Issue with new fireplace

woodsford

Morning everyone,

I paid approx. £2100 to the fireplace fitter to buy the fireplace and the surround. The installation fee is £700 and this is to be paid after installation is done. The total amount is £2800. 

He came around to fit the fireplace and the surround. 

I was waiting for £700 invoice from him but later on in the night I noticed that the left panel was 3cm bigger than the right panel, so the fireplace wasn't even and this is noticeable.

I contacted him to enquire about this and he asked for pictures with measurements, so I provided him with this and requested the issue to be rectified. I received a reply from him asking for the remaining £700 fee to be paid before he comes around to correct the error.

On a separate note, I rang a different fireplace fitter for some advice and he was helpful. He explained that the error is a straightforward job and can be corrected. He felt that the original fireplace fitter should come back to correct the mistake as correct measurements should have been done at the start.


Am I within my rights to refuse the £700 payment before the issue is corrected?

What are your thoughts please?


Thank you in advance.

NSG666

woodsford said:

Morning everyone,

I paid approx. £2100 to the fireplace fitter to buy the fireplace and the surround. The installation fee is £700 and this is to be paid after installation is done. The total amount is £2800. 

He came around to fit the fireplace and the surround. 

I was waiting for £700 invoice from him but later on in the night I noticed that the left panel was 3cm bigger than the right panel, so the fireplace wasn't even and this is noticeable.

I contacted him to enquire about this and he asked for pictures with measurements, so I provided him with this and requested the issue to be rectified. I received a reply from him asking for the remaining £700 fee to be paid before he comes around to correct the error.

On a separate note, I rang a different fireplace fitter for some advice and he was helpful. He explained that the error is a straightforward job and can be corrected. He felt that the original fireplace fitter should come back to correct the mistake as correct measurements should have been done at the start.


Am I within my rights to refuse the £700 payment before the issue is corrected?

What are your thoughts please?


Thank you in advance.

Don't pay until it's sorted it will help focus his mind to come and correct it. Make it into a positive statement rather than saying I'm not paying until it's sorted say send the invoice as as soon as it's sorted I'll pay immediately and I've got the cash waiting - then get some cash ready to pay him.

woodsford

NSG666 said:

woodsford said:

Morning everyone,

I paid approx. £2100 to the fireplace fitter to buy the fireplace and the surround. The installation fee is £700 and this is to be paid after installation is done. The total amount is £2800. 

He came around to fit the fireplace and the surround. 

I was waiting for £700 invoice from him but later on in the night I noticed that the left panel was 3cm bigger than the right panel, so the fireplace wasn't even and this is noticeable.

I contacted him to enquire about this and he asked for pictures with measurements, so I provided him with this and requested the issue to be rectified. I received a reply from him asking for the remaining £700 fee to be paid before he comes around to correct the error.

On a separate note, I rang a different fireplace fitter for some advice and he was helpful. He explained that the error is a straightforward job and can be corrected. He felt that the original fireplace fitter should come back to correct the mistake as correct measurements should have been done at the start.


Am I within my rights to refuse the £700 payment before the issue is corrected?

What are your thoughts please?


Thank you in advance.

Don't pay until it's sorted it will help focus his mind to come and correct it. Make it into a positive statement rather than saying I'm not paying until it's sorted say send the invoice as as soon as it's sorted I'll pay immediately and I've got the cash waiting - then get some cash ready to pay him.

Yes, that's what I'm thinking too. Agree on the tone as well.

twopenny

For someone to demand detail from you and not pop in to see it for themselves is already a distancing of themselves from the job.
And knowing there's a problem yet asking for the money smacks of doing a runner.
Keep polite but firm and cross him off your books for any further jobs. Replace with the guy who was kind enough to give you the info you needed for free.

woodsford

twopenny said:

For someone to demand detail from you and not pop in to see it for themselves is already a distancing of themselves from the job.
And knowing there's a problem yet asking for the money smacks of doing a runner.
Keep polite but firm and cross him off your books for any further jobs. Replace with the guy who was kind enough to give you the info you needed for free.

I agree. I think a polite email is needed to explain that the installation service charge will be paid once the issue is has been put right.

stuart45

A fireplace has to be right as people tend to look at it for hours on end.
I learnt early on that the most important brickwork is a brick fire surround.
The job isn't complete, so he can't expect payment yet.

outtatune

And of course if he doesn't come and fix it satisfactorily, you have another fitter lined up who can do the job, so you can deduct his costs from the final payment you make to the original fitter.

woodsford

outtatune said:

And of course if he doesn't come and fix it satisfactorily, you have another fitter lined up who can do the job, so you can deduct his costs from the final payment you make to the original fitter.

Do you think I could do this?

I think I may need to do this as he is not replying to my emails / calls. I originally contacted him before Christmas.

woodsford

Update - I contacted three different fireplace experts and they have advised the certain parts of the fireplace (ie limestone panels) are likely to be damaged if the issue was to be rectified. One of them have quoted £900-£1000 to repair the issue, which is more than the £590 installation fee, so it won't end well.

All of them have told me to contact the original installer again.

Looks like another email is needed. Here's to hoping.