How We Charge
Plain-English pricing summary for Whywait Plumbing
Nobody likes bill shock. Especially when the problem was already stressful. Here’s the clear, plain-English version of how we price our work.
Attendance & Investigation minimum (on-site)
If we attend your job on-site to investigate and determine the issue(s) and required work, a minimum charge applies.
- Minimum attendance & investigation charge: $156.71 (incl. GST) (for reference: $142.46 ex GST).
This minimum includes travel to the site and up to 15 minutes on site.
Minimum applies per attendance.
If attendance occurs on a statutory public holiday, public holiday labour rates apply.
This minimum may be credited toward approved repairs on the same day, at the company’s discretion.
If additional time is required beyond the initial 15 minutes (including time on site or time directly involved with the job, such as reports, meetings, or negotiations with other professionals/statutory bodies), charges may continue at our time-based rates.
Note: Unless stated otherwise, rates shown on this page are ex GST. This minimum charge is shown inclusive of GST for clarity.
1) Our default: task-based pricing (NSPG price books)
Wherever we reasonably can, we price work by the task using our NSPG price books.
That means:
✅ We diagnose what’s needed,
✅ We explain the options, and
✅ We provide task-based pricing so you can approve the work with confidence.
Task-based pricing is our default wherever practical.
2) When work is too complex for task-based pricing
Sometimes the work is genuinely complex, and the scope can’t be accurately defined upfront.
Time-based pricing is a last resort – used only when there are multiple unknown factors (e.g., concealed leaks, access limitations, unknown pipe condition behind walls, coordination with strata/body corporate/council, insurance assessors/claims process) that make it unfair or unreliable to quote a fixed task price upfront.
When that happens, we may price the work using:
✅ time-based labour, and
✅ cost-plus pricing for materials and equipment.
This approach keeps things fair. You’re paying for real time and real costs, not a guess padded just in case.
3) Time-based labour rates (ex GST) - when time-based pricing applies
If time-based pricing is required, labour is calculated as follows (all rates ex GST):
✅ $240 for the first hour (inclusive of travel to the site).
✅ $60 per quarter hour (15 minutes) for time on site, or time directly involved in the job, such as preparing reports, attending meetings, and negotiating with other professionals or statutory bodies.
4) Materials and equipment (cost-plus, ex GST)
Where we supply materials and/or equipment, they’re calculated as:
✅price supplied + 25% (ex GST)
This covers procurement time, handling, warranty support, and ensuring compliant parts/equipment are provided when needed.
Use of Advanced Diagnostic and Administrative Technology
To ensure the highest level of accuracy, safety, and efficiency, Whywait Plumbing utilises advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for technical diagnostics, regulatory compliance checks, and administrative processing.
1) Privacy & Data Security
We utilise enterprise-grade AI platforms with “Zero Data Retention” protocols. This ensures that any site-specific data, architectural plans, or customer details are processed securely and are never used to train public AI models
2) Professional Oversight
While AI assists in accelerating our diagnostic and quoting processes, all final strategic decisions, safety certifications, and technical approvals are performed by our licensed plumbing professionals.
3) Value-Based Efficiency
Our use of AI is designed to provide you with faster turnaround times and more accurate cost certainty. We invoice based on the expert’s outcome and the specialised judgment provided, rather than the raw time spent on data processing.
How we charge hours, availability, and public holidays
Our labour rates apply 24/7.
Public holidays (statutory): Where work is performed on a statutory public holiday, labour rates are increased to cover the legal requirements of the Fair Work Act. The applicable public holiday rate/loading will be advised at the time of booking or before work proceeds.
How We Charge - FAQ
Because turning up prepared, diagnosing properly, and giving you the proper fix (not a guess) costs real time and resources, the minimum covers travel to the site and up to 15 minutes on site to investigate and determine what work is required.
If it's going to take longer, we'll tell you and continue under our time-based rates (or provide task-based pricing if the scope becomes clear).
It may be credited toward approved repairs on the same day, at the company's discretion.
We can talk in general terms, but accurate pricing requires an on-site investigation - most plumbing is concealed, and every job has variables. Photos/videos can help, but they rarely show the actual cause.
Not for service/maintenance work where we need to attend the site. We don't do free quotes for on-site diagnosis - because without inspection, it's usually guesswork.
Exception: We will provide a free quote if you email us or deliver a set of design drawings (e.g., hydraulic or architectural plans) to our office.
Because free is usually paid for somewhere else. We prefer to be upfront about what you're paying for: attendance, investigation, skilled labour, and compliant materials.
No. Our policy is to use task-based pricing, and we've been doing it for over 30 years. Task-based pricing is used for around 90% of our work, and we use our NSPG price books wherever we can reasonably do so.
Time-based pricing is a last resort - used only when there are multiple unknown factors (e.g., concealed leaks, access limitations, unknown pipe condition behind walls, coordination with strata/body corporate/council, insurance assessors/claims process) that make it unfair or unreliable to quote a fixed task price upfront. In those cases, time-based labour plus cost-plus materials is the most transparent approach.
When time-based pricing applies, labour is $240 for the first hour (ex GST) (inclusive of travel to site), then $60 per 15 minutes (ex GST) for time on site or time directly involved with the job (e.g., reports, meetings, negotiations with other professionals/statutory bodies).
Time on site, plus time directly involved with your job, such as reports, meetings, and negotiations with other professionals or statutory bodies (where required).
Materials/equipment are priced supplied + 25% (ex GST). This covers procurement, handling, warranty support, and ensuring the correct compliant item is provided when needed.
Our rates apply 24/7. The main exception is statutory public holidays, where labour rates increase to meet the legal requirements of the Fair Work Act.
A clear description, photos/video if possible, site access details, and permission to proceed once you approve the option.
We have a PLUMBER NEAR YOU 24 Hours, 7 Days a week
Servicing Gold Coast, Tweed & Tamborine.
We answer your call 24/7. You won’t get a call centre or an answering service when you call us. Speak to a plumber 24/7.
Queensland QBCC Plumbing Licence 78167
New South Wales DFT Plumbing Licence 226900C
CALL NOW