Review Time
⭐️ No stars it it was possible AVOID AT ALL COSTS
This was one of the most shocking and distressing experiences I have ever had with a trades company. Avoid at all costs.
I called them out for an emergency plumbing issue. The engineer stayed in the property for around 11 hours. By the evening, the situation had become completely unacceptable: he was refusing to leave my tenant’s flat, sitting on their sofa, and I felt totally backed into a corner. He never once mentioned the outrageous cost for a very very basic job.
At around 9pm, purely to get him to leave, we were forced into agreeing to pay £2,500, which I paid under pressure. This was not a fair or reasonable agreement — it was made under duress because he would not leave the property. That is not how any reputable business behaves.
To make matters worse, the work has caused damage to the flat which now needs repairing, and there is no justification for either the time spent or the amount charged. What should have been a straightforward job turned into an exhausting, intimidating ordeal.
The behaviour was unprofessional, coercive, and completely unacceptable. This company’s conduct was disgraceful. If you find yourself in the same situation, do not use them. Avoid at all costs. Run a mile. I would never use this company again and strongly warn others not to either
I had a deeply disappointing and stressful experience with the service provider. The technician was supposed to arrive at 6:00 pm but showed up at 10:23 pm, without any acceptable communication or explanation for the delay. Prior to the visit, I was informed over the phone that no pricing could be provided until the technician assessed the job. However, upon arrival—before inspecting anything—I was presented with a service agreement and pressured to accept it immediately. The terms included an hourly rate of £475 (or part of an hour), an emergency call-out fee of £79, and a 15% administration fee on the total bill, all subject to VAT. If the pricing was purely hourly, this should have been clearly communicated beforehand instead of stating that no pricing could be given. The contract required acceptance via email with the word “Accepted” before any inspection, which I found highly inappropriate and misleading, especially given the hefty charges and the fact that the technician hadn't seen the issue yet. The technician's behavior was aggressive and rude throughout the interaction. When I tried to end the visit, he blocked the doorway with his foot, which I found intimidating and completely unacceptable. I ultimately paid the call-out fee just to end the encounter. The entire experience felt more like high-pressure tactics than a professional service. This was the worst experience I have had with a plumbing service, and I would strongly advise others to be extremely cautious, especially regarding pricing transparency, contract terms, delays, and conduct during visits.
I engaged the service for work done in December 2025 at my property. Since then, the issue has recurred, and the company has not responded to multiple calls, even though their contract includes a 14-day post-work call-out guarantee. The job was not completed to an acceptable standard, and most alarmingly, bags containing human waste were left inside my property, which was both unhygienic and unacceptable. I have had to formally report this as a breach of contract due to their lack of response. I strongly recommend that others proceed with caution and ensure clear follow-up arrangements before choosing this service.
I had a frustrating experience with an emergency plumbing service. They operate under multiple names, which is confusing. I advise against using them due to their lack of transparency and high prices. While the plumber did unblock my sink quickly, the company only revealed the full costs once the plumber was on site, taking advantage of customers' stress. I found a similar service for £200 less! Additionally, they sent me a contract before I even agreed to the price, which feels like a scam. A reputable company would reach out to refund the overcharge; if not, I will escalate this to the appropriate authorities.
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!! Quoted me £44 for the call out fee which then changed to £58.80 once the man was in my house. They then quoted "£269 per hour or part of an hour" just for labour. So if the job takes 61 minutes, thats £538 not including materials. I told them just to send me the bill for the call out fee and the man waited for someone to confirm they had recieved the money before leaving my house. I then got a phone call the next day from a woman rudely asking me to explain why they hadn't recieved the money yet. I told her I sent the money using the account details she emailed me so its not my problem if they dont have it. She then said "oh its just come through now". Worst company I've ever dealt with. I wish I read the reviews before calling them because it seems they do this to all their customers.
Review for First Response Plumbing Able emergency pluming Dec 2025 First Response Plumbing & Maintenance Ltd AKA Able Emergency 24/7 & The Emergency Plumbers on the website (not sure why they use various company names) Do Not Use Them - non transparent extortionate prices The plumber unblocked my sink quickly however the company are not transparent about costs which are extortionate, when you initially enquire they only let you know how much the call out fee is and only when the plumber is on site do you find out the full cost... so they are relying on customers anxiety and stress in the moment in order to rip them off . I've looked at Check a trade price for emergency plumbing callouts to unblock a sink without complications, it was £200 less than Able Emergency! Also there was a contract sent through to me before the price was emailed to me which I didnt even read until today let alone agree to, they are set up to scam! If they were a decent company they would contact me to offer a refund for the £200 overcharged anything less than that I will follow up with Trading Standards.
THEY ARE A COMPLETE SCAM!!!I had a conversation about the nature of the service and no mention was made about a diagnosis charge (different from a fixing charge) payable immediately before even getting a quote for the actual job..£250/hrThe were extremely pushy in getting paid… wouldn’t even allow a fair time to get home and get may card for payment… called about 7 times within the hour…Just AVOID THEM TOTALLY!!!
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Fast. Reliable. Trusted – First Response Plumbing is here when you need us most.
At First Response Plumbing, we specialise in fast, reliable, and professional emergency plumbing services across the UK. Whether it's a burst pipe, blocked drain, or a leaking boiler, our certified local plumbers are on call 24/7, ready to respond when you need us most.
Founded on the principle of rapid response and exceptional service, we understand that plumbing emergencies don’t wait. That’s why we’ve built our business around being there for you in real time, with no delays, no hidden fees, and no compromise on quality.
Our experienced engineers are fully qualified, insured, and trained to handle all types of plumbing issues, big or small. We take pride in being honest, transparent, and easy to reach, ensuring every customer feels confident and supported from the first call to the final fix.
From the first contact to the final fix, we aim to make the process smooth, stress-free, and transparent.
We’re proud of our growing reputation and the trust our customers place in us—something we work hard to earn every day.
💧 Emergency? We’re here 24/7. One call and we’re on our way.
🚨🔧💧 First to Respond, First to Fix.
📞 Call us now on 020 4577 2319
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