Entitled Homeowners Refused to Pay My Plumber Dad – They Thought They Were the Smartest, but He Had the Last Laugh…
My dad, a plumber who takes immense pride in his craft, is the kind of man who treats every job as if it were in his own home. He’s the sort who would redo an entire project if it wasn’t up to his standards. So, when he landed a gig to completely remodel a bathroom, he approached it with his usual dedication. The homeowners seemed thrilled, carefully choosing every detail—from the tiles and grout color to the precise placement of the sink and toilet. Dad was involved at every stage, ensuring everything was perfect.
But on the final day, as he was finishing the grouting, the homeowners suddenly changed their tune. They began complaining about the tiles, claiming it wasn’t what they wanted—despite having personally selected everything. Then, they dropped a bombshell: they would only pay him half of what they owed. After two weeks of hard work to bring their vision to life, they were trying to stiff him.
Dad, usually a people-pleaser, realized he was being played. So, he agreed to finish the job but had a plan to teach these entitled folks a lesson. As he “completed” the work, he discreetly installed a hidden valve shut-off key in a spot they would never find, effectively disabling the plumbing. The homeowners wouldn’t realize anything was wrong until they tried to use their newly remodeled bathroom.
After packing up, Dad told them the job was done. They smugly handed over half of the payment, thinking they had outsmarted him. He left without a fuss, leaving his business card on the counter.
The next morning, Dad got a frantic call from the homeowners, who were furious because the water in their brand-new bathroom wasn’t working. “You must have done something wrong!” they accused.
Dad calmly responded, “I’d be happy to take a look, but since you only paid me half, I could only do half the job. If you want it fixed, you’ll need to pay the remaining balance.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a grudging, “Fine. Just come and fix it.”
When Dad arrived, he was met with angry glares. He walked straight to the bathroom, found the hidden valve, and turned it back on. Instantly, water flowed, and everything worked perfectly again.
The homeowners, now bewildered, demanded to know what he had done.
Dad smiled and said, “I completed the job you paid me for. All it took was a small adjustment. Now, if you’ll kindly pay the rest of what you owe me, I’ll be on my way.”
They had no choice but to pay up, clearly realizing they had underestimated the man they thought they could cheat. Dad took the money, thanked them, and left with his head held high.
That evening, as we sat down for dinner, Dad shared the story with a chuckle. “People may think they’re clever,” he said, “but sometimes it’s the simplest tricks that make the biggest impact. Always stand up for your work and never let anyone undervalue you.”
And that’s how my dad, the humble plumber, taught a lesson in respect and fairness that those homeowners won’t soon forget.