"Krone" ombudswoman

Shocking accusations against Viennese plumber

There are serious allegations against a plumber from Vienna (symbolic image)(Bild: wertinio - stock.adobe.com)

Customers complain about the sale of completely overpriced appliances, among other things. In one case, a supposedly broken boiler suddenly burst into flames. Consumer advocates tried to get the company to see reason. So far without success. Instead, the police are investigating.

Last summer, a Viennese pensioner suddenly had no more hot water in her apartment. She commissioned a plumbing company to fix the problem. The employees came, checked and came to the conclusion that the appliance needed to be replaced. They charged her around ten times as much.

The pensioner had to pay 3516 euros in cash on the spot for a new instantaneous water heater. For an appliance that, according to lawyer Reinhold Schranz from the European Consumer Center (ECC), costs between 200 and 300 euros. As the woman did not have the money at home, the "installers" even took her to the bank.