Bad Tradesman

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 20:57

I’m currently renovating my kitchen which has required some new plumbing, both gas and hot water.

The guy who came to do the job originally made a complete hash of most of the work and has also left us with further problems. The boiler is now leaking, some of the new and existing water pipes are leaking and he’s also cut a number of floorboards in way that means they won’t go back as they were. He didn’t even bother trying to put them back. He also left the boiler overflow pipe disconnected which luckily I found soon after he left.

We’ve since asked another plumber in to rectify everything and complete the job. He’s quoted us a third of the price the first plumber is asking for and that includes fixing the problems he created.

I haven’t given first plumber a penny yet, where do I stand if I decide to withhold payment.

Fuzz · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:00

You have to allow the original company to make good any mistakes before you can just go off and bill them for work by others

Cleeecooo · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:03

Stretch said:
I haven’t given first plumber a penny yet, where do I stand if I decide to withhold payment.

1982 sale of services act.
Work must me done to a satisfactry condition

TheBigCheese · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:04

Exactly, have you contacted the original plumber and said, "Oi, I'm not happy with what you've done, it's shoddy workmanship and not finished, fix it" (in nicer terms).

If he says "Yep, ok sorry" and does the job then all well and good, if he doesn't, then you have more avenues open to you.

The other thing to say is the quote between two plumbers is irrelevant, I understand that you feel stung by being fleeced but you would have been given a quote (I assume) and you agreed to it, by doing that you entered into a contact, you can't then turn round and say "yeah but plumber B is cheaper than you so I'm not paying your rates".

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:07

Scubascorpion said:
You have to allow the original company to make good any mistakes before you can just go off and bill them for work by others

I don't want to bill him for anything. I just don't want to pay him for the work he hasn't done to a satisfactory standard. I'm more than happy to write off the damage he's done and put it down to experience. I wouldn't trust him to come back and put anything right, he’s incompetent.

Stupot_ · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:09

Stretch said:
I don't want to bill him for anything.

Yes but he'll be coming after you for payment...

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:13

Stupot_ said:
Yes but he'll be coming after you for payment...

I understand that, what are my grounds for not paying if the work isn't up to standard.

Stupot_ · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:13

Stretch said:
I understand that, what are my grounds for not paying if the work isn't up to standard.

Prob what cleeecooo said

UFX · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:20

take photos

Nitefly · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:23

Cleeecooo said:
1982 sale of services act.
Work must me done to a satisfactry condition

... well you got the spirit of it right

Tomsk · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:24

How do you know the second plumber is any better?

I've used a couple of tradesmen through www.ratedpeople.com

Cleeecooo · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:25

Satisfactory quality
Goods that are of satisfactory quality are:
free from minor defects (problems)
of a good appearance and finish
strong and safe

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/DG_182935

You did take pics... rite?

SamG · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:35

Doesn't someone have to be Corgi registered before carrying out work on a Boiler? If he is not then you can hold payment?

Although looking at the site, it doesn't look very official.

http://www.corgiservices.com/

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:51

Cleeecooo said:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/DG_182935

You did take pics... rite?

Yes, I have pics of everything.

SamG said:
Doesn't someone have to be Corgi registered before carrying out work on a Boiler? If he is not then you can hold payment?

Although looking at the site, it doesn't look very official.

http://www.corgiservices.com/

You now have to be on the gas saftey register, which he is. Dosen't mean he's any good at his job though.

Tomsk said:
How do you know the second plumber is any better?

I've used a couple of tradesmen through www.ratedpeople.com

The new plumber was recomended by the electrician who was there at the same time as the plumber and saw him in action.

Maccapacca · 20 Mar 2011 at 22:39

Give the new plumber some money for a report, take photos and then write to him, if what he has done is dangerous you can get it fixed by someone else however if its not you should give him the opportunity to correct his mistake

medicX · 20 Mar 2011 at 22:49

Tomsk said:
I've used a couple of tradesmen through www.ratedpeople.com

I also used this site to fix the kitchen. The guys turned up and sorted out the ceiling in a day and took all the rubbish. Well pleased with the work and cost.

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:01

maccapacca said:
Give the new plumber some money for a report, take photos and then write to him, if what he has done is dangerous you can get it fixed by someone else however if its not you should give him the opportunity to correct his mistake

The new plumber has already said the gas pipe he installed isn't buried deep enough into a concrete screed to be safe. Also why should I allow someone back into my house that’s actually causing me more problems than he’s fixing?

I'm going to speak to him in the morning and ask him to give me an invoice for the work he's done (he didn't finish the job) and pay it. The only problem is I know he’s going to charge for about 7 hours work as he arrived at 8:15 and left at 3:30. However he went off for 2 hours to “buy materials” (I suspect he went to another job) and sat in his van for at leased an hour and a half reading the news paper and drinking tea etc.

Cleeecooo · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:05

Stretch said:
The new plumber has already said the gas pipe he installed isn't buried deep enough into a concrete screed to be safe. Also why should I allow someone back into my house that’s actually causing me more problems than he’s fixing?

I'm going to speak to him in the morning and ask him to give me an invoice for the work he's done (he didn't finish the job) and pay it. The only problem is I know he’s going to charge for about 7 hours work as he arrived at 8:15 and left at 3:30. However he went off for 2 hours to “buy materials” (I suspect he went to another job) and sat in his van for at leased an hour and a half reading the news paper and drinking tea etc.

DON'T PAY HIM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. HE BROKE THE LAW. SCREW HIM.

Greenlizard0 · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:09

Stretch said:
However he went off for 2 hours to “buy materials” (I suspect he went to another job) and sat in his van for at leased an hour and a half reading the news paper and drinking tea etc.

Lol welcome to tradesmen.

Stretch · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:10

Cleeecooo said:
DON'T PAY HIM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. HE BROKE THE LAW. SCREW HIM.

I'm not sure if it's the law or just common sense. The new plumber said he wouldn't be happy leaving the pipe as shallow as it is. It's some places the pipe isn't buried at all.

Bad Tradesman

Tea Drinker