Issue with plumber and guarantee

nicegirl

Hi all, hope this is the right forum

Last year we had some issues with a persistent leak in our bathroom. We had two plumbers look at it, neither could find/repair the leak. This culminated in water coming through the wall/ceiling in the living room and an eventual hole in the living room ceiling. At this point we decided to just replace the shower unit entirely with a bath and do some other improvements to the bathroom. We got a couple of quotes. The one we chose wasn’t the cheapest but it was the one where we felt that the plumber had really understood the issue. He made some great suggestions and was very reassuring about the quality checks that would take place to ensure that we were happy with the new bathroom.

The new bathroom was fitted and all seemed well. In February this year we heard what sounded like water dripping from the bathroom on to the new plaster in the living room. I called the plumber and they investigated this (by taking the side of the bath etc off, running the water and checking the pipes) and couldn’t find anything. They let me look and what I could see looked fine, from the awkward angle I was at. They suggested the noise was the just the sound of the pipes in the cold weather. We accepted this.

Early this week I noticed a water mark/stain on the new plaster directly under the bathroom so there is definitely something amiss. I called the plumber again and he didn’t answer the phone. I followed this up with a WhatsApp message, including photo and asked him to call me. He didn’t call back and hasn’t responded to the WhatsApp, although I have seen him ‘online’ several times. I have tried calling back and also sent an email, which have all been ignored.

There could be a reasonable explanation, however I suspect he thinks I’m a pain given the previous call and has no intention of getting back to me. My question is, is there anything I can do if he continues to simply ignore my calls? I suspect there isn’t and I am basically stuffed but though you would be the people to ask.

Other relevant info – we paid by bank transfer so no option of making any sort of claim back. The written quote includes the wording ‘standard two year warranty on all installations’.

 Thank you. 

cx6

sounds me as though the leak is a pre-existing condition which has nothing to do with swapping a shower unit to a bath.

since he was employed to do the swap, and presumably he did it, then in my view you have no claim.

the leak is something else - it could be faulty central heating pipes for example.

you need to take down that part of the ceiling where the damp spot is to investigate. You might be better off contacting a builder first rather than a plumber.

Aylesbury_Duck

I agree.  If the wet ceiling is in the same place as before, and that wasn't conclusively shown to be a leak from the shower, then the fact it's appeared again, despite the shower being swapped for a bath, suggests the shower wasn't the cause.

You need to do some more investigation.  If it turns out that the plumber was negligent, then you have grounds to go back to him and chase for a remedy, but on the strength of what you've told us, it looks doubtful.

nicegirl

It wasn't just swapping a shower for a bath. That whole side of the bathroom was renovated. They removed the whole previous unit, tiles, pipes and toilet and this was put back brand new with new pipes, fixtures and fittings. 

There are no central heating pipes there, as mentioned there was a hole in the ceiling after the previous leak so we know exactly what is above the ceiling. 

nicegirl

Also, it was very clear in our discussions (and obvious due to the visible leak and the gaping hole in the living room ceiling) that the main reason for getting the job done was to resolve the leak. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Ok, but he's been out once and couldn't find anything.

Going back to your original question, what can you do if he doesn't respond?  Get another plumber out to investigate and take it from there.  If that shows the original chap's workmanship led to the leak, you have options.

nicegirl

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I agree.  If the wet ceiling is in the same place as before, and that wasn't conclusively shown to be a leak from the shower, then the fact it's appeared again, despite the shower being swapped for a bath, suggests the shower wasn't the cause.

You need to do some more investigation.  If it turns out that the plumber was negligent, then you have grounds to go back to him and chase for a remedy, but on the strength of what you've told us, it looks doubtful.

So my question would be, re: chasing him for a remedy, how do I do this if he won't answer his phone? 

nicegirl

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Ok, but he's been out once and couldn't find anything.

Going back to your original question, what can you do if he doesn't respond?  Get another plumber out to investigate and take it from there.  If that shows the original chap's workmanship led to the leak, you have options.

What are the options please? I have tried Googling this and can't find anything. 

Undervalued

nicegirl said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I agree.  If the wet ceiling is in the same place as before, and that wasn't conclusively shown to be a leak from the shower, then the fact it's appeared again, despite the shower being swapped for a bath, suggests the shower wasn't the cause.

You need to do some more investigation.  If it turns out that the plumber was negligent, then you have grounds to go back to him and chase for a remedy, but on the strength of what you've told us, it looks doubtful.

So my question would be, re: chasing him for a remedy, how do I do this if he won't answer his phone? 

Call from a number he won't recognise!

sheramber

First of all, you need to establish that it is the plumber's work that is faulty.

Water can travel a long way before it shows. It naturally travels to the lowest point. So it may be coming from somewhere else originally.

nicegirl

Undervalued said:

nicegirl said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I agree.  If the wet ceiling is in the same place as before, and that wasn't conclusively shown to be a leak from the shower, then the fact it's appeared again, despite the shower being swapped for a bath, suggests the shower wasn't the cause.

You need to do some more investigation.  If it turns out that the plumber was negligent, then you have grounds to go back to him and chase for a remedy, but on the strength of what you've told us, it looks doubtful.

So my question would be, re: chasing him for a remedy, how do I do this if he won't answer his phone? 

Call from a number he won't recognise!

Haha, I did think of that.