Could not get an old Aquamax gas storage hot water unit to light in a recently purchased home in Ballarat. Had no particular recommendations to work on so assumed one of the "Jim's" franchises (Metropolitan) might be a good starting point - BAD... no the WORST possible decision. Non-refundable call out fee $140. Booked an appointment for 11pm that night (OK - that should have raised alarm bells!) as they could not get there sooner. I suggested it could wait until the next day but they said they had no availability then. Guy was polite enough but did not get there until after midnight! Apparently, he had been working in Melbourne that day and I asked why they didn't use a local plumber in Ballarat. Apparently he lived locally!? Outside in the dark, with a torch, he then made less of an effort to get the piezo to ignite the pilot light than I had during daylight hours. "You're hot water's stuffed - would you like a quote on replacement?" The now infamous "Jim's Tablet" appeared and he started inputting data for a quote - new gas-line back to the meter, dedicated electrical wiring and new switchboard ("old one's too small for an additional 15 amp line")... ? Next day got 3 quotes ranging from >$5,200 (135L Dux replacement gas storage unit) to >$15,400 (Electric 250L Rheem storage unit). The unit costs themsleves in the quotes were nearly 3 times the cost I could have bought them for at Bunnings not on special. I ended up getting a really great local plumber (plenty of repeat business for him!) to install a Bosch gas instant hot water service, including line upgrade to the meter, 2 people on the job, certicificate of compliance etc for about $1,750. I'm just lucky I only wasted $140. Feel sorry for vulnerable elderly who just have to work on trust.

Got a quote (in excess of $1500) from Jim’s Plumbing Melbourne to fix the hot water system. It took 7 days to get the repair done. Plumber spent less than two hours on the job and installed a $30 component. We we asked for the price to match the work done. They said ‘Jim’s is not the cheapest plumber’ and refused to adjust the price. Don’t use them!

Approximate cost: $1500

Booked for an appointment at 10-1 then there’s a no show. They then rescheduled the appointment to 5 days later . So ridiculous. Do not go for them

Approximate cost: $141

My kitchen tap got disconnected and after paying the callout fee of $141 I was told I should replace the tap, which they supply at around $2000. I was shocked considering most similar taps cost $200 or so. They then quoted over $600 as their hourly rate to connect the tap back.
I refused to go ahead and luckily for me, a friend was here who connected it in 5 seconds.
Frankly their charges are outrageous and I would be never use them again. Nor could I ever recommend a company that thinks $600 per hour is reasonable.

I was told they will be coming for an emergency repair, after 2 days, they just keep calling sick / rescheduling. DO NOT HIRE NATIONAL COMPANIES. Look for a plumber with your local area code

Approximate cost: $150

Terrible service got charged 150$ for a quote for them to tell me it was 1500$ to do a job I got quoted less then half that amount

We unfortunately and stupidly called Jim for a plumber due to a slow flushing toilet. METROPOLITAN PLUMBING arrived instead of someone from Jim’s. Aside from the $132, we were quoted $700 to inspect the sewage pipe And then for some reason, apparently our pipes were “broken” (we took photos and the pipes were not broken prior to them doing their work — they broke them!) and they had to replace them for $16000. We were told we wouldn’t have any plumbing for the weekend without it — no toilet, no baths, no usage of the sink. Not knowing a reasonable cost for the repairs, we agreed as we were desperate and paid $8K. Issue was not resolved and the Water company had to be called to resolve the issue as the problem was within the water company’s jurisdiction and not at all on our property (something that the plumbers should have known according to the water company).
The water utility had to provide the necessary people and expertise to do the actual fixing and repair, not JIM’S PLUMBING, Not METROPOLITAN PLUMBING!

During their work, Jims Plumbing dumped 2 toilets and soiled waste from other jobs without permission on our driveway blocking access to our backyard (we did not have any toilets replaced at our property). A skip was arranged and arrived 2 days later. As no one from Jims Plumbing returned to remove the waste We had to manually place the dumped waste products into the skip. This has exposed us to foreign toxic materials and hazardous waste that has been illegally and unauthorisedly dumped into our property. JIM’S PLUMBING finally returned to close the massive hole dug up in our backyard several days after the skip arrived.

The Water utility told us that we were “stitched up”by Jim’s and that they should not have touched the pipes as the issue was not within our boundary.

Jim’s Plumbing conducted works on pipes whose responsibility belonged to the local water authority and should have know better than to give dodgey advice and start digging without consulting the Water utility. We have tried contacting Jim’s, providing them with proper documented evidence including notes from the Water utility advising that what Jim’s did was incorrect, and yet they refuse to provide us with any compensation. No documentation (no email, NO TAX INVOICE, NO COPY OF CONTRACT we have signed have been provided at all, until we hounded them for our copies. They have finally sent us an invoice, but still no signed contract and still no detailed work order or report.

We have everything duly photographed and documented as evidence of this unprofessional, fraudulent and extremely improper behaviour. We are escalating this to VCAT and VBA as this is horrible service and blatant taking advantage of people during desperate times. Consumer rights demand that reasonable care and skill must be used while working and providing service. Based on all the evidence we have collected, JIM’s PLUMBING did not use reasonable care and acceptable level of skill when they carried out this deceptive work and they have broken their contract with us. Service was not done with due care and skill, and any reasonable consumer would never have bought the service had they known beforehand about the problem, or about how this not within JIM’S PLUMBING’S jurisdiction.

This is a service that we do not advice anyone to use ever. I’d rather live with a slow flushing toilet than have to deal with JIM’s services ever again!

Approximate cost: $16000

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS JIMS PLUMBING FOR ANY PLUMBING

I used Jim plumbing thinking i would not be scammed sadly I was. I was charged 132 non refundable call out fee which I accepted. I needed a two inch copper pipe installed to replace a leaky fitting on a gas hottie.

The lady on the phone would not give me a fixed price saying it it would be 132 plus materials. After waiting 5 hours i get a call saying Jim's green van would not be coming but a different plumber in a different colour van will do the work for the same price. This plumber comes out with a laptop and quotes me a price of $1100 on top of the call fee. I refused and got the job done by local plumber for $250.

Please don't use Jim's Plumbing, if you do you will be lighter $132, be sent a another plumber that price gouges you and you have the same problem.

Avoid JIMS PLUMBING TO SAVE YOURSELF HEARTACHE

Very unethical business and a massive ripoff. Their fixed price for installing a dishwasher was $839 (in addition to callout fee) for a job that usually costs under $200. But even though they use a fixed price schedule they'll only quote after you've paid the $132 call out fee. Do not use them

House was flooded with sewage, Ali came to site and quoted it up he cleared the blockage and showed me the drains with a camera, then came inside and cleaned my main bathroom for me, What an amazing service thank you Jim’s and Ali, would recommend asking for ali when having drainage issues