Stung by a local cowboy plumber/thug - Don't know what to do next?

younghomeowner_2

Hi All.
I recently had some work carried out by a local plumber to move a boiler from upstairs to downstairs.

The price was haggled down a little and was the same as a few other plumbers but this company where able to start straight away.

The job was messy right from the start, nothing cleaned up and pipes ran on the outside of the house which looked awful.

Then the bigger issues began with them hooking up the wrong pipes, mixing things up etc...
Eventually they had it fitted at its new location and fired up.

They left with the boiler on the wall with no covers on it, holes all over the side of the house where they had removed pipes.

They where also completing some other jobs for me which ended up making more damage than gains so i eventually demanded my keys back and told them not to return.

They have been paid (cash) for the job of ~£950 in total with no receipt.

I was so worried about the state of the jobs i decided to contact Gas Safe and query the company... and to no surprise they are not Gas Safe registered (although its clearly all over their website and uniform).

Gas Safe where prepared to have someone inspect the job, and for me to file a formal complains to take it further.

The biggest problem i have is that this person has an extreme vicious and violent past... and if i complain to Gas Safe, they WILL tell him it was me and my job.

This person is local to me and i feel that this would have some very bad consequences for myself and/or my property as he's a very well known thug (i didn't know this prior to googling his name and seeing some shocking news results).

Gas safe are aware of him, the company and that he is working on jobs right now, but they won't act on any information without a formal complaint. They won't do anything anonymously, even though they know his address and that he's using the Gas Safe logo and doing dangerous jobs!!

A friend who is a registered Gas Safe plumber has come out to inspect the job and isn't happy at all with any of the work.
It needs completely re-doing at a cost of nearly £400 (mates rates) to get it acceptable to pass regulations.

I feel like i have been completely ripped off and possibly even had my life put in danger by the work carried out and i haven't a clue where to turn now.

This is my first house which i have purchased on my own, I'm only in my mid 20's and have worked so hard to buy my own home.
Im doing most of the work to the property on my own in evenings and weekends, it just makes me sick that cowboys can rip me off knowing the circumstances I'm in and how tight my cash flow is.
Especially being local individuals who must know that what they are doing is wrong and incredibly dangerous!

Anyone got any ideas?
Or do i just accept it for what it is and steer clear of the possible repercussions from the thug?

Thanks in advance!

gingerdad

can't really offer anything very constructive, but had some dealings with gas safe and would rate them in the chcochlate fire guard area of doing anything, they where hopeless.

doesn't help i know.

moneyistooshorttomention

Sorry to hear this has happened to you.

I don't know what redress you can have for the money/hassle the thug has caused you.

The one thing that is clear is that everyone else needs to know to steer clear of this character, so share the exact details of what he did to you around freely (which will hopefully save some people from also getting ripped-off the way you have been).

Hope this resolves well for you.

Southend1

Tough one. I suppose if you don't make a formal complaint to gas safe then someone could eventually end up dead because of shoddy work. But I understand your reluctance. I hope it works out ok for you in the end.

Furts

Hi younghomeowner
Whilst it is regrettable that this has happened, I will view this in a different light.

The original work was worth £950 but it has all been re-done for £400. You have not apportioned labour and material. Perhaps some of the original work or materials were satisfactory?

The bottom line is that you have ended up with a job that is satisfactory by paying £1350. There is no guarantee that had you accepted an alternative quote for £950 that the job would have been satisfactory.

Hence the dispute is over the addditional sum of £400. In terms of house buying this is not a huge sum. I would value my safety higher than going after this.

younghomeowner_2

Well in the end I've ended up with an expensive boiler move.
Tons of holes in the side of my house where pipes have been in and out multiple times.
The other work that was done caused damaged to 3 walls surrounding and they will require plastering work.
My biggest frustration is that this person has my money and is currently doing a much bigger complete central heating job elsewhere and I'm scared that someone could end up dead because of this shoddy work.
Im just not in a position to give up my identity to file a complaint and i cannot do it anonymously.
Its so frustrating that even if i can't do anything to help my situation, i can't even report them to try and save others from these cowboys!
Its shocking that its a legal requirement to be gas safe for this type of work and that its illegal to show the logo without being registered, yet they don't do anything about it when they know its going on and have all the details they need to confront the company themselves!

pimento

younghomeowner wrote: »

... file a complaint and i cannot do it anonymously.

Why not???

younghomeowner_2

I Phoned Gas Safe and mentioned all the issues and also about the fact that i cannot give up my details due to repercussions and was told that i cannot do anything further.
They won't pursue him in any way unless i file a formal complaint and give up my details which puts myself or my property in danger.

Gas Safe won't accept an anonymous complaint or report.

I was told to speak to Citizens Advice who I'm guessing will also want my details

trailingspouse

I wonder if Trading Standards might help? After all, this person is misrepresenting themselves as registered with GasSafe. Might be worth a phone call.

pimento

Do you know the address of the place he is currently installing stuff? Call up, tell them your name is Smith and say he's working without a GasSafe certificate.

Johnnytwostep

get some boys together and find him and do him over.