Help! Tradesman damaged my property!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

swim55 wrote: »

Sorry, my first post and I was writing on my phone.

Thank you for the constructive reply! We will get a quote for replacing the carpet and await his refusal to pay for it!

swim55 wrote: »

They came recommended by our Letting Agents!!

Also edited to add extra returns in original post!

swim55 wrote: »

The plot thickens; the plumber is now trying to charge us VAT on one of the invoices after telling us he isn't VAT registered.

Does anyone know how to check if a company is VAT registered.

There isn't a VAT number on his invoices and he has verbally told us he isn't VAT registered.

(now putting in extra returns)

This is a B2B transaction, landlord and plumber. I would say due diligence in employing a cowboy!

ComicGeek

Have you had the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate for the boiler installation? Have you checked that the plumber is Gas Safe registered?

Is there a boiler warranty that is dependent on the commissioning checklist being completed at the back of the boiler manual? I've seen some manufacturers using that excuse recently to avoid paying out on their extended warranties.

Given the general lack of competence shown by the plumber, I would be looking very quickly at all aspects of the work to ensure that it's safe and correct, whether it's my own house or a rental property.

Heliflyguy

comeandgo wrote: »

Where do you find such cowboys?

swim55 wrote: »

They came recommended by our Letting Agents!!

That would be a Cavvy or Saunter then.

http://www.collectivenouns.biz/list-of-collective-nouns/collective-nouns-people/

arcon5

In terms of payment you pay him the amount owed less the value of damages caused. If he wants to dispute it then this leaves the onus on him and not you to take it to court and pay all the relevant upfront fees.
Whatever you do, do not pay the full amount then pursue him for damages. And also do not withhold all the money just because he owes some damages equalling less than the bill.

tacpot12

I would also write to the debt collection company explaining the situation to them, and that you will be fighting this through the courts and expect to win. They might be useful in persuading him to think again.

All the other advice above about getting the installation checked, getting estimates for the repairs (and any remediation to make the installation safe and functional), and sending him a counter-claim letter before action are good.

As stated above, you can't really claim the cost of replacing the whole carpet, especially when there are firms who will repair a carpet virtually invisibly.

RE the attempt to charge VAT when not registered. Any invoice charging an amount of VAT must include the VAT number. I would only pay the invoice amount less VAT and let him sue for the VAT in court, which he won't because he won't win.

Don't forget to update your letting agent with this story.