Plumber did a very bad job

alice33_2

Hello,

We just had a bad experience with a plumber and we need an ungent advise.

we wanted to modify partially the bathroom, removing the basin and the wc and fitting furniture with a bidet a basin and a wc. The wc and basin are in the same psition with the bidet in the middle.
I got quotes from 2 plumbers and they were all similar (£750 and 780) and quite lower if considering the quotes from shops selling bathroom (~£1300).
I decided to go for the guy that quoted the job for £780, because it seems more available and could do the job earlier. He seems nice and reliable.

The quote comprised removing basin and wc, and ensemble/cut/fix on the wall the furniture for the wc, bidet and a basin (all on one wall, with one worktop), modify the pipes/waistes as needed and create new pipes for the basin. It also included refit a new tap for the bath tube/shower (that we didn't remove) and cut 3 pipes under the floor level (left from a old heather system in a cupboard).

He came during the previous weekend, and worked on his own all Saturday, Sunday and half day on Monday. During the job, we were not fully convinced on the way he was working, but we thought he would fix thing better at the end. When he left we had a close look at the work and we were very disappointed.
The panels he cut were unprecise and did not fit straight, the plinth goes under the level of the furniture in one side and on the other side is 5cm under the furniture. He dind't seal the worktop and the plint, and left them on the free side with the exposed row material (easily damaged by water infiltration). He also damaged one panel with two small scratches, and didn't fit even properly the toilet sit (that stupidally can just be fit only with the toilet detached from the furniture).

We were very unhappy of the standard and after two days we decided it was the case to tell him. We did a list of the things we wanted him to rectify (the above and more others) an dwrite him an email, but he just repayed that he didn't have time to come back, that we should have told him immediatly, that he didn't know how to do what we asked to fix, he made an excuse for anything, mainly blaiming the furniture and he propose to cut the charges of £200:mad:.

We have not replayed yet, but we had to call him back urgently because we realised there was a heavy leak of water under the toilet, going under the flood and smelling. He came in and re-fixed the pipe of the toilet flush. He tryed to fix the toilet seat but after 5 minute he gave up and said it was fault of the fittings and we needed to get new ones!

We do not know what to do now. We have realised that if we want the things done properly we will need likely to buy some new panels, a new worktop (because not fit properly and damaged on the back of the basin) and call in a new plumber and joiner and it will likely cost as more than we own to him.

Which are our right as unsatisfacted costumers?We have not payed him yet, but if we do he will disappear and we do not know if even the plumbing job has been done properly.

What we can do?Do we have right as consumer for those situations?
I cannot believe what bad job he have done, even worst of a person that does DIY.

Thank you for reading this long email.

Cheers

Alice

olly300

Don't pay him.

Do you have an address for him?

Put it in writing to him a list of things he needs to rectify, mention anything he said to you about the fittings, give him 14 days to rectify the problems otherwise you will get another plumber in and that will be subtracted from any payment you owe him. Hand delivery the letter or get send it to him first class but get a proof of posting from the post office.

If after 14 days the issues aren't resolved find another plumber to do the work. Once the plumber has done the work send the original plumber a copy of any bills again with a proof of posting.


You need to give him a reasonable time to rectify any issues so you can't call another plumber in immediately to do the work. (Though you can get one to do a quote for you and give you a list of everything that is wrong.) Keep a copy of all proof of posting and the letters you send him in case he tries to take you to court for non-payment.

If he threatens you report him to the police (you need to go to the police station to do this) AND your local trading standards. http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm

alice33_2

Thank you very much for your advices.
We will follow them and hopefully there will be no threat and police involvment.

Cheers

Alice