Have I been scammed?

ahfat41

My son asked me to supervise some works that need to be done in his flat. New wireless thermostat to be fitted to  valiant boiler. Whist installing the thermostat, he said he had to replace the pcb. Whilst replacing the pcb, no hot water identified sensor light switch faulty and flow switch faulty and have to replaced. Labour £350. Now have noticed the pipes are leaking. I do not want to call him again. I git him from my work an website with good reviews.Have I been conned. Had the boiler service two weeks ago and was promised to get report by email. Not such luck. Just wondering whether the boiler did need replacement parts or is he just behaving me on. From now will be British Gas at Keats they can be trusted.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Certainly sounds like it.

This wasn’t a Rightio advert was it? Or did the website/advert say something like “powered by Rightio”?  It sounds very much like their modus operandi.

pramsay13

Doesn't sound like it. It sounds as though you've been unlucky with things that have needed work or have gone wrong. 
I would trust the local engineer far more than I would trust British Gas based on many years experience.

WIAWSNB

Hi Ahfat.
Obviously we cannot tell from here whether the parts needed replacing. But one Q is, did the boiler work fine immediately before the WiFi 'stat was fitted?
Since you had a service carried out two weeks prior to this, the answer is presumably 'yes'? So, chase up that report. And, did it work 'yesterday'?!
If again 'yes', then why would a new PCB be required now? This is a part which would usually be expected to last the life of most boilers, although a number will fail - but usually no more than once - in that term.
Ie, it's a long-lived part that most folk won't need to have replaced at all, and some may do so once. So, if the boiler worked 'yesterday', then it would have been unlikely to have spontaneously failed the next day, during this job. 
But, I can confirm that the PCB is the part that would be expected to be 'fried' by an incompetent WiFi 'stat wiring attempt.
So, I'd agree it's 'suspicious', but obviously not conclusive. The failed PCB will almost certainly contain the evidence for this, but what are the chances of him handing this over? And who would check it?
The other parts like the flow switch will likely fail once or twice in a boiler's life. And, afaIk, should be unconnected to the 'stat wiring.
Did the boiler reliably deliver DHW before this 'stat install? Was it, perhaps, a bit 'sticky' in operation? Ie, the hot water didn't always come on when the tap was turned? 
It's all a bit weird. It would be very unusual for a GasSafe to intentionally 'scam' like this, especially one with good reviews. (But I wouldn't consider BG to be better or worse in this.) But there has to remain a reasonable possibility that the PCB was fried during this job, and you are being expected to pay for it.
I think you need to wait for the result of the service you had carried out. Who did this work? And did they report all was well then? Could you ask them about the 'chances' of a PCB failing during a 'stat install?
And can you get the damaged PCB back?
The leaking parts are a different issue, and does not inspire confidence.
I think, tho', you are obliged to allow them to sort it, but not charge you extra. Unless you have solid concerns about either their competence or honesty.
It's a toughie. 

ahfat41

I think that’s what happens. The PCB was fried, he showed it to me. Do you think it’s safe or shall I get a competent safe gas engineer to check. So far I have spent over £500 on this boiler. How will I know if it is unsafe? It’s my son flat, am only here for a couple of days to help out.
But, I can confirm that the PCB is the part that would be expected to be 'fried' by an incompetent WiFi 'stat wiring attempt

silvercar

Having just moved in, your son has no reliable evidence on what was working previously. So it’s going to be hard to prove that all these faults weren’t pre-existing.

I’m pretty sure that you should be gas safe registered to service a boiler! Fitting a thermostat doesn’t mess with gas, so can be done by any competent person.

rob7475

It sounds to me like the old cowboy tactic of quoting a cheap price for a job to get them through the door. Once they're in, they find a range of problems that they just happen to have parts for and can fix it there and then.

From what you're describing, he sounds like a handyman type person. To do any work on your boiler that needs the cover removing, he must be gas safe registered. You can check his name on the register. If he isn't registered, report him.

It's probably time to cut your losses and get a gas safe registered engineer in to check over the boiler. We all fall for these cowboys from time to time, just chalk it up to experience.

WIAWSNB

Yikes, Ahfat.

Ok, the 'wet' side of a boiler is technically 'plumber' work, so does not require a GasSafe. However, I would be very wary allowing just a 'handyman' to do this. Replacing parts in a boiler is often straightforward, but only once you have done it before - the first time is a learning curve, as I have found out to my wet cost before. 

Wiring a WiFi 'stat to the PCB connectors is also not a GasSafe task, but I'd also be wary about allowing a 'handyman' to do this. It doesn't 'need' an electrician, but it does require someone who knows what they are doing. 

Probability suggest that this incompetent person did destroy your PCB during this process. It is 'easy' to do if you are ill-informed or careless - there are both high voltage and low voltage terminals on the PCB for the external 'stat, and if you get them wrong, it's 'bang'. 

I think it is evident that he is less than competent to carry out these tasks. To blow a PCB indicates a lack of knowledge. To cause a leak demonstrates incompetence. To do both? Lawdie.

Do you have the PCB that he fried? 

I think you could have a valid claim against this person, although you may need to pursue it via MoneyClaim.org or the SmallClaimsCourt. Very good chance you'll win - very good chance he won't challenge it. 

Yes, I'd get a proper GS out to check it all over. Ask him to write a report. 

Did the cowboy fit that extra inlet valve - the one with the black handle? If so, why? There is already one on the boiler. 

ahfat41

I thought he was qualified to do this job as per his website

WIAWSNB

ahfat41 said:

I thought he was qualified to do this job as per his website

Fair enough. But almost certainly he was not 'competent'. And shouldn't be mucking about with boilers, regardless if only the wet side. 

Anyhoo, your call whether to do anything about it. He certainly deserves an honest review.