Sub Contractor Dispute for Extras

Wranglebob

Hi

Can you help me with some advice and guidance around a tricky situation?

I’ve just completed a building extension and have been hit with an unexpected bill for “extras” from one of my sub contactors (plumber).

I have just completed an extension on my current property. I have a written contract between me and my main builder. This contact covers:
· 11 new radiators and associated pipe work
· Plumbing for new ensuite
· Plumbing for Kitchen and Utility Room
· Wastepipes
· Outside tap
· Moving gas supply and boiler from one side of house to the other

My main builder then engaged a plumbing subcontractor to complete this work for £2,600 ( I was not involved in this).

The relationship between the main builder and plumbing sub contactor did not work well. The plumber wanted payment in advance. My main builder would not pay until the work was completed. This situation continued for multiple months. After 3 months £2,000 had been paid but 2 radiators were not working, boiler thermostat was not fitted, outside tap was not fitted and there were some leaks. The plumber refused to come back on site until he was paid the outstanding £600 (less than 1 days work).

This was putting at risk the completion of the whole build. Due to this we parted company and the main builder engaged a replacement plumber.

Since then I have been sent an invoice for £2,200 (8 man days) worth of “extras” for:
· Waste pipes
· Outside tap
· Gas feeds for existing gas fire and new cooker
· Moving pipes out of a doorway.

Note that the only agreed extras were for moving the pipes out of a doorway. There was no quote for extras at the time. This invoice was sent 3 months after I replaced the plumber.

In addition to the £2,000 paid to the subcontractor I also engaged the subcontractor directly and paid him £1,800 in advance to fit a new boiler. The work was not fully completed as follows:
· No wireless thermostat fitted as agreed
· Radiators not balanced as agreed
· Pipe work not fully completed around boiler
· No Gas Safety Certificate

Also during the work the plumbers:
· Broke the new oven door
· Plumbing in kitchen had leaks
· Some pipes were held together with duct tape
· Waste pipes not terminated into drains
· Outside tap leaks and does not flow correctly i.e. drizzles

Overall I feel stuck in the middle of a dispute between my main builder and subcontractor. I have a clear contract between myself and my main builder. But this has broken down between the main builder and the subcontractor.
I feel that I owe the plumber for the one extra of moving the pipes. But this is more than mitigated by the lack of completion for the boiler work and overall substandard work.

Thanks in Advance

ormus

you havent made it clear as to who you have a problem with? both plumbers? 3 plumbers?

forget any sub contract plumber to the builder. thats nowt to do with you. your contract is with the builder. any problems/payment is his problem.

the other plumber you employed direct, is your problem.
by the sounds of the job quality, id throw them all off the job.

Wranglebob

Apologies.

To clarify this is to do with one plumber only.

He was engaged
1) By my builder for the main piece of work
2) By me directly for the boiler replacement

gas4you

So this plumber has been paid £3800 so far?

I realise I cannot see the job, but from here how on earth does that small list of extras take 8 days?

If the original quote included moving the old boiler, then why the £1800 for the new boiler? I would have thought the labour contingent would have been mostly covered in this original quote and all you would have to pay would be the cost of the new boiler plus approx 15-20% mark up on its cost?

If you are not happy with anything to do with the boiler call gas safe in for a free inspection.

Wranglebob

Yes - he's been paid £3,800 to date.

We did try moving the old boiler (10 years old) to the new location. But the boiler was problematic and could not get it to work 100% of the time.
Note that the old boiler had not been working well for the last 3-5 years.

After trying the old boiler in the new place we then opted for the new boiler (viessman vitoden 100).

Do you think £1,800 is a fair price for this boiler?

Steve_the_fitter

I think it should be down to your builder if you have the contact with him and his 1st plumber messed up.
As for the boiler it sounds like you did get the first boiler refitted and then had to get a new one as it wasnt working properly? If thats the case I guess its only fair that you pay for the boiler to be fitted twice.

Tom_Jones

Any tradesperson that wants payment in advance is a COWBOY, and you should leave well alone. The original plumber has not fulfilled his part of his contract with the builder, so you have no liability for any extras unless you have a written agreement to pay.

gas4you

The £1800 is about right, assuming it included VAT.

As he has been paid this by you, then as far as you are concerned your committment to him has been settled.

I would write a reply to him 'thanking' him for the bill and you will forward it on to the builder, to whom the remaining oustanding amount is due from as his contract was with him, as you have settled in full the ONLY contract that was between him and you.