Need advice on a plumbing bill matter

[MAZ]

Hi I want some advice from the other side. I’m a customer who had a bathroom fitted summer ‘16. I asked for an estimate at the time and plumber ignored me just turned up for odd hours over a few days with his son and friend. They badly fitted the bathroom ruined my shower unit by sealing it all on the inside not the outside as per instructions. I have had countless leaks (one needing a whole replastering and decoration of a wall) had to have a pump refitted as it was fitted badly. I was billed for around 2000 from this plumber with no breakdown just parts £.... and labour £.... so after this bill which I received Oct 2016 I sent a letter asking for a full breakdown and receipts of parts as I knew he hadn’t supplied many as I had got them all. I have heard nothing until this October when the copies of the original invoices (no breakdown) have suddenly been sent again. Can anyone advise?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Hi I want some advice from the other side. I’m a customer who had a bathroom fitted summer ‘16. I asked for an estimate at the time and plumber ignored me just turned up for odd hours over a few days with his son and friend. They badly fitted the bathroom ruined my shower unit by sealing it all on the inside not the outside as per instructions. I have had countless leaks (one needing a whole replastering and decoration of a wall) had to have a pump refitted as it was fitted badly. I was billed for around 2000 from this plumber with no breakdown just parts £.. and labour £.. so after this bill which I received Oct 2016 I sent a letter asking for a full breakdown and receipts of parts as I knew he hadn’t supplied many as I had got them all. I have heard nothing until this October when the copies of the original invoices (no breakdown) have suddenly been sent again. Can anyone advise?

Respond back with your original correspondence attached

 

[MAZ]

Respond back with your original correspondence attached

Should I also add the bills I have had to pay to rectify the problems I have been left with and also the receipts for the damaged shower?

 

[Best]

Should I also add the bills I have had to pay to rectify the problems I have been left with and also the receipts for the damaged shower?

Probably at this stage keep those exact details for later and just add a letter to state you have had to buy shower tray, etc, etc, and pay for it all to be put right, including damage to ...- (ceilings, walls?) whatever was damaged and you cannot understand why you are being billed for his faulty work

 

[Harvest Fields]

Should I also add the bills I have had to pay to rectify the problems I have been left with and also the receipts for the damaged shower?

Start with the basics first. Attach a copy of the original letter and state the reason that you have not paid is that you tried to contact him as you had issues with the work and due the fact he has not responded. It has not been paid

 

[Best]

Hope you kept all receipts and took photos of damage?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Probably at this stage keep those exact details for later and just add a letter to state you have had to buy shower tray, etc, etc, and pay for it all to be put right, including damage to .- (ceilings, walls?) whatever was damaged and you cannot understand why you are being billed for his faulty work

Sorry mate typing at same time as you.

 

[MAZ]

Yes I have kept all receipts and invoices, a copy of the original letter and am still in touch with the tradesmen who have put things right as they are working on something else for me. The thing is if he had just responded to my letter last October with the details I had asked for then he would have had some sort of payment. I am damned if I will be paying out for his shoddy workmanship now. It is a shame there are people out there giving this kind of service

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yes I have kept all receipts and invoices, a copy of the original letter and am still in touch with the tradesmen who have put things right as they are working on something else for me. The thing is if he had just responded to my letter last October with the details I had asked for then he would have had some sort of payment. I am damned if I will be paying out for his shoddy workmanship now. It is a shame there are people out there giving this kind of service

You still need to handle this correctly. Because even though you say he did a bad job. If you handle it badly and it ends up in court. It may end up in his favour.

 

[MAZ]

Thank you. I have spoken to citizens advice who have told me to use one of their template letters and write to him stating that I am covered by consumer law and that the job was not carried out with due care and skill. To ask if he belongs to or is willing to use a mediation agency and to state the amount I am out of pocket - let’s hope this works. I could do without the stress

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thank you. I have spoken to citizens advice who have told me to use one of their template letters and write to him stating that I am covered by consumer law and that the job was not carried out with due care and skill. To ask if he belongs to or is willing to use a mediation agency and to state the amount I am out of pocket - let’s hope this works. I could do without the stress

If you meet back up with them. Make sure that you have plenty of people around at the same time.

 

[Best]

If you meet back up with them. Make sure that you have plenty of people around at the same time.

Very good advice! You could feel a bit overwhelmed and even feel threatened if the plumber had friends or legal advisers making all sorts of proposals. Take some people who are sharp minded and knowledgable with the facts with you. A few heads are better than one, so that nothing on your case is overlooked.
If you have all the paperwork and other proof, I would think you are fine. The unanswered letter and time lapsed will look bad for the plumber. Only money you should owe (if anything) is for any materials supplied by plumber and any workmanship that you could use. Keep your letters polite and ask the plumber plenty of questions regarding the bad work etc