Please advise on approaches following substandard heating install

[OffshoreGas]

To be honest you get what you pay for. Stable door etc., but would have been better going for local recommended heating engineer.

Still a complete punt, chances are this is large local firm contracting out work to little local guys.

 

[Bengie]

I'm not an electrician but an ex consumer advisor.

Those sockets to me don't look legal. Mains sockets underneath a water tank, what if you have a leak, it's going right
down into the sockets. That to me is like having sockets on the wall above the bath.

Keep all your paperwork together including emails and invoices. Only use a telephone that can record calls and make sure
you record them all.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have a lot of safeguards and should use them.

If the so called completed job is not what you requested and paid for, then send them a letter giving them 14 days in which
to bring the standard up to how it was agreed.

If after 14 days you have not received any confirmation that they will finish the job or just fobs you off, then you can send
them a 'Letter before action' giving them another 7 days in which to respond.

Taking someone to court isn't as daunting as it sounds, you will first be offered mediation but if that doesn't satisfy you then
you proceed to court.
The magistrate is already way on your side as businesses (in the general term builder) do not have a very good reputation.

 

[SimonG]

The magistrate is already way on your side as businesses (in the general term builder) do not have a very good reputation.

Wide sweeping statement that, don't tar the many by the standards of the few.

 

[Bengie]

Yes it is wide sweeping and very unfair on those that do great work but in the public eye that is how it is felt, the same
goes with garages i'm afraid.

 

[SimonG]

Yes it is wide sweeping and very unfair on those that do great work but in the public eye that is how it is felt, the same
goes with garages i'm afraid.

Not with me it's not.

If I need something doing I will do my homework, see previous work, speak to neighbours and friends. I'll make sure they have a good rep before employing. This I would place well above the price of the job.

 

[Bengie]

And that is the way is should be, get reputations and recommendations before you commit.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Who agreed the installation with you, sales person or engineer? Have you paid? If so why if you were not happy with it?

 

[centralheatking]

That job is a nightmare, by anybodies standards, the op is not an experienced fitter, tried to save some lolly got shafted but I dont
think its fit for purpose by any criteria. centralheatking

 

[Brambles]

Bengie,

Be careful. You are giving advice with a prediction to the outcome, based on one side of a story posted on an Internet forum. You (presumably) have no idea of the content of the offer from from the contractor.

Whilst I accept that you are trying to be helpful, it may possibly raise false hope to an individual who is probably facing a significant expense in rectifying the situation.

There is a process to follow in these situations and only when that is complete can a rational decision be made as to which route to follow and the likely outcome.

Contractors who undertake straightforward boiler swaps ( by pricing on what I think is an unprofessional manner) are rarely unprofessional in both specifying the extent of their scope and remedial works to decoration and openings et al.

Your comment with respect to the location of electrical sockets and isolation switches may or may not be true. However, they appear to be existing and are probably outside the scope of the contractors work.

Gas Safe, which I appreciate you have not raised will only survey the works with respect to the GS(IU)R. They won’t repair the problems, nor indeed give any advice to the customer. They will however raise any issues found with the individual who undertook the work and the individual / organisation who registered the installation. Whilst this is a useful exercise, it won’t encompass the external controls so does not move the customer very far forward in resolving his / her problem.

I think that this is a particularly sad case and I hope that it can be successfully resolved. In my experience it won’t be quick and will probably end in a cash settlement that closes the matter with both parties being dissatisfied with the outcome.

 

[centralheatking]

Bengie,

Be careful. You are giving advice with a prediction to the outcome, based on one side of a story posted on an Internet forum. You (presumably) have no idea of the content of the offer from from the contractor.

Whilst I accept that you are trying to be helpful, it may possibly raise false hope to an individual who is probably facing a significant expense in rectifying the situation.

There is a process to follow in these situations and only when that is complete can a rational decision be made as to which route to follow and the likely outcome.

Contractors who undertake straightforward boiler swaps ( by pricing on what I think is an unprofessional manner) are rarely unprofessional in both specifying the extent of their scope and remedial works to decoration and openings et al.

Your comment with respect to the location of electrical sockets and isolation switches may or may not be true. However, they appear to be existing and are probably outside the scope of the contractors work.

Gas Safe, which I appreciate you have not raised will only survey the works with respect to the GS(IU)R. They won’t repair the problems, nor indeed give any advice to the customer. They will however raise any issues found with the individual who undertook the work and the individual / organisation who registered the installation. Whilst this is a useful exercise, it won’t encompass the external controls so does not move the customer very far forward in resolving his / her problem.

I think that this is a particularly sad case and I hope that it can be successfully resolved. In my experience it won’t be quick and will probably end in a cash settlement that closes the matter with both parties being dissatisfied with the outcome.

My experience of the law and via my wife whom is a barrister is exactly
that Brambles states...everybody involved except the legal fraternity get left feeling ripped of and dirty even if you win a civil case or get vindicated in a criminal court its a mucky process and best avoided
....I suppose small claims ct and involving trading stds with a local
council is less mucky. hope it works out for you at least remember the odds at the start for you are 50/50 at best ...centralheatking