Thoroughly dodgy plumber- who to complain to?

[unimpressed]

Right so to cut a long story short, am renovating a house and employed a plumber to totally replumb and to fit a boiler.

Got several quotes, chose one in the middle from what seemed like a genuine chap, who had someone else working for him to do boilers. Chap sent to do boiler, then the plan changed and he was apparently to do the rest of the plumbing too. Fine, ok. Until we saw the standard of his work and the mess he left behind. I won't go into the boring details but the problems included;

• messing up the painted wall (fine, maybe to be expected) then repainting without asking, but using a light blue paint on a lilac wall and not noticing! Stripy walls!
• spraying oily crap up the newly plastered walls
• failing to put pipes where asked (for no good reason) and consequently leaving the job looking a mess, pipes through new skirting needing to be moved and cracking a tile he shouldn't even have been drilling through in the first place
• attaching upstairs rads at heights varying by over 20cm- just looked daft, some far too high!
• leaving a general mess behind him including piles of brick rubble and pipe offcuts
• leaving us without a warranty on the installed boiler, despite the fact we opted for the more expensive boiler to get a longer warranty
• fitting push fit where his insurance insisted on compression fittings
• not finishing the bloody job!

So, who do I raise hell with? Most disappointed as he is related to the person we know who recommened him, so we hoped to get someone reliable. Fuming!

 

[unimpressed]

Title should be 'thoroughly'- I'm apparently so cross I've lost the ability to spell check!

 

[dancinplumba]

you paid ?

 

[villa_tom]

Pictures?

 

[sam51]

and your point is,

you should have got a real tradesman in,no good crying now,the trouble is everyone wants it cheap..

 

[dancinplumba]

Pictures?

lol tom you look like a pink teapot 🙂

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

need pics mate we can help you from there

 

[unimpressed]

Dancin- Part paid, in my opinion more paid than work done is worth. Fortunately not all paid.
Villa yes I have photos.
Sam- who said he was cheap? I didn't take the cheapest quote. As far as I was aware, he was a decent tradesman. I had hoped that personal recommendation would be enough. Lesson learnt! (Mainly how to plumb- and I'm damn sure we've done a better job ourselves since that muppet left than he could have done!)

 

[ecowarm]

and your point is,

you should have got a real tradesman in,no good crying now,the trouble is everyone wants it cheap..

Re-read the op, this is a friendly forum.

 

[unimpressed]

Will sort pics gasman, thanks.

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks eco.

 

[R1CKY]

and your point is,

you should have got a real tradesman in,no good crying now,the trouble is everyone wants it cheap..

What relevance does that have to this thread? OP picked the middle quote and what seemed like a genuine guy.

 

[villa_tom]

lol tom you look like a pink teapot 🙂

I know mate. Someone changed it eh other night, can't be bothered to change it back. I think it's quite fetching 🙂

 

[Gray0689]

Throughly dodgy plumber- who to complain to?

and your point is,

you should have got a real tradesman in,no good crying now,the trouble is everyone wants it cheap..

His point was he went with the middle quote and got a recommendation
And has came on here to vent a little I don't see what your point is to be honest
Can't comment on quality or lack of till we see pictures I'm afraid

 

[unimpressed]

I've had a look at the pictures I have but they are not much good for illustrating the problems we've had-I'll take some more tomorrow and post them for your opinion.

Oh and another thing that irked me- he scuffed the brand new column radiators by dragging them about!

 

[lame plumber]

you have had a rotton time, if the basics are bad what about the boiler install, was he gas safe ticketed?

 

[villa_tom]

I've had a look at the pictures I have but they are not much good for illustrating the problems we've had-I'll take some more tomorrow and post them for your opinion.

Oh and another thing that irked me- he scuffed the brand new column radiators by dragging them about!

Did all this naughtiness happen on one day or over a few days? If it happened over a few days then you should have said something after the first incident if it all happened in one day while you where out then there's nothing you could have done to stop it really.

Its an unfortunate one really, I'd withhold the rest of his money until your satisfied with the work or get a discount of some sort.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Am i reading the op right that one guy quoted who got the job and he sent out someone else to do it???

 

[villa_tom]

Am i reading the op right that one guy quoted who got the job and he sent out someone else to do it???

Yes I think so.

 

[unimpressed]

Lame- Well the chap that initially quoted told us he would be sending someone appropriately qualified to do the boiler, and would be doing the rest himself. In the end, the chap who did the boiler also did the work that we are unhappy with (part of the job quoted on, he completed around a third of the job).

We mentioned what we were unhappy with work done so far to the first chap, who came round, viewed the problems, agreed they were unacceptable and assured us he would sort it all. He also pointed out that the second chap had used push fit where he should have used compresssion fittings and said he had told him not to do this several times before, as it was not allowed under the terms of his insurance. (Not being a plumber, I hadn't noticed this as an issue).

The following day the second chap walked off the job. The first chap assured us he would be back to sort the problems and finish the job the following week. Then he put it off to the week after. Now he hasn't come back.

 

[unimpressed]

Villa- over a couple of days. We initially discussed the problem with chap 2 and re-confirmed that he understood what we wanted. He didn't do as asked the following day, which is when we contacted chap 1 to say we were unhappy.

 

[lame plumber]

soundslike he subbed it and fell out with subbie, nightmare as hes got to finish off a poor job. if you want you can ask gas safe to inspect boiler and gas side which they can do but not guarenteed unless there is an issue of safety.

 

[unimpressed]

Hammers- yes that is correct. He told us that he was due to have an operation, hence why the other chap would be completing the work (we were only told this once we accepted his quote and work began).

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks lame. How would we go about getting the warranty on the new boiler?

 

[hammers4spanner]

i have had something similar where i was busy and asked someone to do me a favour and cover an install for me, unknown to me the plumbs i asked couldnt be bothered and started installing a pile of rubbish .
On this instance i was contacted halfway through install and told of the what the cust wasnt happy about and went put it right and smoothed things over .
Maybe you should have done the same??

 

[Dotty]

Title should be 'thoroughly'- I'm apparently so cross I've lost the ability to spell check!

Changed for you to stop you thinking we're all bad eggs!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

pls post the pictures you have NOW

 

[ecowarm]

Have a word with the person who recomended him, explain the problems you've had and hopefully he won't recomend him again. Sounds like you have got some cowboys through no fault of your own, except maybe asking for ID badges i.e Gas safe

 

[unimpressed]

Lame- yes the first chap came out to view the second chaps work and agreed it needed sorting out, he smoothed it over with us and we were quite happy with what he said he would do.

We agreed he would put the plumbing right and get the wall repainted, we would deal with patching up the tiles, patching up the new skirting and repositioning pipes through the bathroom floor tiles. We were happy with this. Then he never showed up to finish the work.

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks croppie!

Yes ecowarm I agree. I'll have a word with the recommender- but to complicate things he is related to the plumber!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

i am really really sorry for what you have been , but related or not he should not been given more work

 

[lame plumber]

to get warranty, the benchmark ticket nneeds completing and you should also get a building regs ticket fm the installer thro gas safe.

 

[Rickster123]

Blimey everyone's related! You're not from the isle of wight are you?!

There's no excuse for poor workmanship. Unfortunately a few poor tradesmen give us all a bad name. The trouble you have is there isn't much you will be able to do. Maybe trading standards? Did you have a written detailed quote? Receipts for payment etc?

 

[plumber0808]

This is why trades get a bad name, sounds like you have been unlucky enough to have been on the wrong end of such poor service.
maybe post the remaining work up in the looking for a plumber section as by the sound of it you are not going to see them or get any money back.

we are not all like that. I fully understand why people are so wary.

 

[dancinplumba]

I know mate. Someone changed it eh other night, can't be bothered to change it back. I think it's quite fetching 🙂

love it 🙂 xx suits you dear 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

Lets have a look at the photos please?

 

[dancinplumba]

name and same i say 🙂

 

[ecowarm]

Shame?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

was his name Steve ?

 

[hammers4spanner]

name and same i say 🙂

slander !

 

[Dannypipe]

Was his name Clint?

 

[unimpressed]

Ok these pipes were supposed to come out below the floor, not into this room at all. There was no reason for them not to be run under the floor (different floor heights between rooms, no joists in the way). In doing it this way instead, he broke a tile he should not have been drilling in the first place.

 

[unimpressed]

Ha ha to Clint! What are the rules on this site re. name and shame?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

too lazy to take the floor up?

 

[Dannypipe]

I personally think it's a bad idea to mud fling in public. But that's just my opinion.

 

[hammers4spanner]

is that chrome ??

 

[Rickster123]

What are the pipes feeding and where?

 

[Dannypipe]

too lazy to take the floor up?

Yup, but evidently not too tight to buy chrome pipe and fittings?

 

[unimpressed]

This was not too bad, but the pipes going through the floor bent just under the floor. Fine, except the tiles were not down yet and the pipe bend was too close to the floor to allow the tiles to be fitted. Also It was not centred on the tiles as we asked.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

as a broken tile was mentioned by the op i guess they are for a towel rad

oops meant to be posted above the picture lol

 

[unimpressed]

Yes chrome. The floor is down, but there is no ceiling below, just open joists, so easy access underneath.

 

[unimpressed]

The pipes are for a rad in the bedroom the other side of the wall.

 

[unimpressed]

Rad image to follow

 

[dancinplumba]

Yup, but evidently not too tight to buy chrome pipe and fittings?

meant to be on show perhaps Dr Watson ? Hmmm deeper and deeper.........................

 

[hammers4spanner]

hmmmm looking like a possible two sides here

 

[unimpressed]

Ok this is the rad. Poor photo as wasn't taking it for this purpose-pipes just visible at bottom of photo. The pipes should have gone straight into the skirting, lower down, one at each end of the rad. he ignored what we asked and ran them higher up, both to the middle of the rad then through the skirting, higher than they should have been, so they came out in the bathroom rather than under the bathroom floor (floor height difference).

 

[unimpressed]

Oh and that lilac wall? That's the one he touched up with BLUE paint.

 

[unimpressed]

Dancin- yes the chrome was to be on show- on the OTHER side of the wall! It wasn't meant to show in the bathroom at all!

 

[lame plumber]

might be your work next, no one is perfect we all have off days, some more than others though 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

hmmmm looking like a possible two sides here

indeed holmes, but perhaps requires more thought and a chuff on the olde pipe ......hmmmmmm

 

[unimpressed]

Sorry pic here

 

[dancinplumba]

might be your work next, no one is perfect we all have off days, some more than others though 🙂

Hahaha You Young man should speak for yourself now shut up 🙂

 

[unimpressed]

The point re. pipes is, we specified where they should run. We confirmed he understood. He then ignored that (for no apparent reason) and ran them elsewhere.

 

[Guest123]

No name and shame please on the public forum. This is an open plumbing forum not an open court.

 

[unimpressed]

One of the piles of rubbish left behind- I did expect him to tidy up a bit.

 

[unimpressed]

I won't name then, of course.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

It ain't dad bad as op on first post says !
must have been Colin then !?pmsl

 

[unimpressed]

Bear in mind these are just some photos I've quickly found- I haven't been round taking photos to illustrate the problem. I'll do that tomorrow.

Oh and one more gem from this chap I forgot about. Told him where the electric runs and he only bloody drilled exactly where we showed him it was, narrowly missing the cables.

 

[unimpressed]

This is the boiler- just for interest. No real issue, but don't really know what I'm looking at tbh, The copper piping runs annoyingly close to the plug switch though.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

No , I don't actually belive all this now !!! There is a reason I asked for the photos NOW
you are exaturating it , I am sorry but you have fail tonight !!!

 

[Dannypipe]

Well the pipes shouldn't have been on show, if it was priced to have the floor up. If it wasn't priced to have the floor up (it is more work to have the floor up obviously) then I can understand why he's done it.

Leaving piles of rubbish, and touching lilac paintwork up with blue. Yes wrong....but again some plumbers wouldn't have bothered touching the paintwork up at all.

In short, what I'm saying is, while the work doesn't appear to be brilliant. It's not the worse I've seen by a country mile. We see some god awful work on here.

 

[Dannypipe]

This is the boiler- just for interest. No real issue, but don't really know what I'm looking at tbh, The copper piping runs annoyingly close to the plug switch though.

Is this a wind up!?

 

[unimpressed]

Ok fair enough if that's your opinion- I'm unhappy as it wasn't what I asked for and the issues I stated do stand. What am I exaggerating? I don't have photos of everything, but what's wrong with those I do have to show my point?

 

[Dannypipe]

Well to say that the copper pipe is annoyingly close to the socket. I mean really?

I'm looking at that boiler install and frankly I don't think that's a poor job at all.

Pipework is clipped, its all in copper as it should be. The cross overs have all been down with fittings, and not formed which is fine if you aren't the best on a pipe bender.

I can't view it with the naked eye, but this really isn't SHOCK HORROR crap work.

 

[unimpressed]

Dannypipe, sorry I don't think I am explaining well enough. There was no need to take the floor up- the ceilings below are not in, so there is easy access from downstairs. The floor level differences mean that pipes running through the wall in the bedroom can come out below the floorboards of the bathroom next door. Which is where those chrome pipes should have run-they should have gone below the bathroom floor, not into the bathroom at all.

 

[dancinplumba]

what make and model is boiler ?

 

[unimpressed]

Yep danny- as I said, no issue with the boiler install (though I would not recognise a problem if there was one). the boiler photo was just for info. The problems are elsewhere. Just annoyed that we don't have the boiler warranty.

 

[unimpressed]

Dancin- I'm afraid I can't remember, I will have to check and let you know tomorrow.

 

[unimpressed]

And thanks for the info re. decent boiler install danny- it's one less thing to worry about!

 

[Dannypipe]

Yes you should have the boiler warranty, and I think if you asked for the pipes to be hidden then they should have.

There is no excuse for that.

I don't think you've had a total cowboy in your home though (which is good news for you). Maybe just someone who is stubborn and difficult and will just do it as he sees fit. I don't know. But I was expecting bad, bad work.

Please see our gallery of rubbish work (someone please post a link!!) and you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hall of shame

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks for the perspective danny! It's just annoying that we've been quite specific, it has all been agreed and then he has just done things that look rubbish, aren't what we asked for, and now need to be put right at more cost. However, we have learnt to plumb and done a better job ourselves so there's an up side!

I think I will chase the warranty, let him know I am less than impressed that he has gone back on his assurances that he would sort the problems out and then cut my losses and finish the job ourselves. We've got all the materials at least (paid for!)

 

[nickelarsed]

From the original post it sounds like the plumber you hired has got stuck on another job and left his gas fitter to do your job. He's made a couple of errors, have a polite word with the plumber and tell him your not happy and if he's genuine like you thought he'll sort it. re painting a patch of wall and moving/making good around some pipes where there is easy access really shouldn't be a major drama imo. Of course I'm speculating a bit here but I think this doesn't look like a difficult fix.

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks nickel. That's pretty much what he said when he came to look at the issues. He just never sorted it out!

 

[Dannypipe]

I think it's great to have standards, and expect them to be kept.

Most of my customers expect really high standard work. So I wouldn't do as he's done and put the elbows like that. But it all comes down to time.

The old adage "time is money" is never more true than in plumbing.

Our time is a finite resource, and if you want a plumber to lift the floor to hide the pipe work, then he will want more money to do so.

If you were all agreed on this, and he blatantly ignored you, then you have every right to give him two options.

1. Come back and finish the job as you agreed.
2. Let someone else come and do it, and you with hold the money it costs you. (there is no reason you should have to pay twice).

Good luck!

 

[unimpressed]

Danny, I don't believe time was the issue, as the work could all be done from below- ceilings downstairs are not in. The situation with the floors being in and the ceilings not (for the purpose of access for plumbing) was discussed before he gave his quote. We will now be doing what he should have done in the first place- so it can't be difficult!

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

 

[Dannypipe]

Well in that case. No excuses.

Sorry you've had bad luck. We're not all bad eggs.

Good luck in resolving it.

 

[unimpressed]

And your point re. standards, yes this is the problem. We're after a high quality finish and were clear about this from the outset. He assured us that he had high standards and would not do a job that was not finished to a standard he would accept in his own home.

 

[unimpressed]

Thanks again 🙂

 

[hammers4spanner]

Think we need to hear the p[lumbers version of events on here as easy to shoot someone down and criticise and i would guess you havn't had your boiler signed off because of a dispute between you both .

 

[SafeGasInstall]

There will be more to this story ...... I am sure

 

[TomLane]

Think we need to hear the p[lumbers version of events on here as easy to shoot someone down and criticise and i would guess you havn't had your boiler signed off because of a dispute between you both .

Agreed!

All to often we hear one side of the story & it's seldom positive!

Of course this situation should never have arose for the OP, but it's as much down to the customer to ensure the situation is managed properly as it is for the installer!

I'm sure most would agree also & some have actually mentioned it that before any rash decisions are made discuss with installer in a calm manner & reach an amicable resolution that both parties are satisfied with!

As a whole there are genuine tradesmen out there who do nothing but exemplary work, but also they are human ultimately & mistakes can be made!

Hope you get this sorted for all those involved! Keep us updated!

 

[RogerTheDodger]

I'm putting aside the fact there may be more to this story and imagining that this is in fact as black and white as it appears. If I was in the OP's shoes and the tradesman had failed to deliver what was quoted for and then disappeared without putting it right, I would get somebody else in to put things right. Then take the original tradesman to the small claims court and claim back what it cost you to put right. No expensive solicitors involved. I think you would have a strong case, since the contract between you and the tradesman was changed without your consent and the workmanship appears to be poor, i.e. dragging radiators across the floor and scuffing them.

Trying to get it resolved amicably is always the best option, but sometimes just not possible.