Plumber not replied for 7 weeks now wants payment.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

mallen said:

Because I haven’t received the plumbers expertise am I barking up the wrong tree in expecting the £100 discount to remain before subtracting my costs?

Forgetting the £100 for a moment OP, the total was £755, how much are you thinking of knocking off the bill?

born_again

Ask the builder how much they would have charged to do the work & use that as your base line.

mallen

Hi all, 

So I have paid the plumber minus my fees of £250 to fix the issues and cost of materials to me. 

He is now saying full payment is required today otherwise this will be passed on to a debt recovery.. what is the situation here, can he do that or should it go to small claims, Will this affect my credit rating? 

He has said all materials remain his until the balance is paid. I’ve transferred him £500 which covered the materials on the invoice. 

pinkshoes

mallen said:

Hi all, 

So I have paid the plumber minus my fees of £250 to fix the issues and cost of materials to me. 

He is now saying full payment is required today otherwise this will be passed on to a debt recovery.. what is the situation here, can he do that or should it go to small claims, Will this affect my credit rating? 

He has said all materials remain his until the balance is paid. I’ve transferred him £500 which covered the materials on the invoice. 

I would write back detailing the times and dates you contacted him asking him to complete the job. I'd then list the cost of materials you had to buy to fix it as he didn't respond, and I'd then point out that the repair took you 12 hours in total which you have charged at the very low rate of £10 an hour rather than your professional rate of £X an hour.

I'd say you feel you have been more than fair, so if he feels this isn't right you are happy to let a court decide.

To affect your credit rating you'd have to lose in court then not pay! And debt collectors have no jurisdiction unless a court has ordered you to pay.

mallen

pinkshoes said:

mallen said:

Hi all, 

So I have paid the plumber minus my fees of £250 to fix the issues and cost of materials to me. 

He is now saying full payment is required today otherwise this will be passed on to a debt recovery.. what is the situation here, can he do that or should it go to small claims, Will this affect my credit rating? 

He has said all materials remain his until the balance is paid. I’ve transferred him £500 which covered the materials on the invoice. 

I would write back detailing the times and dates you contacted him asking him to complete the job. I'd then list the cost of materials you had to buy to fix it as he didn't respond, and I'd then point out that the repair took you 12 hours in total which you have charged at the very low rate of £10 an hour rather than your professional rate of £X an hour.

I'd say you feel you have been more than fair, so if he feels this isn't right you are happy to let a court decide.

To affect your credit rating you'd have to lose in court then not pay! And debt collectors have no jurisdiction unless a court has ordered you to pay.

Thanks, so just to be sure even if I did loose in court it would only affect my credit rating if I didn’t pay the court. 

I don’t think I would lose if it did go that way as I have been more than fair. 

Any independent debt collectors are to be ignored unless I am taken to court 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

mallen said:

Hi all, 

So I have paid the plumber minus my fees of £250 to fix the issues and cost of materials to me. 

He is now saying full payment is required today otherwise this will be passed on to a debt recovery.. what is the situation here, can he do that or should it go to small claims, Will this affect my credit rating? 

He has said all materials remain his until the balance is paid. I’ve transferred him £500 which covered the materials on the invoice. 

Did you send the plumber the legislation in the earlier post OP? 

If the materials and service aspect (labour) are detailed separately then you have a contract for the supply of goods (and the service) and as you are only seeking a price reduction for the service assuming the amounts paid cover all material costs then they don't belong to the plumber any longer, not that it matters because he can't come and take them back any way. 

I assume the builder nor the plumber have any keys to your house?

mallen

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

mallen said:

Hi all, 

So I have paid the plumber minus my fees of £250 to fix the issues and cost of materials to me. 

He is now saying full payment is required today otherwise this will be passed on to a debt recovery.. what is the situation here, can he do that or should it go to small claims, Will this affect my credit rating? 

He has said all materials remain his until the balance is paid. I’ve transferred him £500 which covered the materials on the invoice. 

Did you send the plumber the legislation in the earlier post OP? 

If the materials and service aspect (labour) are detailed separately then you have a contract for the supply of goods (and the service) and as you are only seeking a price reduction for the service assuming the amounts paid cover all material costs then they don't belong to the plumber any longer, not that it matters because he can't come and take them back any way. 

I assume the builder nor the plumber have any keys to your house?

Yes I sent him the details of cost, he doesn’t have a key. The amount I have paid covers his materials plus more. 

mallen

My worry is that if he sends this to a debt collection agency it would impact my credit score as I am looking to move in the next 3 months and apply for a mortgage..

born_again

mallen said:

My worry is that if he sends this to a debt collection agency it would impact my credit score as I am looking to move in the next 3 months and apply for a mortgage..

Credit score means nothing. It is never seen by lenders. They use their own criteria for lending. Not the made up figures the CRA give you.
It is your credit history that counts, & it would take a lot longer than 3 months to get a CCA against you for non payment.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

mallen said:

My worry is that if he sends this to a debt collection agency it would impact my credit score as I am looking to move in the next 3 months and apply for a mortgage..

Debt collection agencies typically just send scary looking letters, should any appear you can post on the MSE debt advice board for how to get them to go away.

As others have said this kind of issue affects your credit rating via a CCJ if you go to court, lose and don't pay the amount in the time the court stipulate. 

Plumber may be bluffing, sorry I don't think it was answered did you send the plumber the legislation in the earlier post OP?