Tradesperson wants money tonight

Jmoo

Hello

We've had our guttering replaced by a company who didn't do a good job. They've blamed other properties for the fact it leaks at the join, and it's now taken three attempts to resolve it. 

They billed me and asked me for payment the same day it was installed. I hesitated as I wanted to see it during the rain. I was right to be unsure as it still wasn't fixed when they came back a second time.

Now they've been again today claiming it's fixed. I'm still not sure and I want to see how it looks when it rains tomorrow.

At 6pm I received a message saying they expect the payment by the end of play today. 

I don't like to keep somebody waiting for money but I don't think it's unreasonable to check it's functioning before I pay. I also think given they only just tried another fix today that I should have a few days to pay?

cymruchris

What happens if it doesn't rain for a week?

Have you got a hosepipe?

Jmoo

Well it's forecast to rain for the next four days so a risk I'm prepared to take.

There's a hosepipe ban on otherwise. 

cymruchris

Jmoo said:

Well it's forecast to rain for the next four days so a risk I'm prepared to take.

There's a hosepipe ban on otherwise. 

Most hosepipe bans cover specific things - like watering a garden or cleaning a wall.

Looking at Thames Water for example - there's nothing in the prohibited list that would stop you from testing out the workmanship of the job that's been completed.

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-restrictions/legal-notice

grumbler

Jmoo said:

Hello

 They've blamed other properties for the fact it leaks at the join

Nonsense IMO. It can overflow because of other properties, but not leak.

DRP

If there’s a history of issues with the work, I would agree it is reasonable for them to wait a few days until it can be checked by rain/hose pipe.

If they disagree , so what? There’s not much they can do to force the issue. 

Jmoo

They've been so rude. Said they quoted four weeks ago and completed the work. And that's it's not a try before you buy scheme. I pointed out from my perspective that they'd not done the job, and three attempts later it's still leaking.

They say it's for me to talk with my neighbours as it's not their problem. 

I'm tempted to pay up and accept the company isn't great and move on. But I am aggrieved by them. 

Section62

grumbler said:

Jmoo said:

Hello

 They've blamed other properties for the fact it leaks at the join

Nonsense IMO. It can overflow because of other properties, but not leak.

It would be possible for a leak on a neighbour's gutter/downpipe to flow along the outside surface of the gutter/pipe and drip off somewhere over the OP's property.  Without seeing it, we can't really say the trader is wrong in what they say.

grumbler

Section62 said:

grumbler said:

Jmoo said:

Hello

 They've blamed other properties for the fact it leaks at the join

Nonsense IMO. It can overflow because of other properties, but not leak.

It would be possible for a leak on a neighbour's gutter/downpipe to flow along the outside surface of the gutter/pipe and drip off somewhere over the OP's property.  Without seeing it, we can't really say the trader is wrong in what they say.

Well, it's not the OP's 'join' then.

twopenny

Surely if it couldn't be a sucessful job because it was a neighbours fault they should have said so before undertaking the job and OPs money.

Fingers crossed it's ok this time. 
However they have done the work requested so the money is owed. The fact it's rubbish as are they is something you can't solve.
Happens to many of us eventually.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I wonder if fixing the job means sticking a bit of sealant in the joint and hoping it holds long enough to get payment?

If you are competent going up a ladder, testing the joint with a bucket of water and seeing where it actually leaks from would be best. 

If it does leak they are due some payment minus the cost of fixing the bit(s) that weren't done correctly.