Issue with Plumber (no names!)

joe316

Hi,

Looking for a bit of help here as to my next steps.

Recently bought a house that needed work on 2 bathrooms (main and downstairs one).

Main bathroom, like for like replacements for toilet and sink, bath was being centred rather than at the side.

This was done and then tiler completely tiled around bath.

Couple of days later noticed a wet patch on new kitchen ceiling (which we also replaced due to putting spotlights), this wet patch would only get bigger when the bath was being drained so it was obviously a leak with the waste pipe. Tried to get in contact with the plumber, sometimes wouldn't answer or say he would come and wouldn't (and that he was sick which is fair enough). Eventually it came that we had to put some holes in the ceiling to see if we could pin point the problem, could see a small bit of water dripping down the pipe. Couldn't be fixed from below so had to break off the tiles and the problem was fixed in seconds by the same plumber.

And now this week we noticed some lying water in the downstairs toilet (which we haven't really used too much), rang same plumber and his attitude was "what do you want me to do about it", eventually he came round and again fixed it in a few seconds (just tightened the pipe).

So that's both pieces of work he's messed up and as a result we are going to have to get the tiler back, plasterer for the ceiling and the leak in the downstairs toilet has caused the floor in the hall to lift.

He was recommended by a contractor who knocked down a wall for us, we didn't pay the contractor for the plumber, paid cash directly (nearly 1000).

What should be my next steps? I doubt he's going to take it too kindly me threatening him looking for my money back.

Cheers for any suggestions.

Sleeper12

joe316 wrote: »

Hi,

Looking for a bit of help here as to my next steps.

Recently bought a house that needed work on 2 bathrooms (main and downstairs one).

Main bathroom, like for like replacements for toilet and sink, bath was being centred rather than at the side.

This was done and then tiler completely tiled around bath.

Couple of days later noticed a wet patch on new kitchen ceiling (which we also replaced due to putting spotlights), this wet patch would only get bigger when the bath was being drained so it was obviously a leak with the waste pipe. Tried to get in contact with the plumber, sometimes wouldn't answer or say he would come and wouldn't (and that he was sick which is fair enough). Eventually it came that we had to put some holes in the ceiling to see if we could pin point the problem, could see a small bit of water dripping down the pipe. Couldn't be fixed from below so had to break off the tiles and the problem was fixed in seconds by the same plumber.

And now this week we noticed some lying water in the downstairs toilet (which we haven't really used too much), rang same plumber and his attitude was "what do you want me to do about it", eventually he came round and again fixed it in a few seconds (just tightened the pipe).

So that's both pieces of work he's messed up and as a result we are going to have to get the tiler back, plasterer for the ceiling and the leak in the downstairs toilet has caused the floor in the hall to lift.

He was recommended by a contractor who knocked down a wall for us, we didn't pay the contractor for the plumber, paid cash directly (nearly 1000).

What should be my next steps? I doubt he's going to take it too kindly me threatening him looking for my money back.

Cheers for any suggestions.

Did you get a vat receipt from the plumber? Did you see proof of insurance?
You can claim directly from his insurance.

If you didn't get a vat receipt & he has no insurance then he is known as a cowboy in the trade & there's not much you can do about it.

Outkast_IRE

To be honest alot of people leave an access panel to the end of the bath with the waste pipe as its a usually a place a leak will develop. The access panel if done neatly is barely noticeable, and it makes situations like yours alot easier to resolve.

Obviously the bath should of been more thoroughly tested before the tiling was completed on that section.

If you paid cash its going to be difficult to follow up on this.