Leak in customer house.

[Ryooo]

Okay looking like I'm going to havet

Firstly, a punter wanting a job as cheap as chips is no surprise. I have never gone to a garage and said "fix my car, I don't care what yo bill me" !
Never let the punter dictate terms - to a CAC customer, just say that "I need to charge x amount, and that is my quotation. feel free to look around". don't let their problems become YOUR problem. That said, I would wager that most of us found this aspect tough when starting out.

Secondly, these days one would expect him to have some video evidence of the leak. And perhaps you should have suggested it?

Thirdly, don't leave an alleged leak for 2 days -that is madness, IMO

Fourthly, where did £350 com from? Is that HIS time, or did he get someone else in? And were you supposed to return for further work?

Leak was left for 2 days as he never went to the property. Water was turned off until I was scheduled to return.

Yes a bathroom suite and boiler serve.

 

[JKG]

It’s sounding like you are at fault luckily it’s only £350 it could have been a lot worse. We’ve all been there it’s your reputation and pride that takes the biggest blow.
Pay the £350 dust yourself off and move on
Lesson learnt here

 

[Ryooo]

How's one of his diy moments going to cause one of your soldered joints to leak? It's ok getting defensive because your being pursued for money but at the end of the day it is your fault. You arranged to go back a few days later, in that time did you advise the customer to turn off the water? What was the hold up in going back (prior to shingles diagnosis)? I don't know about others on here, but if I get a call saying I've got a leak, I go that day.

Plasterer was in on the F

It’s sounding like you are at fault luckily it’s only £350 it could have been a lot worse. We’ve all been there it’s your reputation and pride that takes the biggest blow.
Pay the £350 dust yourself off and move on
Lesson learnt here

Was is the lesson though, in terms of soldered joints holding then failing a day later. He called my work sub par, but was happy inspecting and happy to pay.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Can I ask why you are all just telling him to roll over? This makes no sense.

 

[Scott_D]

Have you been to have a look at the damage and cause?
Get some pictures for your insurance company etc

 

[Ryooo]

Have you been to have a look at the damage and cause?
Get some pictures for your insurance company etc

Not yet, this all started last night when I messaged last to say I could come tomorrow and could he leave a key. I have asked if he has fixed the leak does he have the part and pictures/video. No reply yet.

 

[Scott_D]

Has he paid you for the work done and what was the job value?
Or does he want it for free and £350 for his troubles.

 

[Ryooo]

Has he paid you for the work done and what was the job value?
Or does he want it for free and £350 for his troubles.

Yes he has paid me £140 and £60 for materials. Job value was a bathroom suite and boiler service

 

[Millsy 82]

I know this isn't about pricing but is that £140 for 1st fixing a bathroom suite?

 

[Scott_D]

I know this isn't about pricing but is that £140 for 1st fixing a bathroom suite?

And a boiler service as well?

 

[Millsy 82]

And a boiler service as well?

What! If that's right go and work for a company you will earn twice as much.

 

[Ryooo]

I know this isn't about pricing but is that £140 for 1st fixing a bathroom suite?

No it was only for 4 hours labour (35 per hour)

 

[Ryooo]

And a boiler service as well?

No service, just 4 hours labour.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yes he has paid me £140 and £60 for materials. Job value was a bathroom suite and boiler service

You say a boiler service here.

 

[Stu-B]

Not yet, this all started last night when I messaged last to say I could come tomorrow and could he leave a key. I have asked if he has fixed the leak does he have the part and pictures/video. No reply yet.

In the opening post and post #19 you say he’s fixed the leak, you also says he’s got on with the job which was the reason why I said just chalk it down to experience and move on, really because there’s no real evidence of a leak apart from the damage, but now you’re saying he doesn’t have the part to fix the leak.
Plus, all that damage from a small solder leak? cabinets and Lino damage to £350? I just assumed he’d called out emergency plumber on extortionate hourly rate to fix the leak...
seems the story is getting a little twisted here pal

 

[Millsy 82]

No it was only for 4 hours labour (35 per hour)

Thank God for that that's more bearable.

 

[Scott_D]

Anything could have happened
Guy fitted the shower and drilled through a pipe

 

[Ryooo]

You say a boiler service here.

Sorry I meant total job value.

 

[Ryooo]

In the opening post and post #19 you say he’s fixed the leak, you also says he’s got on with the job which was the reason why I said just chalk it down to experience and move on, really because there’s no real evidence of a leak apart from the damage, but now you’re saying he doesn’t have the part to fix the leak.
Plus, all that damage from a small solder leak? cabinets and Lino damage to £350? I just assumed he’d called out emergency plumber on extortionate hourly rate to fix the leak...
seems the story is getting a little twisted here pal

Hi mate, to clarify. I've asked him if he has fixed the leaked does he still have the faulty elbow, does he have any video or pictures. He hasn't responded to this message? I sent that roughly 24hrs ago.

I would imagine that type of leak would either be a slow weeping leak or pin hole spray. Either way most of the damage would be in the ceiling no? Only damage he is estimating for ceiling I think is £30. Like wtf, surely the ceiling would have to come down before you do that amount of damage to a lino then ply?

No he said he fixed the leak himself.

 

[Ben-gee]

As I said before, I think you need to go around there all nicey nicey and have a look yourself, so far you haven’t been to the property after the leak occurred- I definitely wouldn’t pay up under those circumstances.

Only similar thing I have had was during a whole bathroom refit I didn’t notice a weep from rad pipework when I’d removed it but not yet altered for new towel rail.

When I came to alter pipes I saw it weeping down copper pipe and under floor - unfortunately right above a pboard joint so it went through leaving a discolouration on ceiling.

I offered to make good that area but she insisted whole ceiling needed doing- I said let me do that area first and we’ll see if all needs doing after - in which case I’ll do it (reasonable).

She then insisted that ‘her’ decorator did it and I got a bill for £125.

I thought this unfair but just paid up, and struck her off my list.

When asked to look at kitchen tap 9 months later, I just said no sorry (nose to spite face I know - but it felt good!)

I think my point is, check out that it is your fault- behave reasonably at all times , but ultimately some people are di*ks and you MUST just move on knowing at least you have behaved in a defendable fashion.

 

[Ryooo]

Hi just a quick update, not heard a peep from him since I asked for the faulty elbow and video/photos. That was Monday.

 

[firemant]

God loves a a trier

 

[centralheatking]

Hi what's the best advice in dealing with a leak in a customers house?

1. Stripped out bathroom suite, installed 1st fix shower pipes in stud wall.
2. Turned water on, cheeked all joints.
3. Show customer completed works. Happy with job and paid me
4. Get a phone call 3 days later saying there is a leak. I get him to discuss over the phone. He idtenifies it as the shower pipes, precisely the speed fit cap I've capped the end off with. Job done. Call me back later to say its not its the soldered elbow at the wall.
5. I arrange to go there a couple days later, call him on the day before no answer. Texts me in the middle night saying he has forgot to leave me a key. Can I come the following day?
6. The following day I get shingles confirmed and decided to take a few day off. He is now not happy.
7. After taking two days off, I make contact. He has now fixed my leak, cracked on with the job because he could not wait and sent me an estimated damage cost of £350.
8. Try to resolve over messages, he lift the water on while property was empty, no one went to house till 2 days after plumbing work was done etc
Now it's getting pretty heated.

To summarise, this is my first unhappy customer. I went self employed in May. I have insurance etc. He wanted the job done cheap as chips. He was plumbing in the kitchen sink to a 1st year level. One of his DIY moments could have caused this.

What is the correct procedure you experienced guys go through when this sort of things happened?

Cheers Ryan

Firstly nobody is perfect, only fools do not learn by their mistakes
I have been in this game since 1982 and had quite a few fellas on.
Plenty of hassle in 30 years with that many fellas.
Expect trouble if you are in business...it how You deal with it that
really counts. You have arrived at the right place for advice.
Speedfit stopend naughty, I would stop all communication with him
if you want offer £100 go away money....VERBALLY. £350 is silly.
Get a buddy self employed plumber so both of you can be ill or go on holiday and cover each other and settle up if their is a problem.

Keep on fitting , heed the advice in here, care but dont worry
centralheatking

 

[Jon30]

Who knows. Actually never saw this. It could not be, and the custard might try to pull quickly.

 

[Harvest Fields]

And everyone ignored my post about telling you to just roll over.. always get proof.