How should I report a dodgy plumber?

Stacey425

Back in November, I called up a local plumbing company because I was having problems with my boiler. Subsequently, I had four appointments with them:

1) A plumber came over, told me that I needed a thermostatic mixer installed in my shower and charged £75 for one hour of labour.

2) A different plumber came and spent two hours installing the part. After installing the part, he looked at the boiler and realized that the problem was actually due to a £30 sensor. I was invoiced £167.17 for the thermostatic mixer plus £150 for labour, but did not pay.

3) A plumber was supposed to come over with a sensor. However, the plumbing company called me 2 hours into the appointment time slot and told me that the part hadn't arrived.

4) A plumber showed up with a sensor, but it was the wrong part. I was not charged for this visit.

I told the company's accounts department that I was not willing to pay the full amount for visit number 2, since the problem was misdiagnosed. They told me that the plumber from visit number 1 would be in touch to discuss.

I heard back from the plumber about 5 months later. I agreed to pay for the part, but no labour, and he quoted me £167.17 prior to taking payment from my debit card over the phone. However, when I checked my bank statement a few days later, £249.99 had been taken from my bank account. I contacted the plumber again and he argued that I agreed to pay for the part plus one hour of labour. However, I was never quoted this amount over the phone and, in any event, this would have totalled £267.25 (the plumber said that he must have "pressed the wrong button" to arrive at £249.99).

Is there anyone that I can complain to about this? I realize now that I should have asked for the bank details of the company, rather than allowing them to take payment over the phone!

andyhop

Stacey425 wrote: »

Back in November, I called up a local plumbing company because I was having problems with my boiler. Subsequently, I had four appointments with them:

1) A plumber came over, told me that I needed a thermostatic mixer installed in my shower and charged £75 for one hour of labour.

2) A different plumber came and spent two hours installing the part. After installing the part, he looked at the boiler and realized that the problem was actually due to a £30 sensor. I was invoiced £167.17 for the thermostatic mixer plus £150 for labour, but did not pay.

3) A plumber was supposed to come over with a sensor. However, the plumbing company called me 2 hours into the appointment time slot and told me that the part hadn't arrived.

4) A plumber showed up with a sensor, but it was the wrong part. I was not charged for this visit.

I told the company's accounts department that I was not willing to pay the full amount for visit number 2, since the problem was misdiagnosed. They told me that the plumber from visit number 1 would be in touch to discuss.

I heard back from the plumber about 5 months later. I agreed to pay for the part, but no labour, and he quoted me £167.17 prior to taking payment from my debit card over the phone. However, when I checked my bank statement a few days later, £249.99 had been taken from my bank account. I contacted the plumber again and he argued that I agreed to pay for the part plus one hour of labour. However, I was never quoted this amount over the phone and, in any event, this would have totalled £267.25 (the plumber said that he must have "pressed the wrong button" to arrive at £249.99).

Is there anyone that I can complain to about this? I realize now that I should have asked for the bank details of the company, rather than allowing them to take payment over the phone!

Speak direclty to your bank, He has taken funds from your account without your permission

Do you have a invoice/receipt to show what the 249.99 was for?

scotsbob

And if the suggestion above from Andyhop doesn't work you should go to the Small Claims Court

Stacey425

andyhop wrote: »

Speak direclty to your bank, He has taken funds from your account without your permission

Do you have a invoice/receipt to show what the 249.99 was for?

Thanks - I spoke to my bank and they're going to begin a dispute investigation. Unfortunately, I don't have a receipt/invoice. The company keeps sending invoice web links that don't work!

Homestyle_Improvements

get in touch with trading standards

Dinah_Gale_2

I was really interested to see your post and wish you luck Stacey 425.

Afraid I can't add anything to help you but I am having a BIG problem with the plumbing firm who fitted a new boiler in the roof space a few years ago.

A while after it had been fitted I noticed water stains appearing on the landing and bathroom ceiling. Having just had the loft insulated I phoned the insulation firm with the suggestion that one of their fitters may have knelt on a pipe and caused a joint to leak. The manager was so concerned that he travelled up 30 miles to look at the damage.

We looked together and he showed me that the pipe was corroded underneath, with a green deposit which suggested to him that solder had been perhaps spilled on the copper pipe.

Because I'm a woman on my own he waited with me until the plumber that the firm sent out arrived. This guy duly removed and replaced the section of pipe . When I spoke to the owner he said I must have had a mouse in the loft which had urinated on the pipe and caused the corrosion. Now this pipe was encased in insulation that his guy had put on so the mouse urinated upwards and through the casing???

The ceilings were repainted . I have noticed that stains were again appearing but was told (not by the plumber) that sometimes old damage takes a while to appear through the ceiling but I have just gone to check and again and find the boarding is saturated and the replaced bit of pipe is apparently leaking at the joints.

I do not particularly want this firm working in my home again. (They fitted a downstairs loo and I had to call them back 3 times because of leaks).

I feel a bit desperate and don't know what the first step should be. Trading standards as suggested to Stacey 425? Are they open on a Saturday? Is there an independent plumbing body that oversees standards, does anybody know please??

I know there's a huge body of knowledge out there so please HELP !

And, by the by, DOES mouse wee corrode copper?

maninthestreet

I think the 'Weeing Mouse' story doesn't hold water, if you excuse the pun.

andyhop

First thing that comes to my mind(being a plumber) is that the corroded copper pipe is the condensate discharge pipe,

This should be done in plastic and not copper as the condensate is acidic and WILL eat thro the pipe

For flux to have corroded a pipe is very unlikely,I spent many years in the commercial/industrial sector where we used LACO flux which is very strong,Even while the projects where being built(sometimes up to 3 yrs) the pipework was fine and corrosion was minor

Dinah_Gale_2

Thanks for the last replies. It's good to learn a bit more about these things.

mikey72

I've seen old copper pipes that were rotten with age, so if he replaced the boiler and plumbed it into the old pipework it could be they were on the way out anyway. But then he should have checked the rest when he came back and pointed out any more.

Canucklehead

Good morning: Plumbing isn't a regulated profession (unlike gas installation) therefore anyone can tout for business. Qualified/experienced plumbers can become members of the CIPHE, a voluntary organization : they have a Code of Professional Standards and a complaints procedure...other than that, you are at the mercy of the cowboys wherever they might roam.

HTH

Canucklehead