Yes its a previous customer! Really no idea why she didn't ask me to put it right she asked a builder!! This threat of small claims is really stressing me out
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difficult customer
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View the thread, titled "difficult customer" which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.
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Rickster123
The forums very own Jessica fletcher is here!
My opinion is if you carry on stressing about this you'll make yourself ill and that won't help anyone. I would continue to deny any blame. There's no way you can be help liable in my opinion.
Customer has responsibility to limit loss, in this case, stop using sink. Then give you chance to put right any defects caused by your work. Unless asked to inspect and replace we have to take existing waste pipework on trust. Although in the case of concertina type flexible bends I always recommend replacement.
Stand firm. Invoice in full, and deny any responsibility unless she can convince you it was your fault.
Stand firm. Invoice in full, and deny any responsibility unless she can convince you it was your fault.
Unless you had done work that was clearly very serious and showed you as incompetent, then the customer should have called you back to the job, not a builder.
Although possible, rarely would a waste pipe disconnected do instant heavy damage, so it all seems suspicious.
That fact the customer had you doing work in the past is useful information to a court as it shows she had no concerns about your work as she has now got you back.
The Small Claims Court prefers hard evidence, so all communication between you and customer plus from the builder, insurance company (if any), will be needed. Letters, emailed letters, texts, photographs, are all evidence.
So just send an invoice and include a letter stating you were never informed of any problem to rectify and can now not verify where a leak has happened, or who was responsible for the existing plumbing work. Keep copies of any letters.
Although possible, rarely would a waste pipe disconnected do instant heavy damage, so it all seems suspicious.
That fact the customer had you doing work in the past is useful information to a court as it shows she had no concerns about your work as she has now got you back.
The Small Claims Court prefers hard evidence, so all communication between you and customer plus from the builder, insurance company (if any), will be needed. Letters, emailed letters, texts, photographs, are all evidence.
So just send an invoice and include a letter stating you were never informed of any problem to rectify and can now not verify where a leak has happened, or who was responsible for the existing plumbing work. Keep copies of any letters.
Been stressed first time ive had this happen, went to bed early last night am only looking at this now
thanks for your replies so far, I'm in the process of writing what's happened so far, last night the customer posted on fb to not use me cos i dont know what am doing and admin stopped all comments thank Goodness
Only natural to get stressed with a customer like that. But a lot worse things can happen in life, so stay cool and talk it over with somebody, especially someone in the trade experienced of that sort of nonsense.
Forget about Small Claims Court. It probably won't happen and if you keep your paperwork and also respond to your customer stating the facts and how she has failed to contact you properly for you to investigate, - then you should be okay I reckon.
Got a thing going on at the moment.........
Customers old pump brought the ceiling down
Fitted new pump and tested a few times
Then payment was refused a month later because whilst the builder was quoting for the ceiling his mate just happened to go upstairs and flush the toilet where the customer and builder saw water flowing out from a joint ! (yeah like pigs fly!!!).
As communications are being exchanged she is saying the impossible and digging a hole for herself.
Keep all communications friendly for now.
Customers old pump brought the ceiling down
Fitted new pump and tested a few times
Then payment was refused a month later because whilst the builder was quoting for the ceiling his mate just happened to go upstairs and flush the toilet where the customer and builder saw water flowing out from a joint ! (yeah like pigs fly!!!).
As communications are being exchanged she is saying the impossible and digging a hole for herself.
Keep all communications friendly for now.
If you have access to that post - keep it.
You could threaten her with defamation.
See where that will bring her.
There's no way she can make judgements about you and your ability from that experience.
I would lay as low as possible and let her make a case against herself for you.
If you're in the game long enough, you are going to encounter stuff like what happened to you and customers like her.
It's inevitable.
Don't lose sleep over it. It may be your first mishap, but it won't be your last
The water pump job is fascinating makes my problem seem the diet coke of plumbing probs keep us posted
Customer is at fault he over pressurised the system, it's only meant to be tested at 38mm show him the water regs or text book, and demand your money,, you will have no reputation if you accept this tosh, that's some weight of water 7 metres in 110 , are you sure the customer was not on drugs or just a mr no it all that messed up big style ,
Customer is at fault he over pressurised the system, it's only meant to be tested at 38mm show him the water regs or text book, and demand your money,, you will have no reputation if you accept this tosh, that's some weight of water 7 metres in 110 , are you sure the customer was not on drugs or just a mr no it all that messed up big style ,
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