of complaints online about the company, the website or the phone number.

Do you recognise one or more of these signs? Then trust your instinct and choose another company. That is the ACM’s advice too.

Which questions do you ask before the plumber comes?

Always ask about the hourly rate, the call-out charge, the minimum amount and the surcharge for evenings or weekends, and have that confirmed in writing. Then you know where you stand in advance.

Use this checklist on the phone:

• What is your hourly rate and what is the minimum time you charge per visit?
• What is the call-out charge to my address?
• Do you charge a surcharge for evenings, nights or weekends, and how much?
• Are the amounts including or excluding VAT?
• Can I send a photo or video so you can give an estimate beforehand?
• What is your company name and your KvK number?
• How can I pay, and will I get an invoice?
• If it concerns the boiler or the gas pipe: are you CO-certified?

Ask the company to confirm the agreements by email or WhatsApp. According to Radar, verbal agreements are valid, but hard to prove afterwards. Also ask whether an amount you are given is a fixed price or only a guide price, because a guide price can turn out higher.

At Klusbedrijf MSZ, all prices for plumbing work are simply on the website, so you can read them before you call.

How do you check whether a plumber is reliable?

Check the KvK number, the address and the reviews, and for gas work the CO certificate. That takes you a few minutes, even when you are in a hurry.

1. Look the company up in the KvK trade register and compare the name, address and phone number with the website. Please note: according to the ACM, being registered does not always mean a company is reliable or does good work.
2. Check that the address exists, for example with a map service.
3. Search for the company name with “review” and “complaint” and look in several places. Some reviews are fake, so do not rely on one source.
4. See whether the company is a member of a trade association. For plumbers, the ACM gives Techniek Nederland (the Dutch trade association for installation companies) as an example.
5. For gas work: check the CO certificate. More on that in the next section.

Why is the CO certificate important for boiler and gas work?

Since 1 April 2023, only a CO-certified company may install, service or repair gas combustion appliances such as a central heating boiler. If you hire a company without a certificate, you as the client are committing an offence too.

This is stated on the government’s business portal Ondernemersplein. Certified companies are listed in a public register at the TloKB, so you can check it yourself. The rule exists to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. So for gas work, a cheap engineer without a certificate is not just a financial risk, but a safety risk as well.

Klusbedrijf MSZ is CO-certified for work on gas combustion installations. You can read more about our work on boilers on the page about central heating boilers and heating.

The plumber is already at the door: what do you look out for?

Do not let yourself be rushed. First discuss what is going to happen and what it costs, and never just sign something.

• Do not sign anything that has not been filled in completely. Read a form, quote or job sheet carefully before you sign.
• If the company will not start without a signature and you have doubts, the ACM says you may send them away.
• Extra work only with your permission. If the engineer wants to do or replace something extra, according to the ACM you have to agree to it beforehand. You do not have to pay for what you did not order.
• Do not pay under pressure. Do not pay cash or by card straight away if you feel pressured, and ask for a bill.
• Take photos of the situation before and after the work, and of the materials used.

I have been scammed by a plumber: what now?

Do not pay much more than what you agreed, record what the agreement was and report the company to ACM ConsuWijzer. If there are threats or aggression, call the police.

1. State the agreement. If the bill is much higher than agreed, say what the agreement was and do not pay much more than that. That is the ACM’s advice.
2. Gather evidence. Keep the invoice, messages, the quote, photos and the proof of payment.
3. In the case of misleading practices: reverse the agreement. According to the ACM, you can reverse the agreement in the case of misleading sales practices. If a company does not keep to its agreements, you do not have to pay.
4. Does the company refuse to leave or become aggressive? Call the police and report it via politie.nl.
5. Report it to ACM ConsuWijzer. That way the regulator can see which companies are not following the rules.

How do you avoid calling the wrong company in a panic?

Make sure you have a reliable number ready before anything goes wrong. In an emergency you search quickly, and then you are more likely to click on the first advert.

• Save the numbers of a few reliable tradespeople in your phone now. The ACM recommends that too.
• Look at your insurance policy. Some insurers pay for the repair or send a company themselves.
• Ask neighbours, family, your landlord or the owners’ association (VvE) for tips.
• Are you renting? Then call your landlord or housing association first.
• Do you have a blocked sewer in Almere and is the ontstoppingsstuk (rodding point) full of water? Then call the municipality first on 14 036. Also read: blocked sewer in Almere: municipality or plumber?

Many emergency jobs are also worth trying yourself first, so you are less likely to panic. Also read: blocked toilet: what now? 6 steps that work.

What should an emergency plumber cost?

For drain unblocking you pay on average €90 to €150 including VAT nationally, with an extra €50 to €100 for an emergency or the weekend. That is according to the price guide of the Dutch review platform Werkspot (updated 21 August 2026). A bill far above that, without a clear explanation, is a reason to ask questions.

Klusbedrijf MSZ charges by the hour. The first hour on site costs €181.44 incl. VAT (€149.95 excl. VAT), each following hour €108.84 incl. VAT (€89.95 excl. VAT). The first hour is the minimum per visit. In Almere we charge no call-out charge; elsewhere in the service area one fixed amount of €42.35 incl. VAT (€35 excl. VAT). For evenings, nights or weekends we agree the rate with you in advance on the phone, so you do not get a nasty surprise afterwards.

How does Klusbedrijf MSZ work?

We work with open prices and fixed details, so you can check us before you call.

• Registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) under number 87844508, since 5 October 2022.
• CO-certified for work on gas combustion installations.
• Insured with business liability insurance.
• 1 year guarantee on the work and 4 to 5 years on installed products.
• Rated 5.0 from 225+ reviews on Werkspot.
• A free remote estimate: send a photo via WhatsApp or the form.

You can read who we are on the page about Klusbedrijf MSZ.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay an emergency plumber in cash straight away?

No. Do not let yourself be pressured into paying cash or by card straight away, and ask for a bill. A reliable company always gives you an invoice.

Do I have to pay for work I did not ask for?

No. According to the ACM, you do not have to pay for what you did not order. If an engineer wants to do something extra, you have to agree to it beforehand.

Is a verbal price agreement with a plumber valid?

Yes, verbal agreements are valid, but hard to prove afterwards. So ask for confirmation by email or WhatsApp.

How do I check whether a plumber is reliable?

Look the company up in the KvK trade register, check the address and read reviews in several places. A KvK registration on its own is no guarantee of good work.

Where do I report a rogue plumber?

You report it to ACM ConsuWijzer. If there are threats or aggression, call the police and report it.

May any plumber work on my central heating boiler?

No. Since 1 April 2023, a CO certificate has been compulsory for installing, servicing and repairing gas combustion appliances. A client who hires a non-certified company is also committing an offence.

A plumber in Almere with open prices

Have you been scammed by a plumber before and do you now want to know where you stand in advance? Klusbedrijf MSZ is a family business from Almere and works in Almere, Lelystad, Amsterdam, the Gooi and the wider area. We are available 24/7.

The first hour on site costs €181.44 incl. VAT (€149.95 excl. VAT), then €108.84 incl. VAT (€89.95 excl. VAT) per hour. In Almere we charge no call-out charge; elsewhere in the service area one fixed amount of €42.35 incl. VAT (€35 excl. VAT). See all our prices, read more about drain unblocking or request a free quote.

Call or WhatsApp us on 06 19 74 36 78 or email info@klusbedrijfmsz.nl. Feel free to send a photo via WhatsApp, and you will get an estimate in advance.