What would you do?

[cr0ft]

Went to a bathroom and rad replacement quote tonight, lady has had a new combi put in by another plumber. Obviously not impressed as she's not invited him back to quote.

I noticed a shower pump in the airing cupboard with the new combi. Problem is that the plumber who swapped the combi has left it connected so it's pumping mains water!! Isn't this illegal?

No TRVs or room thermostat fitted. He told her to control the house temperature with the mechanical timer and flow temperature dial on the combi!!

What would you do about this? Call the plumber and let him know the work he's done is illegal?? Or ignore that and just put it right yourself?

 

[Ray Stafford]

Went to a bathroom and rad replacement quote tonight, lady has had a new combi put in by a retard. Obviously not impressed as she's not invited him back to quote.

I noticed a shower pump in the airing cupboard with the new combi. Problem is that the cretin who swapped the combi has left it connected so it's pumping mains water!! Isn't this illegal?

No TRVs or room thermostat fitted. He told her to control the house temperature with the mechanical timer and flow temperature dial on the combi!!

What would you do about this? Call the thumbless feckwit and let him know the work he's done is illegal?? Or ignore that and just put it right yourself?

There you go Keiran, I fixed your spelling mistakes for you. No, don't mention it. It was my pleasure.

Explain to the customer, and ask what they want to do. Above all, take photos BEFORE you touch anything.

 

[julesverne]

Not sure if its illegal. But bloody ridiculous that he hasnt at least linked out the connections. I would be more worried about the pump cracking if under constant mains water pressure.

 

[Masood]

Show the customer the flaws and quote to put right. Telling the other plumber isn't going to achieve much IMO - she clearly didn't call him back for a reason, and he either didn't know or care about water regs, so he isn't going to care about putting it right...

 

[julesverne]

Is the idiot a gsr as there's no excuse for not fitting controls . Tell her to ask for a free gas safe inspection.

 

[cr0ft]

Not a bad idea tbh. I don't feel comfortable grassing someone else up but this guy is one of these fools who is undercutting people like me who are doing the job properly.

Will mention that in the quote to her.

 

[Best]

Might be a good idea to give her the number of the technical advice of the pump manufacturer and tell her to ask them is it okay for their model of pump to be connected to mains water?
That way you pass it over to them to tell her the bad truth.

 

[cr0ft]

Time to name and shame the plumber: -

http://www.freshplumbingheating.com/







Looks safe from a Gas safety perspective but clearly another person whose done a quick Gas course with no clue about plumbing I'd imagine.

 

[Phil]

I think he was fresh when he fitted that boiler! Yeeha!!! :santa5:

 

[WaterTight]

Fresh Plumbing And Heating - In West Philadelphia, Born And Trained

 

[stevetheplumber]

i wonder why i bother spending money on clips

 

[julesverne]

Time to name and shame the plumber: -

http://www.freshplumbingheating.com/

View attachment 22581

View attachment 22582

View attachment 22583

Looks safe from a Gas safety perspective but clearly another person whose done a quick Gas course with no clue about plumbing I'd imagine.

And clearly no idea how to design a web site aswell

 

[julesverne]

i wonder why i bother spending money on clips

Christ he could have at least 1 or 2 in to make it look like he was making an effort. Not 1 single clip

 

[cr0ft]

Apparently he charged £1,400 including the boiler to take out an old open cylinder and tank from that cupboard and open vented boiler downstairs. That includes all parts lol.

He must be struggling for work or a fool.

 

[julesverne]

The quality of the work shows in the price he charged

 

[cr0ft]

Is the idiot a gsr as there's no excuse for not fitting controls . Tell her to ask for a free gas safe inspection.

I hope so. Told her to chase the certificate lol.

 

[WaterTight]

Apparently he charged £1,400 including the boiler to take out an old open cylinder and tank from that cupboard and open vented boiler downstairs. That includes all parts lol.

if the customer isn't demanding the work gets done for that price what are the actual benefits for charging that and doing that work? sounds like he probably knew how it should be done but deliberately didn't and charged knock down price too. what's the point?

 

[cr0ft]

I told her we would have charged another grand on top but would have powerflushed the system properly (we are changing her radiators for her soon and I suspect the water is going to be as black as death itself) and fitted a magnetic filter. Oh, and used some bloody pipe clips too and removed the shower pump!

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Loads of people doing work like this! They price low and deliver even lower but it's the custards who time and time again pay these idiots with the misbelief that they will get lucky and the cheap price doesn't always mean a lash!!

Wrong.

 

[woodsy]

Customers generally require the cheapest job going but expect the best which for some reason is a rule applied to trades but isn't applied to most other things in life. Its a vicious circle at the moment with supposed business men giving away their services too cheaply by cutting corners and customers not valuing the use that they get from their boiler etc ( until it breaks down). Too many people entered the trade with first thoughts of how to make a quick buck rather than carrying out a great service and making a few quid along the way. With people up here offering combi swaps for £850 then people will always take it when offered a proper job for double. Only reputation and word of mouth gets you the odd customers who want a proper job.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Customers fault here get what they paid for probably had several quotes and went cheap ,

Wouldn't bother losing any sleep over it just tell her it's pants they probably won't bother sorting it as hot water comes out of taps and rads get hot therefore it works .

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I've seen BG pump the hot from a cwst into the mains on a combi 😱

 

[Dotty]

Hmmmmmmmm. .... no sign of him on gsr either.

Post code ln6 5ss

 

[cr0ft]

Interesting croppie! I will let her know, maybe they sub the gas work out. Will definitely find out more if I get the follow on work.

 

[Dotty]

Looking at the services offered on the website I would very much doubt anythings subbed out.

 

[tomplumb83]

Customer are best going for the cheaper price when they can save 1k
Take a chance on the cowboy, if it goes wrong get somebody else in for afew hundred to put it right.
Makes sense to some/alot

 

[cr0ft]

Yeah. Thankfully I'm able to keep busy avoiding that game. The day I have to do that to earn my living is the day I retire..

 

[cr0ft]

Glad I trusted my gut instincts on this one. After warning the customer and sending a message to the plumber who fitted the boiler on FB (no response yet) it does indeed turn out that Gas Safe have no record of the boiler. He has sent the customer a Gas Safety Certificate with a false Gas Safe registration number on it too.

Bordering on fraudulent really. Will be interesting to see what Gas Safe will do.

She has asked me to go and fit all new rads throughout the house. I suspect she will be needing a powerflush too.

 

[newcastle phill]

I havent read the lot but regarding the pump i dont think it's illegal. I seem to remember a figure of 12 litres a minute. Anything over requires permission

 

[cr0ft]

A shower pump like that one is definitely going to deliver more than 12L/min which makes it illegal to leave connected without permission like you say.

That is the least of the illegal acts though. He's fraudulently issued a gas safe certificate for the boiler. Will be very interesting to see what Gas Safe does about it.

 

[tomplumb83]

They'll probably award him a medal of some sort

Or maybe even a necklace...

 

[Millsy 82]

Some people can't afford to go for mid-high priced range installs. I've had people break down in tears when I tell them they need a new boiler as they struggle to make ends meat. Others on the other hand just have there priorities wrong and would rather spend 2k on a holiday than on the boiler they use all year round.

 

[Millsy 82]

Also I have seen a lot worse installs and people have paid top dollar for it thinking they have gone for the best quality.

 

[tomplumb83]

Speaking of priorities...
Did anybody watch the Anne Robinson program on money the other night.

 

[newcastle phill]

Again i havent read all this - but whats illegal about the install ???

 

[hammers4spanner]

They'll probably award him a medal of some sort

Or maybe even a necklace...

I'll wager he gets a badge

 

[hammers4spanner]

Again i havent read all this - but whats illegal about the install ???

He is not gsr from what i gather .

Obviously nothing will happen as gsr will be to busy trying to update updates of recent regs

 

[cr0ft]

Yeah he's not GSR and he's issued a Gas Safety Certificate with a false GSR number..

 

[newcastle phill]

Have you tried to call him to clarify it wasnt just an innocent mistake.

 

[cr0ft]

Yes I messaged him on FB with my concerns. No reply..