£1000's worth of damage from cowboy plumber (LONG)

ellas9602

I have been extremely stupid in employing the "plumber" I did to fit my new bathroom suite. As soon as he started working I wasn't really happy with the way he went about things but I must be really cowardly because I allowed him to continue.

My 15yr old daughter arrived home at 5pm yesterday (the plumber had completed his work and left at 3pm) to find water spewing out through two downstairs ceilings. Part of the kitchen ceiling is now collaped (other parts are sagging), my walls are cracked, my carpets are drenched and have shrunk, my wallpaper is peeling, my electrics are saturated, my central heating system appears to be saturated, my alarm system also. We had to smash new tiles off to get to the leak. And I'm not sure what damage has been done to the new (£4000 in total) bathroom.

and theres more.......

My new suite includes a huge wall mounted sink which was to sit on a partition wall. Whilst fitting the sink the wall part collapsed. The plumber at this time said there was no way he could do this without damging the wall (which now has to be rebuilt) and I took his word for it, which i now dont believe to be true.

he has fitted a chrome towel heater (yet to be tested) which isn't level but is on a slant and isn't flush to the wall, the bath and sink sealing is disgraceful, I literally have done it better myself (and I'm a girl).

I rang the plumber as soon as my daughter rang me. He said he would be there in 20 mins. Never turned up, switched off his phone/ignored all my calls.

I rang my insurer, I am covered for all damage caused by the leak but not the cause of the leak so this must be mended first and I must bear the cost. Is there anything I can do because my concern is that more work is going to need putting right in the bathroom than is visible and I'm sure it will cost me another small fortune and to be frank, Im skint.

If you can offer any help re: Who to reports him to? reclaiming losses from him? or could my dodgy plumbing be covered elsewhere??

Any help is really really appreciated but please no lectures (I know, I Know, I know I have been stupid)I can't possibly feel any worse than I do now, my home is wrecked.

x thanks

startrekker

Is he a registered plumber, if so you might find some advice HERE.
I feel sorry for you and its not your fault, bloody shoddy workmanship, you may have to take him to court if he isnt registered. Make sure you catalogue everything and tak plenty of photos of the damage done.. Good luck

ellas9602

I'm guessing that because he has now gone into hiding he is not registered and has no insurance etc but I will chcek as I should have done initially. He first visted our house in a van but subsequent visits were in a very battered old car. I doubt he has very much to sue for to be honest. What happens if I take someone to small claims who has no equity etc do I end up been even further out of pocket ?

Rex_Mundi

He should have public liability insurance. This is what you should be claiming from, not your own insurance.

ellas9602

but I don't believe he will have any insurance, I don't believe he is a plumber

Acc72

My heart goes out to you as I have had similar problems.

Most recently a brand new roof was leaking - the insurance covered the damage, but not the roof as it was due to "defective workmanship".

I presume that (like I did) you trusted this guy and paid him cash without checking his credentials or getting a receipt ?

Do you have his name and address? - if he is a plumber, contact the CORGI body body and report him.

You could try ringing him again and / or writing to him outlining the problems.

If you get no response, try calling the council / trading standards / DSS (he might be claiming benefits ....)

If you don't want the hassle, the only other option (which is what I did) was to learn form the mistake and move on.

Nile

Acc72 wrote:

My heart goes out to you as I have had similar problems.

Most recently a brand new roof was leaking - the insurance covered the damage, but not the roof as it was due to "defective workmanship".

I presume that (like I did) you trusted this guy and paid him cash without checking his credentials or getting a receipt ?

Do you have his name and address? - if he is a plumber, contact the CORGI body body and report him.

You could try ringing him again and / or writing to him outlining the problems.

If you get no response, try calling the council / trading standards / DSS (he might be claiming benefits ....)

If you don't want the hassle, the only other option (which is what I did) was to learn form the mistake and move on.

Hello ellas9602

Apart from the section I've highlighted, I agree with the suggestion by Acc72.

What a complete nightmare! I'm sorry that your home has been ruined by this man...........who dares to call himself a plumber.

If you decide to just 'learn from the mistake and move on', this man will be free to wreak havoc in other people's homes.:eek:

Please consider contacting BBC Watchdog with your story.;)

It is only by you keeping quiet that this man will prosper from his incompetent working standards.

I hope your home is soon restored and you'll be able to enjoy the Christmas festivities.

Regards

Nile

ellas9602

I think what acc72 is trying to say is that it is very unlikely for me to recoup any costs from this person. I am going to be severly out of pocket and distrupted no matter what I do. I have contacted trading standards who have said that if I don't write to this person and offer him the chance to put right his handy work I void the opportunity to take him to court. I'm not prepared to do this now that I am certain he is not qualified.

I have contactd the benefits fraud hotline and have asked for him to be checked out for benefit fraud and I will be putting something together for watchdog this afternoon. I don't want him free to upset the lives of others.

Thanks for all replies xxx Have a merry christmas

Acc72

Hi Nile,

I tried to present all options - you must realise that in the real world the type of people who do this kind of thing are not likely to be worried about you sending a letter threatening to sue them (as they most likely always work for cash and do not own any assets anyway).

They are more likely to get aggressive - which is not a good situation to be in.

The OP needs to decide if they want the aggro (I know that this may sound selfish, but your first instinct must be for your own well-being : financial; mental and physical).

If the OP had a lunatic 6" 4' brother in law, then I would say send him round to get a refund - as this is the only language these people understand.

But in the absence of such a person, it becomes more difficult.

ellas9602

A qualified plumber has been and confirmed that every bit of work he done is rubbish. He said all of the plumbing needs to be ripped out and done again. All fitting used are incorrect. He's giving me a price tomorrow. I like the idea of going round there. Anyone 6 ft 4" brusiers available this weekend? :rotfl:

Can the police help? is this fraud? surely he should at least have to refund me the money?

ellas9602

Or maybe this is criminal damage? (Im clutching at straws now!)

I have re-read his advert which says "all trades back up"...trade descriptions act??