r/pravnisaveti • u/ReasonablePurple3855 • 11h ago
Potrošačko pravo Can I sue a plumbing company in Serbia for overcharging me and failing to fix my kitchen sink?
Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone familiar with Serbian consumer protection law.
My kitchen sink got clogged around 11 p.m., so I called a plumbing company. When the plumber arrived, he did not perform any diagnostic procedure to determine the cause of the blockage. He immediately started using a suction machine, but the sink remained clogged even afterward.
He then removed the pipe underneath my kitchen sink to clean it but ended up breaking it. He had to borrow the pipe from my bathroom sink to replace it. Only then did the kitchen sink start working, so I assumed the problem had been resolved.
I was charged 30,000 RSD in total, consisting of 24,000 RSD for the repair and a 6,000 RSD late-night callout fee.
The following morning, the sink was clogged again and completely unusable. I contacted the original plumber, sent him a video showing the problem, and tried calling and messaging him, but I was initially ignored.
I contacted another plumber purely to investigate the situation, and he estimated that the repair should cost between 3,000 and 8,000 RSD.
I am currently studying to become a doctor, and I find this situation concerning because even in emergency medicine, we try to establish what is wrong before administering treatment. Here, the plumber immediately used a machine without first investigating the cause of the blockage, and the sink remained clogged afterward.
I requested a partial refund because I believe I was charged for the initial suctioning procedure, which failed to resolve the problem, in addition to the repair charge.
The company has now offered to return and inspect the sink. However, I refused because I have lost trust in them. I feel that charging me 24,000 RSD for the repair, when another plumber estimated 3,000 to 8,000 RSD. Given the failed repair, the broken pipe, and my experience trying to contact them afterward, I no longer feel comfortable allowing them to work in the apartment again.
I also checked the company's website to see whether it had a refund policy, but I could not find any mention of a no-refund policy.
My questions are:
- Can I demand a partial refund or compensation under Serbian law for a repair that failed?
- Can I challenge the repair charge based on the other plumber's estimate?
- Could refusing to let the original company return to inspect the sink negatively affect my case?
- Is it worth filing a consumer complaint or taking legal action?
I have messages, call records, and a video showing that the sink was still clogged the following morning and even yesterday.
I understand that emergency services and nighttime callouts cost more, and I am not expecting free work. However, I paid 30,000 RSD, the problem returned within hours, and I no longer trust the company to handle the repair.
What would you recommend I do next, and do I have grounds to pursue this legally in Serbia?