P
pipespring
I was called out to a faulty boiler in a restaurant back in December, I asked the customer if they had any plumbing problems that could be affecting the boiler, the customer insisted there were none. I looked around checking the obvious places for leaks, radiators, taps etc, no problems found. I turned my attention to the boiler, tested different parts & contacted the manufacturer, they said it could possibly be the hot water sensor or pcb. Being the cheapest for the customer I changed the sensor first, still didn't work, then changed the pcb. I left the old pcb at the property. All seemed ok, next day received a phone call saying it wasn't working again, I look around again for any obvious leaks & noticed warped laminate in the opposite end of the building. The customer insists this is where the mop is kept, I disagree and put my ear to the floor and can hear gushing water under the floor. I spent 3 hours getting to the leak & fixing it, re-concreted, re-fitted laminate etc. I charged £600, the pcb being £350, sensor £30. A month later I still haven't been paid for original job but they call me out as boiler not working due to pressure differential switch sticking, managed to suck on it and free it, I charged an addition £30 for this work.
Its now 7 months on and I still haven't been paid I've had sob story after sob story as to why they couldn't pay me. At one point they said they would pay me £100 per week but it never materialised. I visited them just before Easter and she tried to wriggle out of it by saying a 'friend' had tested the old pcb and there was nothing wrong with it. I said ok then if that's the case I'll refit the old pcb and I will have the pcb that I paid for back, she refused and paid me £200 on account.
I visit today and ask when I'm going to get a further payment on account and she announces that she had been meaning to email me but couldn't think how to word it. She said the boiler wasn't working so she got british gas out and they said the pcb I fitted was faulty and re-fitted the original pcb which had nothing wrong with it, she has given me back the pcb I fitted (broken) and told me I wouldn't be getting another penny and to take her to court and in fact she might take me to court for loss of earnings whilst they had no heating in December.
With hindsight possibly if I had searched further for a leak in the first place the boiler might not of needed any new parts but who would check every inch of a building if the customer insists they're not having any problems. I think she's spinning a yarn on the british gas front, she insists she's got invoices to prove it but mysteriously they were 'with the council?????' today so I couldn't see them? Does anyone think british gas would re-fit an old part. I probably should just put this one down to experience and draw a line under it but I did the work in good faith, I warned them at the time that finding a fault can be costly as its a process of elimination but they insisted I go ahead.
Should I take them to court?
Its now 7 months on and I still haven't been paid I've had sob story after sob story as to why they couldn't pay me. At one point they said they would pay me £100 per week but it never materialised. I visited them just before Easter and she tried to wriggle out of it by saying a 'friend' had tested the old pcb and there was nothing wrong with it. I said ok then if that's the case I'll refit the old pcb and I will have the pcb that I paid for back, she refused and paid me £200 on account.
I visit today and ask when I'm going to get a further payment on account and she announces that she had been meaning to email me but couldn't think how to word it. She said the boiler wasn't working so she got british gas out and they said the pcb I fitted was faulty and re-fitted the original pcb which had nothing wrong with it, she has given me back the pcb I fitted (broken) and told me I wouldn't be getting another penny and to take her to court and in fact she might take me to court for loss of earnings whilst they had no heating in December.
With hindsight possibly if I had searched further for a leak in the first place the boiler might not of needed any new parts but who would check every inch of a building if the customer insists they're not having any problems. I think she's spinning a yarn on the british gas front, she insists she's got invoices to prove it but mysteriously they were 'with the council?????' today so I couldn't see them? Does anyone think british gas would re-fit an old part. I probably should just put this one down to experience and draw a line under it but I did the work in good faith, I warned them at the time that finding a fault can be costly as its a process of elimination but they insisted I go ahead.
Should I take them to court?
