Drain unclogged, payment docked: plumber's know-how becomes liability

A customer's attitude changed the moment a stubborn drain was cleared — and so did the payment. After a plumber finished the job, the customer unilaterally decided to pay a different amount from the agreed quote and went silent.

The story drew attention Wednesday after a self-employed drain and plumbing specialist, identified only as A, posted about the experience on the social media platform Threads.

"I finished the drain job cleanly and came home, but something happened that left me feeling hollow," A wrote.

"I cleared the drain as quoted, wrapped up the job and left — but when I checked later, only 100,000 won ($75) had been deposited," A said.

"The customer apparently decided the work hadn't taken that long and docked the fee by their own standard," A wrote. "It seems my expertise in getting it done quickly ended up working against me." A described the feeling as bitter.

In the text message A made public, the customer wrote: "Look, you did put in some effort, but honestly, it wasn't a job that took very long. Paying the full amount feels excessive by my standards. I just can't understand how the price matches the actual work involved."

The customer then added: "I've transferred 100,000 won as what I consider fair compensation for your trouble — let's call it done there. I probably won't be able to reply if you contact me again." The message ended the exchange unilaterally.

Photos A shared show an ochre-colored sludge-like substance erupting from a floor drain in a store kitchen. The worker can be seen wearing rubber boots to keep the liquid off.

"Dealing with this through legal channels sounds like a headache," A wrote. "I think I'll just spend this 100,000 won on a bitter glass of soju tonight and let it go."

Online commenters reacted with sympathy and frustration. "If the job was so quick and easy, why not do it yourself instead of calling someone and then paying whatever you feel like?" one wrote. Others urged A to file a police report and send a certified letter of demand. "The better a technician is, the more the customer thinks the problem was simple to begin with," another observed. Several advised: "Next time, get the full payment upfront before you start."