Did I get ripped off? - Shower mixer replacement by local plumber

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

Hi guys my first post on this forum.

A plumber came in to replace our shower mixer as it lost water pressure over the year from limescale blockage I believe!

The plumber managed to install the new shower mixer however it looks extremely botched! Please have a look at the picture and tell me what you think.

He CHARGED me £120 for this replacement.

All he did was change the mixer without installing the new valves and cover plate which he said didn't fit.

What do you guys think?

Much thanks.

johnduffell · Apr 7, 2019

There's only a need to replace the broken part otherwise there would be a lot more cost for making good, but that does look a bit low for a wall mounted mixer shower. Normally at that height the hose comes out the top.
If you want to have the wall plate replaced too you could specify that but it wouldn't come in so cheap.

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

You are right it is low, but the old shower mixer has been in that position for the past 15 years of living in this house. I thought paying £120 would at least include the valves, I mean it only took him an hour? Bare in mind our landlord ordered the parts to our house so all the plumber did was change the shower mixer.

I just expected him to at least cover the white sealant with shower mixer cap, which is the main thing that I'm annoyed about..

SimonG · Apr 7, 2019

Wow that was cheap.

Riley · Apr 7, 2019

SimonG said:
Wow that was cheap.

Looks it, dunno how people sleep churning out stuff like that

SimonG · Apr 7, 2019

Riley said:
Looks it, dunno how people sleep churning out stuff like that

Why does a tenant give a toss what the plumber charges the landlord

Scott_D · Apr 7, 2019

Sometimes when you are given something to install that doesn’t fit you have to do the best with what’s supplied
So we only know half the story

king of pipes · Apr 7, 2019

A shower fitting kit would have made the job look alot neater

townfanjon · Apr 7, 2019

Looks “ the pits “ , but if you asked for the valve replacing , well , thats what hes done.
To make the whole job look as it should , its a different job altogether and TBH would cost a shed load more.

Scott_D · Apr 7, 2019

king of pipes said:
A shower fitting kit would have made the job look alot neater

View attachment 38084

Might be z connectors in the wall

Riley · Apr 7, 2019

Screw on shrouds, even trimmed down would’ve looked better

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

townfanjon said:
Looks “ the pits “ , but if you asked for the valve replacing , well , thats what hes done.
To make the whole job look as it should , its a different job altogether and TBH would cost a shed load more.

I mean I'm not an expert at plumbing prices but surely adding these chrome plated valve caps would've done no harm? It was actually included with the shower head mixer!

Riley · Apr 7, 2019

Get your LL to get them back. It’s going to leak and just looks horrible

ShaunCorbs · Apr 7, 2019

if the pipes are long enough we dont know why / what trouble hes had

Welder · Apr 7, 2019

Whoa!
Fact is, the contract is plumber to landlord. As a tenant you have NO right to criticise the plumber because you were not party to the contract between them.
I fully agree the job is quite horrible, but your ONLY route is to complain to your landlord NOT on here when not one of us knows any other detail.
I'm sorry to be blunt, but as a reasonable person you will understand this perspective.
Speak to your landlord and explain how you are unhappy with what has been delivered. Personally, if your LL is tight then youll have no joy. All of us on here have extensive experience of landlords.

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

YorkshireDave said:
Whoa!
Fact is, the contract is plumber to landlord. As a tenant you have NO right to criticise the plumber because you were not party to the contract between them.
I fully agree the job is quite horrible, but your ONLY route is to complain to your landlord NOT on here when not one of us knows any other detail.
I'm sorry to be blunt, but as a reasonable person you will understand this perspective.
Speak to your landlord and explain how you are unhappy with what has been delivered. Personally, if your LL is tight then youll have no joy. All of us on here have extensive experience of landlords.

I totally agree with you however the landlord allowed me to find the plumber myself so it's all down to me and nothing to do with them or else I wouldn't be posting on here for advice. I will call him back and try to ask him to redo the job properly with the valve caps without trying to charge me extra.

I mean he already charged me £120 with spending only 40 minutes on the job?!! So he has no excuse.

Welder · Apr 7, 2019

You've already been told cleaning up the mess will be more! This means you'll be trying to rip off a tradesperson. How can you justify that?

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

YorkshireDave said:
You've already been told cleaning up the mess will be more! This means you'll be trying to rip off a tradesperson. How can you justify that?

He wouldn't have had to clean up the mess in the first place if he had done his job correctly so tell me how the hell am I trying to rip him off by asking to redo a job that he MESSED UP!

As you can see in the picture, the old mixer has the circular caps and the after doesn't. That's my only point. All I wanted was the sealant to be covered. Surely charging me £120 wouldn't have been an issue to install those caps in the first place??

ShaunCorbs · Apr 7, 2019

different type of fixing thats why hes done what hes done else it means ripping the tiles off

Welder · Apr 7, 2019

I'm out.

Riley · Apr 7, 2019

I think by fixing it they meant a lot more work was required, tiles off etc. Can’t expect that to be done for nowt. Not fixing the abortion he’s left there now. As has been said the shrouds may not fit what was there

hsadat · Apr 7, 2019

Riley said:
I think by fixing it they meant a lot more work was required, tiles off etc. Can’t expect that to be done for nowt. Not fixing the abortion he’s left there now. As has been said the shrouds may not fit what was there

Fair enough mate but as far I know, we had a verbal contract that the job would be done for £120 which I assumed includes the circular caps. If anything extra was required then that's something he should've communicated instead of wasting time performing a half hearted job which I didn't ask for.

Anyways, I will contact him tomorrow and see what he says. Much appreciate everyone's help.

JCplumb · Apr 7, 2019

Looks to me like there's a limited amount of male iron coming out from the tiles, a shroud wouldn't work there as the chrome nut is in the way and too close to the wall, so the part of the male iron that the shrouds screw on is buried.
I'm not saying I would have done it the same way he did, but I can see that it wouldn't have been(and still isn't) possible to just put a couple of shrouds on.

tomplumb83 · Apr 7, 2019

It sounds like your more annoyed with what hes charged you as opposed to the job. It might be that he can't actually get the covers on
It looks like it could have been a tricky job if he wasn't careful

Millsy 82 · Apr 8, 2019

YorkshireDave said:
You've already been told cleaning up the mess will be more! This means you'll be trying to rip off a tradesperson. How can you justify that?

Firstly whoever did That is not a tradesman.

Secondly if you know it's going to look that pants you either 1) refuse to fit it or say you need to do extra work or arrange to get the identical tap. 2) get the customer to agree to it before you do it.

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