We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Need legal advice about a possibly corrupt plumbing company.
AirBerry
Posts: 40 Forumite
Hello!
I need help and advice about my consumer rights when it comes to dealing with a plumber who had been unprofessional.
Is the plumbing and heating industry regulated by the government? What could I do about a plumber who overcharged me and then failed to finish that job satisfactorily?
There is already a helpful discussion about my problem in another part of this forum. I wanted to raise it here to get advice on what I could do from a legal point of view.
Here is a summary:
A plumber gave me a quote to install a new hot water tank for £2,160. The written quote states:
Subtotal: £1,800.
+VAT: £360.
Total due: £2,160
Deposit paid in full: £200 (in cash).
When the plumber came to look at the hot water tank, it was dripping water through its overflow pipe. I was in a distressed state. So, instead of checking out other plumbers, I went with this particular company.
The work was scheduled to have been done on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st July 2017.
On Thursday 20/7/17, the plumber did not turn up.
On Friday 21/7/17, he turned up and spent less than an hour to drain the radiators and hot water tank.
On Sat 22/7/17, he spent less than three hours 45 to install the new tank.
Here are my concerns:
1. Hot water is not flowing well through the bath's hot water tap. I did not have this problem before the installation of this new tank. In the other thread, many of this forum members have explained why the water is just tricking through.
Would I be right in considering this as a job that has not been finished? What could I do legally?
2. The price of £2,160 is way too high. I did make the mistake of agreeing to pay. Now, do I have any legal right to challenge this pricing? Or, is that money lost?
3. I was asked to pay £200 as deposit. I have asked the company times several times to refund it. They still haven't done it. What could I do?
4. On Friday 21/7/17, £800 has been taken from my bank account this company. On that day, all they had done is drain the radiators and hot water tank. What are my legal rights in challenging the withdrawal of this amount of money?
5. On Monday 24/7/17, a further £1,360 has been taken from my account. Yet, the job has not been completed to any satisfaction. Since that day, the plumber visited the property several times to fix the slow flow of water through the bath's hot water tap. On Saturday 5th August, he was scheduled to install a new pump to solve this problem. But he did not turn up.
Surely, there has to be an organisation that oversees the work done by plumbers? I would really appreciate any advice regarding my consumer rights.
Here is a link to that other discussion:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5687938
I need help and advice about my consumer rights when it comes to dealing with a plumber who had been unprofessional.
Is the plumbing and heating industry regulated by the government? What could I do about a plumber who overcharged me and then failed to finish that job satisfactorily?
There is already a helpful discussion about my problem in another part of this forum. I wanted to raise it here to get advice on what I could do from a legal point of view.
Here is a summary:
A plumber gave me a quote to install a new hot water tank for £2,160. The written quote states:
Subtotal: £1,800.
+VAT: £360.
Total due: £2,160
Deposit paid in full: £200 (in cash).
When the plumber came to look at the hot water tank, it was dripping water through its overflow pipe. I was in a distressed state. So, instead of checking out other plumbers, I went with this particular company.
The work was scheduled to have been done on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st July 2017.
On Thursday 20/7/17, the plumber did not turn up.
On Friday 21/7/17, he turned up and spent less than an hour to drain the radiators and hot water tank.
On Sat 22/7/17, he spent less than three hours 45 to install the new tank.
Here are my concerns:
1. Hot water is not flowing well through the bath's hot water tap. I did not have this problem before the installation of this new tank. In the other thread, many of this forum members have explained why the water is just tricking through.
Would I be right in considering this as a job that has not been finished? What could I do legally?
2. The price of £2,160 is way too high. I did make the mistake of agreeing to pay. Now, do I have any legal right to challenge this pricing? Or, is that money lost?
3. I was asked to pay £200 as deposit. I have asked the company times several times to refund it. They still haven't done it. What could I do?
4. On Friday 21/7/17, £800 has been taken from my bank account this company. On that day, all they had done is drain the radiators and hot water tank. What are my legal rights in challenging the withdrawal of this amount of money?
5. On Monday 24/7/17, a further £1,360 has been taken from my account. Yet, the job has not been completed to any satisfaction. Since that day, the plumber visited the property several times to fix the slow flow of water through the bath's hot water tap. On Saturday 5th August, he was scheduled to install a new pump to solve this problem. But he did not turn up.
Surely, there has to be an organisation that oversees the work done by plumbers? I would really appreciate any advice regarding my consumer rights.
Here is a link to that other discussion:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5687938
0
Comments
-
Ask them to come back and fix it???1. Hot water is not flowing well through the bath's hot water tap. I did not have this problem before the installation of this new tank
Money lost I'm afraid. You agreed to the quote. Plumbers will charge more for emergency call outs.2. The price of £2,160 is way too high. I did make the mistake of agreeing to pay. Now, do I have any legal right to challenge this pricing? Or, is that money lost?
Ask them to pay it in writing.3. I was asked to pay £200 as deposit. I have asked the company times several times to refund it. They still haven't done it. What could I do?
The same organisation that oversees most other things - the county courts. If you think you have a claim against a plumber, you can bring a claim against them through the moneyclaimonline system.Surely, there has to be an organisation that oversees the work done by plumbers? I would really appreciate any advice regarding my consumer rights.0 -
-
4. On Friday 21/7/17, £800 has been taken from my bank account this company. On that day, all they had done is drain the radiators and hot water tank. What are my legal rights in challenging the withdrawal of this amount of money?5. On Monday 24/7/17, a further £1,360 has been taken from my account.
Can you please explain how this company managed to take money from your bank account?
I always thought that was impossible without the account holder's permission.
Am I wrong?0 -
steampowered wrote: »Ask them to come back and fix it???
Money lost I'm afraid. You agreed to the quote. Plumbers will charge more for emergency call outs.
Ask them to pay it in writing.
The same organisation that oversees most other things - the county courts. If you think you have a claim against a plumber, you can bring a claim against them through the moneyclaimonline system.
Thanks for this advice.0 -
Can you please explain how this company managed to take money from your bank account?
I always thought that was impossible without the account holder's permission.
Am I wrong?
When I agreed to have the work done, the plumber asked for a bank card details. He said the plumbing company would take the rest of the cost after they finished the work.
The plumber wrote down my debit card details into his notebook.
Before the work was finished, £2,160 has been taken. And the £200 cash deposit has not been deducted.0 -
When I agreed to have the work done, the plumber asked for a bank card details. He said the plumbing company would take the rest of the cost after they finished the work.
The plumber wrote down my debit card details into his notebook.
Before the work was finished, £2,160 has been taken. And the £200 cash deposit has not been deducted.
Ouch........
Actually this is sounding like fraud.
After many years posting on mse I suggest you check out the company on companies house if they are limited.
Try directors names plus " director" and town and endole
If you are not sure, google ALL
the information you have on them.0 -
This all reads very similar to a thread on the In my Home DIY forum. Is it the same plumber OP?0
-
Contact your bank, tell them that these were unauthorised transactions and do a chargeback.0
-
Nothing you can do about the amount as you agreed to that, but... the plumber needs to finish the job to a satisfactory standard, and you need to let him have the chance to do that.
WRITE (email fine) to the plumber listing the problems and asking him to complete the job within 14 days.
If he fails to do this, then you can take legal action.Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards