Change of plumber

GaGa21

My plumber has not turned up for 5 weeks now. Getting a replumb and he is just never there! Started in June, but was July by time he got the materials. We got our builder to dig up the floors for him and so far the pipes are down, rads are up, and thats it.
He keeps promising a day then that comes and goes and I'm ringing him again and get same thing, promises to be there the following week.
He's telling our builder that he's flat out with work, so we are obviously just not a priority.
We have been more than accommodating but after another promise to turn up yesterday, the builder went ahead and dug up a trench to the shed for our new pressurized system. And again, no show. Now we have an open trench for god knows how long.
Our builder is looking to finish up, we want to move in and he is holding up the whole job.
So question is, can anything be done? No contract and no money paid yet.
What are chances of getting a new plumber to finish the job?
Any advice welcome, just dont know what to do at this stage.

jimf

I can only presume you have supplied all materials to date


in this case he is only out of pocket for labour

antix80

All they care about is getting a foot in the door. Unless you have a good contractor/builder who has his own tradesmen you're looking for trouble.

I made the mistake of trusting my friend's brother to start a job which looking back, was probably above his level of capability and also - he was trying to rip me off. Within a few days I told him to finish what he was doing and clear out. He gave me a bill, I "haggled" him down a few hundred but I still was out of pocket.

GaGa21

Is there a possibility of another plumber taking on the job though at this stage? Im just wondering if something goes wrong down the line, who will accept responsibility.
It's a mess.....can't understand how people "work" this way.

GaGa21

jimf wrote:

I can only presume you have supplied all materials to date

No, he has supplied materials to date.

antix80

I don't see why you wouldn't get someone.. can your builder recommend someone for you?

The only issue will be settling up with the old plumber. He could dig the boot in in terms of markup on the materials

jimf

at this stage you need to get something in writing as in return to site and completion date

the boom is back

K.Flyer

As Jim say's, it's time to get tough with him or get him get out.

Have you paid him any money yet?

jimf

of course you could be very diplomatic and ask him to forward invoice asap for work and materials as you wish to employ another plumber to finish job

GaGa21

K.Flyer wrote:

As Jim say's, it's time to get tough with him or get him get out.

K.Flyer wrote:

Have you paid him any money yet?

No haven't paid him anything yet.
Have been nice, firm and fair. Don't want to go down the road of what I really want to say to him as I dont want to end up with sub standard work.
He has said to builder he will be there today. Will believe it when I see it. What annoys me is he's talking to builder but not me. We are paying him, not the builder. But he seems to have no respect for women and just looks at me as just another one to give out about.
Just hope he enjoys waiting to be paid as long as ive been waiting for him to finish up!
But if he's a no show today, thats it. Gone.

K.Flyer

Well..... did he show up?

Even if he did, you need to tidy up the situation.
What way is the job priced, a quotation, an estimate, by the day, by the hour?

How far into the work is he, just started, halfway, nearly finished?

Giving him the benefit of the doubt for a moment, he may be having cash flow problems and is trying to do other work to finance materials for your job.

Either way, you need to arrange to meet him and discuss his cost (time / materials) to date.
If that part seems reasonable / agreeable, offer to pay him 70 - 75% up to now.
At this point you can offer to cut him loose and get someone else to complete the work and he gets the balance owed to him at the end once no issues are found with his work or materials.
If he wants to continue, then it's time to draw up a written and signed contract between you both.
Typically it should outline the minimum amount of days you expect him to be working on your job and the minimum amount of hours per day, (e g. 3 days of the week 8 hrs / day) with the expected amount of work to be completed each day / week.
You also want an absolute final completion date (must be reasonable) then maybe allow 7 days for over run.
Tell him that after over run period (without justified reason) you will impose deductions from the final amount of xx per day.
All of this may need adjusting depending how much of the work has already been completed.

GaGa21

Well he turned up, but just to do the bare minimum for the builder to fill trench and was gone again in a few hours.
So my husband called him and lost it. And that has finally got through to him i think. He did apologise and told him he has builders owe him big money and a lot of work on thats finishing up at same time. So he has promised to be there thurs and fri.
I will wait and see, and speak to him directly then if he turns up!
Taking all your advice on board and will see how the conversation goes.