Handyman damaged bathtub

UK007BullDog

I had a cowboy handyman here who damaged my bathtub by cutting the tap off from the top. And his installation leaked as well.

 It was a simple job. Remove old tap, clean off old silicone round bath and renew, install new tap. Tile in the access hatch. 

The bathtub has large black areas and knicks where his tool slipped off. He fitted the tap half way as he could not tighten the screws. He fitted it incorrectly. 

He now sent me an invoice for the work! 

I had my son round who is a plumber and heating engineer the next day and he said the guy is a chancer as he did not even fix the valves into the tap and it would have leaked. And replaced the silver elastic pipe section. Took him half an hour. He also said it was not that bad corroded under the tap and there was no need to cut the tap from the top as it gets done from the bottom. (My son works far away and I did not want to bother him, especially at this time as he works away from his home in Northampton and I am in London and he currently only works nights). 

Anyway the guy also removed a foldable glass shower panel and I had to give him tool for that. I wanted it removed and happy with that. 

He also cut an access hatch for me as the front of the tub is tiled. Happy with that too. 

He then wanted to cut through my wall from the hallway to get “better” access. I said “No” there is enough room for him to get to the tap from the access he has made. I even had to give him my personal spanner set. He sprayed WD40 everywhere and it’s in the walls and the wood floor and stinks up everything.

he sent me a bill and it’s higher than the quote. And he put in a cheapo Bristan Value range tap from Amazon for £47.00 but charging me more than double for and telling me it’s 50% off. And it’s not even working as the shower head has holes much too large and there is no pressure. So the water just runs out like a tap and not a spray. 

He also did some other work putting up baby gates that need permanent fixing and he fixed my wardrobe doors that were a bit wonky. And fixed an old hole from water damage years ago near a window frame. It’s not brilliant work but I would pay for that.

But I refuse to pay for the bathtub work. In fact I am buying a better quality tap and shower head and hose I want so he can have his cheap crap back. 

Plus the mess he made after cutting the metal there was metal dust all over my bathroom and it took me two hours to clean it all away. 

I had to use my new Hoover to pick up all the debris. I am used for trades to have their own hover and to clean up after themselves. 

Now if I pay only the parts I feel are fair will I compromise my consumer rights regarding the damage to my bathtub? And his shoddy work of silicon in round the tub? I just noticed he missed a bit so it will leak.

I sent for quotes to get the damage fixed. 

My son said I should send the guy an invoice for him to have to come from Northampton to London to fix the plumbing.

The guy was just greedy and wanted the money instead of saying ok I can’t do this let’s not make it a dogs dinner. 

Before and after pictures attached. 

UK007BullDog

Here are the pictures. 

FreeBear

I'm guessing he used an angle grinder - In which case, you will have grinding dust embedded in the tiles, grout, and enamel of the bath. Any ferrous material in the dust will rust and give you brown pepper spots everywhere.

I would suggest getting some quotes to repair the enamel and chipped/broken tiles. Send him the bill to repair the damage along with any plumber charges for doing a proper job fitting the tap.

Aaaand before JC/BH says it, got legal protection on the house insurance ?

Bendy_House

Hey! You got 'legal'?

UK007BullDog

Yes I have legal insurance. 

silvercar

Did you check your handyman was insured before you gave him the work?

some people are happy to use the cheaper jack of all trades handymen to complete straight forward jobs rather than paying out for a plumber etc it seems that he did a number of jobs to an acceptable standard but one was beyond his capability. Sometimes this is a risk you take. Charging for a job he failed to do is a liberty, but I doubt you can expect him to pay for a professional to redo the job.

UK007BullDog

I know I probably can’t get money off him to pay for the damage. He is known in the area as a reasonable handiman and my daughter and neighbours used him as well. If anyone had complaints I would not have used him. 

I just want to know if I have to pay him at all for the bathroom job. Or I pay it partially for the two bits he did do. I just feel out out to pay for something someone else has to finish and I now got two quotes in ranging from £150 to £350 to fix the bathtub. He wants £350 off me just for the bathroom alone which is ridiculous and more than he quoted. I think he really thinks I am stupid. 

travis-powers

Personally I think before you pay him anything you need to talk to him and ask what is he going to do to address the damage he has caused, it’s quite substantial!

neilmcl

What did you say to him at the time. As mentioned the damage looks obvious and substantial, surely you noticed it when he finished and shown you his work?

47Revisited

Unbelievable. Where did he tie up his horse!

UK007BullDog

travis-powers said:

Personally I think before you pay him anything you need to talk to him and ask what is he going to do to address the damage he has caused, it’s quite substantial!

He only gave me whaffle and excuses and sent me this link fir me to repair it myself because I am good at art. 🤦

https://www.wickes.co.uk/PlastiKote-Fast-Dry-Brush-On-Enamel---Gloss-White-59ml/p/134126