Are we being ripped off by plumber?

millystar

Basically we rang a plumber on the 28th November to repair our boiler. After a visit on the following Thursday we were met with an invoice. The invoice is for a replacement electronic board, which had been corroded due to water damage as the boiler was leaking. This was replaced and upon kicking in an elbow joint burst in our loft due to a build up of pressure. This was also replaced the next day. The engineer explained that the boiler was in full working order and left. Just a day later the original leak returned and two days later the boiler ceased working again, and tripped the electric. We were told that the engineer would return but would require £100 of the total before further work would continue. Upon visiting our home it was revealed that the new board was yet again water damaged due to the leak, and the leak had been fixed, we therefore paid the engineer the total of £100 cash.
We were informed that the boiler would return to its normal working state if the board could be left to dry for three days.
In a telephone conversation the same day the engineer told us that it was not his fault that the original engineer had neglected to see the original leaks that had caused the original boiler failure, and as such we would incur further costs for the extra work that needed to be done.
Three days later we again called and the engineer returned. He explained that the boiler would not ignite due to corrosion from the leak on the board. The engineer then removed the board from the property and told us he would try to replace it, but that there was a leak and more parts were needed. The following day we called to enquire when the boiler would be working again.
We were told that the engineer needed parts to continue the job and would soon be in touch. The temperature had now dropped to sub zero and several pipes had frozen.
On Monday 20th December 2010 a further telephone conversation was made. This time the engineer disputed how long the job had taken and told us that he needed to get parts, and again, this would take time. When questioned about the length of the job, and the now mounting costs, we were met with a number of excuses, asked what we expected him to do, to ring trading standards, and had the phone put down on us.

We rang him back later to ask what was going on, we were told that we required several parts, which the engineer was trying to get cheaply to cut down costs, but after he had been met with ‘an attitude’ he was now reluctant to do this. Again upon asking of how long the job would be we were met with an attitude from the engineer. When we asked if a refund could be made for the board we were told no, but that we could have the board back which is now ‘knackered’ and that we could not have a refund due to the leaks not being the engineers fault. He then told us that he was busy and ‘how much are we betting he would ring us back in five minutes time.’ Again the engineer neglected to give us a time frame and disputed the length of the job up to this point.
Upon ringing us back thirty minutes later the engineer, again, refused to answer the question on the length of the job and how much longer it would take to complete. He told us he needed to question the original engineer about the work carried out, and the state of the boiler when he left on the first visit. He also told us we would need a new pressure bracket which would cost anywhere from £50-150 and would probably need to order a new board (an extra £300). He wanted to know who would pay for this. We explained that we simpily wanted to know how much longer the job would take, and again, he refused to answer and kept saying that the problems were not his fault and that there was nothing he could do. He eventually told us to ring him back at 9am tomorrow to get a better idea of how much longer the job was going to take and to find out what else he needed to do. He also made it clear that no more work would be carried out until we agreed who would be paying for the further parts.


It has now been over three weeks. Our boiler is still broken, the pipes have frozen, and I have a 4 year old daughter who's suffering with a never ending cold. We have no hot water so are taking 'kettle baths.' It's getting beyond a joke, and I'm starting to feel like we're getting nowhere.


What do you think?

aboard_epsilon

I REALLY FEEL FOR YOU MATE

if you live within 20 miles of me (prestatyn) ..i can run over to you with an oil filled electric rad ..

this sort of thing should not be happening in this day and age ..

i would phone up "gas safe " and see what they have to say about this ..

they have the power to suspend their licence to practise ..
also get hold of social services and explain your situation ..

i take it both so called engineers are working for the same company

don't be afraid to name and shame them here on this forum ..it will go a long way

all the best.markj

jcorbygas

GasSafe will not get involved - they would only get involved if it was a matter of safety - not disputes over bills or between engineers.

aboard_epsilon

Well it is safety ,if someone dies of the cold because of them dragging their feet .

it's coming up to a month without, im guessing any heating ..with the house at sub zero ! .

this guy and his family should be helped .. !!!

all the best.markj

sharkie

Personally I would cut my losses, and look for another company to fix it. Clearly the first people are not up to the job and you are not on their priority list.

3 days to dry a board? I'm sure a hairdryer on gentle heat within 30 mins would do it, or even just a heater. Personally I think they said this to buy time and fob you off.

Personally I'd go and buy and collect your own board so the new engineer will not have to spend time to source another

Think if you do not cut your loses, you will have to fight it and freeze.

millystar

I just feel so useless for not really knowing what's going on and just wish we had some hot water or a bit of heating.

Yes, the engineers are from the same company, A1 Gas Services in Stoke on Trent.

In a further telephone conversation today we were told that "it takes time to find the right parts" and that he's looking in his shed, and again, is refusing to give us a time frame on completion date, and of course that he's refusing to do any more work until we come up with the money for yet another board and a pressure bracket. He's said that the leaks were not his promblem, he is not taking liability for anything that has happened up to date, and, again, to ring trading standards if we have a problem with him as he's happy to explain the situation to them.

Now I'm not much of a complainer, but it's my understanding that he's not actually broken the law (apart from taking a fuse and an electric board from the property that we've paid for) and as such, it seems drastic calling the gas safe register on him.

We're planning on asking him to return the fuse and the board to the property and calling another plumber out. Should he then pester for a final settlement of the board (we've paid £100 for a £300 board & labour) we're happy for him to take it to court and we'll explain the situation to them. It's currently -6 degrees as i'm typing this and tomorrow it's reportedly -38 in Shropshire, not too far away from here!!!!

Thanks for your efforts etc, it's just so frustrating being fleeced so close to Christmas, especially by someone who's been to our home and can see that we're not exactly millionaires with money to burn! :mad:

aboard_epsilon

well I'm just waiting here for others to make a comment ..274 views and nothing much said ..

my personal view IS:- that is, anyone that makes someone go without heating for such a long time ..and in extreme weather as this ..is in the wrong..is not performing a public service ..

Nothing "A1" about that lot ..

i think he's bluffing you when he says that he don't mind if you go to trading standards.

all the best.markj

Spiggle

Go to trading standards, contact Watchdog on BBC or any other local TV or radio consumer programmes you may have as soon as you can. This firm sounds like a cowboy outfit fobbing you off. You've paid an awful lot to be left for almost a month without heat and in the weather we're having too!

If it weren't for the fact that I feel so much for you in your situation I would think this was the script to one of the Rogue Traders (or whatever its called) programmes.

Mr A1 Gas Services of Stoke on Trent deserves to have his soft parts exposed to the snow and ice for leaving a family with a four year old child in such dire straits for so long. My heart goes out to you and I only wish there was something I could do to help you.

Please contact and complain to anyone and everyone you can think of. This man is a con merchant!

All the very best,
Spigs

millystar

Spiggle wrote: »

Go to trading standards, contact Watchdog on BBC or any other local TV or radio consumer programmes you may have as soon as you can. This firm sounds like a cowboy outfit fobbing you off. You've paid an awful lot to be left for almost a month without heat and in the weather we're having too!

If it weren't for the fact that I feel so much for you in your situation I would think this was the script to one of the Rogue Traders (or whatever its called) programmes.

Mr A1 Gas Services of Stoke on Trent deserves to have his soft parts exposed to the snow and ice for leaving a family with a four year old child in such dire straits for so long. My heart goes out to you and I only wish there was something I could do to help you.

Please contact and complain to anyone and everyone you can think of. This man is a con merchant!

All the very best,
Spigs

I really do wish this was a script from rogue traders, and not my actual life.... :mad:

so. blummin. cold.

Tom_Jones

Firstly go out and buy some fan heaters and get them running in your home, otherwise you will have mould problems and health issues.

And get another plumber.

BTW most parts would be in stock in a mercants, if not they would be avaliable next day, so this idiot is taking the p iss :mad:

john_howard_fisher

1. buy oil filled heaters
2. buy extra kettle in case current kettle blows
3. call social services and give name and address of A1 Gas Services in Stoke on Trent
4. text engineer and tell him he is famous: include forum link
5. tell i said, and the lads on here said best sort this by tomorrow else he best find another trade
6. include full address including postcode of business so when searched from google this thread will come up
7. once sorted think of having a electric shower installed for emergencies

hope u and your family make it through this alright. this is totally not on. taking pure advantage. i have seen this tradesman trick over the years. "attitude" its you A1 Gas Services in Stoke on Trent with the attitude.:mad::mad::mad: