Is the plumber pulling my chain?

[Astret]

Hi there,
my elderly mum's loo has not been flushing properly for ages, and as she has gone to visit some family for a month, I had a plumber go in to look at it. I can't get round to hers all that often, so I don't know what the 'symptoms' might be, but the plumber said that the flush mechanism was 'obsolete' and it would need a whole new cistern and toilet bowl to fix it. Now, I'm pretty sure her bathroom was remodelled in the early 90s or even more recently - is this guy just trying to pull a fast one? He has offerred to fit everything 'on the side' rather than through the firm he works for, which makes me suspiscious.
Any advice would be appreciated!

[innocenti]

Ring another plumber and get his opinion

[pussnboots]

Hi I am no plumber but my husband was before he retired, he is out at the moment but when he gets back I will ask him what he thinks, on no account get this guy in to do anything. I know my husband sometimes talks about various plumbing problems and he is often asked about toilets not flushing properly and sometimes it can be something called a diaphram which cost about �10 to buy and depending on who fits it shouldn't cost more than about �30 - �40, dont take this as gospel though, I will get back to you later.

[heathfield]

The plumber's talking rubbish. There are many of the latest mechanisms available that can be fitted into almost any cistern ever made.

[theonlyone]

We had the same problem and bought the flush mechanism in the plumb center , B&Q do them and we fitted it ourselves , not a hard thing to do , but a plumber would do it in a flash . He is trying to rip you off , so give him his marching orders , and ring his employer , as he will try it again with some one who is not so on the ball . I really loathe people who prey on the elderly and gullible .

[SlackAlice]

Just changed the entire innards (flush and watervalve) in a quite old cistern for about �35.
Cannot see why you would have to change the bowl?

Methinks your being 'scammed'

[Astret]

Hi there,
well thanks everyone so far for all your help. As I mentioned, I don't think this plumber is entirely legit. Now I just need to convince my aunt, who has been doing all the intermediary work with contacting him etc, to give him the cold shoulder, as she was totally sold on his "cheap deal on the side". However, as it's my mum's money, I hopefully shouldn't have major problems there.
Thanks for the estimate on changing the innards SlackAlice, as that puts the whole thing in perspective!
Any other info on propblems that *might* require you changing the toilet bowl would be useful though. Just for future reference!

[gasman]

Well i am a Plumber in gas and water and i have never come across a toilet that cannot be repaired yet cept for ones that have been vandalised in public places and had been smashed to bits. You should only be paying for new guts and the call out charge, where i live and work in Yorkshire thats �45 call out and �10 for the guts and its a half hour job. Prices change up and down the country though esspecialy down south where you can pay upto �80 for the call out these are working hour rates as out of hrs rates are even more money.

[tezestwing]

Just for future reference if the toilet is close coupled and needs a new polythene diaphragm you should consider fitting a complete new diaphragm unit that comes apart within the cistern by way of removing a plastic dowel that splits the flush pipe from the diaphragm chamber to save future strip downs of the cistern/pan joint when the diaphragm goes again hth TEZ

[slimmyjimmy]

For a long time my toilet would flush eventually until I got fed up and took it apart myself. I found there was a polythene disk that looked all tattered so thought it could need replacing. Walked up to local plumbers shop, showed them, got new one for 15p. got home and fitted it. Working perfectly now for five years.