Reactfast plumbing service

ally_g_2 · 28 October 2005 at 8:33PM

Last December we had a blocked toilet, we called Reactfast for an emergency plumber. The problem was fixed and we paid £152.75.

The next day we had floods of water through our bathroom floor to our kitchen, after five hours of waiting the plumber returned and attached the toilet properly.
By then we had a fair bit of property damage, out of our own pocket we have redecorated and replaced light fittings. However, the laminate flooring in our bathroom and kitchen are spoiled.

We have contacted Reactfast constantly since, asking for them to replace the damaged flooring. Whenever we write/call we are told it is being looked into/been referred to the plumber's insurers/the person dealing with our case is ill/had a bereavement/left or on holiday.

Trading standards say as we can't 'prove' the damage was caused by the plumber they can't help.

Please can anyone give me any suggestions as to what to do next?

moneysavingplumber · 28 October 2005 at 11:52PM

If you have correspondence that implies that they accept responsibility then this may go some way to proving your case if you decide to file at the small claims court, but that route is always going to be a risky one. If you're not prepared to risk that then I would put it down to experience.

treacle · 29 October 2005 at 12:19AM

Hi,

Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 anybody who carries out a service must do so with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable price and within a reasonable time. Failure to comply with these implied terms is a breach of contract and you can claim damages.

The burden of proof required in civil cases is based on the balance of probabilities. Due to the fact that your problems occurred after the plumber visited it would be fair to conclude that on the balance of probabilities the damage was caused by him. Ideally it would have been best to get an independent report done but that will not prevent you from taking action in the County Court.

Did you pay by credit card? If so the CC company will be equally liable for any breach of contract.

ally_g_2 · 30 October 2005 at 5:21PM

Thank you both for your comments. Unfortunately Reactfast wouldn't accept a credit card only a debit card.

bestyman · 31 October 2005 at 11:05PM

Hi,
I used to work for them . If its the same reactfast they are based in Birmingham.
They are a very large company so its not as if you are dealing with a one man band.
I worked for them self employed using my own van etc and I had to provide my own public liability insurance. Most engineers were self employed like me ( paid on commision only) but I believe a few had `proper` jobs. Either way the contract was with react fast so they are liable.

Ask who the insurance is with and also establish if the plumber is qualified. If it turns out that the plumber is not qualified this may help your case.

I would threaten to issue a CCJ if they don`t pay. Also you could try emailing rouge traders as they were on the show a few weeks ago.

Just out of curiosity how did they arrive at £152.75?

Dave

ally_g_2 · 1 November 2005 at 8:17PM

Thanks.
I am in the middle of compiling yet another letter and will be mentioning the supply of goods and services act as mentioned by Treacle and I will enquire about the qualifications and insurance of the plumber.

The charge comes from £65 per half hour or part of half hour, for 50minutes work plus VAT.

kano · 18 May 2007 at 11:40AM

I've been on the phone to ReactFast / React Fast maintenance and plumbing for about 12 times since their ETA of yesterday at 1pm. I've been fed three different excuses why a) he didn't turn up then, or two hours later as promised, or at the end of the day, or 8:30am today as promised, or between 10 and 10:30, or 11, or 12... b) why the other guy they promised as back up if he didn't turn up at 10/10:30 disappeared, and c) why they didn't tell us it was a problem so we could find someone else.

I'm still waiting, we've paid the builders for a full half day yesterday in which they did nothing, waiting for the plumber, and today they refuse to turn up until a plumber's arrived. Which he hasn't.

Oh, and now they say he'll be here in 5 minutes. Again, that was half an hour ago.

DO NOT USE Reactfast. They have no control over their plumbers, and one guy I spoke to on the phone said he spent most of his time on the phone listening to angry customers.

AND one excuse for our plumber isthat he left the job but it was a botch jobso had to go back. Bodes well... we're just moving a gas pipe 12 inches.

That's all. And it's cost us over £500 so far, before he's even arrived.

I think they may have changed their name, so watch out. They'll charge you a premium rate if you need to complain. And they don't post their name in Yellow Pages - I think they may be Maintenance something now. Screw em.

jcorbygas · 18 May 2007 at 3:26PM

I presume the 'plumber' is going to be suitably qualified and competent to move the gas pipe. Check his CORGI card carefully if he does turn up.

summer134 · 30 May 2007 at 1:16PM

Sorry to hear about your problems.

I would advise NEVER use them. I used them a few weeks ago, as i needed a plumber urgently.I found them in the yellow pages. They charged me £160 for a job which I later found out should cost approx £80!!!! (my sink was leaking, and the pipes needed replacing) I contacted trading standards - but I could do NOWT about it :mad:

At least I know not to use them again. As previously mentioned the HQ is in B'ham, and they use local workmen.

Is there a website somewhere which has a list of companies to avoid? or alternatively reputable workmen?It's all right people saying go by friends recommendations - but what if there are'nt any?

Also they charge by the hour and not PER JOB - something to think about!

Mister.G_3 · 3 June 2007 at 9:35PM

I've been trying to get money out of these for the last 6 weeks. I set up a plumbing coverplan with them and received paperwork at the start of february telling me my first dd would be taken on 17/02 from my bank account. Fair enough, this day comes and goes with nothing..........until 27/03 when i get a letter from my bank telling me i'd been charged for a dd they'd allowed to be paid. I checked my account and found out it was this dd so i called the bank, they tell me there was no attempt to take a dd in Feb. I called reactfast and they tell me that they'd written to me to let me know but it must have got lost in the post (convenient?!) and that i would need to let them have a copy of the letter so they could investigate it with the bank. I e-mailed them the letter and waited.........and waited. Then e-mailed it to them again......and waited some more. I then called them up trying to chase the manager i'd spoken to originally (Trevor Walker) and was told he was out of the office all day (another surprise - he was ALWAYS 'out of the office')

Miraculously - later that afternoon i received an e-mail from with a flat statement saying they wouldn't be crediting me back for bank charges as it wasn't their policy (despite them taking a dd 6 weeks after the agreed date with no prior warning) I called them again and was given their MDs name so i wrote to them (snail mail to leave a paper trail) This was 3 weeks ago and i've still heard nothing. The bank would have charged me £25 for allowing the payment to go through, then a further £35 for unauthorised overdraft but under the circumstances they waived the charges. This isn't the point though as they weren't obliged to (i know about unfair bank charges but i'm running this account well and this is the first time i've ever gone overdrawn in it) so Reactfast owe me £60 in charges.

In addition to this, prior to taking the policy with them i had them do some work for me (which admittedly went well) then when checking my online statement found they'd charged my credit card twice. This took another 20 minutes trying to resolve on the phone before they agreed to refund 1 of the charges.

They're an absolute shower of **** - i'm cancelling the policy and looking elsewhere as they seem happy enough to take money but unable to grasp the most basic concepts of customer service.

plumb1_2 · 5 June 2007 at 8:19PM

Always use local plumbers, and corgi reg for gas work.

Reactfast plumbing service

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