Plumber ignoring me.

bob7bob

We had a bathroom refurbished in April this year by a company we had used previously for a small job. The plumber and his colleague were neat, tidy, and cleaned up well so after looking at their previous work and comments from customers, we decided to hire them for this job.

 

We were asked to order anything we wanted fitted, toilet, shower, tiles etc. Two weeks before they started, as agreed, we paid for materials.

 

Everything went well. Just a couple of minor issues as sometimes happens but we were happy with the finished bathroom. We paid the final money. During this time, my husband did not stay at the house as he has a health condition that means he must have access to a full bathroom with a shower. Obviously, this is not the plumbers concern, but it is an important fact for later.

 

We used the bathroom for about 3 weeks. We then noticed some white stuff coming through the grout. Texture of toothpaste. This gradually got worse. We started to check with toilet paper and realised that water was coming through the grout but in the dry areas of the floor. The grout was also shrinking. We sent pictures to the company. They came and looked but were unsure of what was happening. They tried sealing a couple of joints to see if it helped. We then noticed a tile was rocking. They came back after a week and said they would lift the tile to investigate further. The tile broke which showed that the adhesive had only set on one side. 

 

A date was set for them to come and do the work. They ordered another pack of tiles. When they checked the new tiles, even though the code matched, they were slightly too large. The only solution was to return at a later date and completely retile the whole floor.

 

This meant my husband had to move out again into an Airbnb for a week but was here during the day. We were told they would work for three days but we were not to use the shower for around 5 days after and not to put the under floor heating on. No money was mentioned so we think they knew that something they had done had caused the problem. 

 

After 6 days, we started using the shower again. All seemed fine. Then, last week the temperature dropped so we decided to use the under floor heating. As soon as it is switched on it trips the RCD in the box downstairs. I sent a WhatsApp message with a video to the plumber on the 1st of September and another on the 3rd. No reply. I sent a text on the 3rd and an email to his web page on the 4th. No reply. I also requested the invoice for the original job which we still haven’t received.

 

Just to make sure it wasn't anything outside the bathroom, we called in our electrician. She had changed two thermostat controllers after we had the bathroom done as we wanted simple on/off ones. She checked everything she could and then swapped the controllers over and it still tripped.

 

The under floor heating was working before they retiled the floor so it's obvious they have damaged something.

 

So, what do we do know?

 

The business is the plumbers, the second guy works for him. Not registered on Companies House but is on the Gas Safe register. I know where he lives. I have the mobile number and email he uses for his business. He has another mobile number and email on his Gas Safe registration. Through the company Facebook page, I have found the full name and possibly a mobile number and home address for the second guy as it looks like he does building maintenance work as well.

 

Do we send any more messages? I'm not good at calling people in situations like this so prefer the written word. Do we try the other email and mobile number? What about the number for the other guy? Or do we just write to him at his home address and ask what they are going to do to rectify the situation? I dealt with them more than my husband and felt we got on well. I realise they are out of pocket for three days work and materials but so are we for the extra time my husband had to spend in accommodation. (The first time we factored into the original job but not the second.)

 

Would it be unreasonable to get a quote to have the under floor heating checked and repaired, if it is possible, or to have the floor completely taken up and redone and include the cost of accommodation again, if necessary?

 

The company web page says they are fully insured. Would this be covered on their insurance?

 

Sorry for the long ramble and many questions but for health reasons, we really need to get this sorted out.

Arunmor

How about some paragraphs please.

bob7bob

Arunmor said:

How about some paragraphs please.

I cut and posted my post from a word document and it came out like this. I'm trying to work out how to delete and re type it or edit it. Sorry.

FrugaiMacDugal

bob7bob said:

Arunmor said:

How about some paragraphs please.

I cut and posted my post from a word document and it came out like this. I'm trying to work out how to delete and re type it or edit it. Sorry.

If you hit the wee circle with 3 dots top right of message .you can edit.

bob7bob

FrugaiMacDugal said:

bob7bob said:

Arunmor said:

How about some paragraphs please.

I cut and posted my post from a word document and it came out like this. I'm trying to work out how to delete and re type it or edit it. Sorry.

If you hit the wee circle with 3 dots top right of message .you can edit.

I only get the option to mute.

FrugaiMacDugal

bob7bob said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

bob7bob said:

Arunmor said:

How about some paragraphs please.

I cut and posted my post from a word document and it came out like this. I'm trying to work out how to delete and re type it or edit it. Sorry.

If you hit the wee circle with 3 dots top right of message .you can edit.

I only get the option to mute.

Mmm, are you on my message or your original?

lincroft1710

You deal with the person with whom you had the contract, so the plumber not his employee. A letter is easy to ignore or claim it was not received, e-mails can be overlooked. Phone is probably best

bob7bob

FrugaiMacDugal said:

bob7bob said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

bob7bob said:

Arunmor said:

How about some paragraphs please.

I cut and posted my post from a word document and it came out like this. I'm trying to work out how to delete and re type it or edit it. Sorry.

If you hit the wee circle with 3 dots top right of message .you can edit.

I only get the option to mute.

Mmm, are you on my message or your original?

Iv'e been promoted to Forumite so I can now edit. Thank you.

bob7bob

lincroft1710 said:

You deal with the person with whom you had the contract, so the plumber not his employee. A letter is easy to ignore or claim it was not received, e-mails can be overlooked. Phone is probably best

What I meant by that was, is it worth me messaging him to see if there is a problem with the plumber or if he is just ignoring me?

lincroft1710

bob7bob said:

lincroft1710 said:

You deal with the person with whom you had the contract, so the plumber not his employee. A letter is easy to ignore or claim it was not received, e-mails can be overlooked. Phone is probably best

What I meant by that was, is it worth me messaging him to see if there is a problem with the plumber or if he is just ignoring me?

Who knows? The employee would probably also ignore you if it is the second scenario and may ignore you if the first.