New Bathroom questions

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WHPES said:
Have a word with Trading Standards - they will help you with your letter as there are certain terms which you should use.

Unfortunately it sounds like you've been had by a cowboy plumber.
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Thankyou, I have an appointment with them later today (Tuesday).

UPDATE: 13.36 13 April 2010

This is unbelievable. Please read this and laugh or weep (because I don't know what to do!) ...

The contractor turned up, and I pointed out, in a friendly manner, the long list of problems with the bathroom. After saying that there was nothing he could do, and asking who told me that his work was wrong (I quoted this forum, showing printouts, and also advice from Trading Standards), he then walked to my front door, held out his hand for me to shake, and said ...
" Thankyou Martin, Nice to meet you, goodbye".

And off he walked.
I have contacted Trading Standards again who have given me advice on the letter to send (which I will today by Special Delivery), and I will then, if no reply, take legal action against this company who puts you professionals into a bad light.
 
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sounds like a watch dog rogue traders contact to time

If you gave him time to put it right snd he didnt even bother to show up you were doin the right thing in coming here and Trading Standards

It looks like it will cost you a little more to go down the route of the small claims court if thats what your looking to do but at least you didnt pay out the full whack

Any chance of uuploading some of the photos?

Did you show him what the pump manufacturer said
 
Ive not alot more to add as WHPES has said it all really, the low pressure at the taps is probably because they are for high pressure installations, it sounds like you supplied the taps so id just take that one on the chin.
If you havent paid the man all the money, will the money youve got left pay for somone else to put the work right?.
 
Just to let you all have an update.
90 minutes ago, I had a phone call from the contractor telling me that he does good work, does not like a list of his bad work being shown to him, and cannot believe that I discussed it on this professional forum.
Without going into detail, he has threatened to kill me in the street, or when he waits outside my home, and is going to break into my home and smash it up.
I did not get into conversation (the above is the polite way he spoke to me), nor did I get angry with him, but the matter is now with the Police, as to be honest, I am scared.
This contractor said to me when he started, if ever I promise something or say something, "I do it".
I have the Police coming round later, and Trading Standards are being a total godsend to me with help.

I will need to get 3 quotes from Plumbers/ Bathroom Fitters, in case I need to sue, who can rectify this work, so any recommendations, from you, the professionals will be appreciated.

This has honestly been the worst most scary day of my life.
 
you've done the right thing by phoning the police but I cant say much than that, I assume you have his business address details for the Police to pay him a visit.

Your not the first person to be ripped off by a cowboy and certainly not the last

Its natural to be scard but in reality he's just angry that he couldn't pull a fast one on you and get out and get paid
 
😱 Unbeleivable 😱

Not only a cowboy but a psycho to boot, .......speechless!!

I hope the fact he has threatend to kill you won't have any bearing on your giving him a good report on Rated people.com.
 
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I expect the police will pay him a visit so he'll be aware he's being watched.

I expect it's bluster as he's annoyed that he was rumbled before he managed to fleece you. Keep on with Trading Standards - they may pick up the baton for you to an extent.

If he did good work as he says, rest assured there would have been no major problems and any small ones he would have gone out of his way to ensure they were put right.

I got done by a rogue contractor a few years ago and I'm a bit like a terrier - I don't let go. What he doesn't know is that I have had people watching him for the last 4 years to see what he gets up to. As soon as it looks he has something worthwhile, the bailiffs will be pouncing again.
 
Plumbstar Tom said:
you've done the right thing by phoning the police but I cant say much than that, I assume you have his business address details for the Police to pay him a visit.

Your not the first person to be ripped off by a cowboy and certainly not the last

Its natural to be scard but in reality he's just angry that he couldn't pull a fast one on you and get out and get paid
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Sadly, this has got even worse, but I cannot say about it on here. The Police are now actively involved because of further developments.
Thankyou everyone on here for your advice and support.
 
redmohican - I am truly sorry to learn of your experiences. From a slightly different perspective, can you please tell me/us (I am happy to have a private message) why you chose this particular contractor and why you specifically rejected any others. Was it cost, or what he told you, or claimed ??? Did you look elsewhere other than the web? Did you check any qualifications - did he claim to have any (to state my position on quals, I am not a believer that the entire world must have a paper ticket in order to be able to work or gain experience - in any sphere). everyone has to learn somewhere. I am just interested in your decision process.
 
bcp said:
redmohican - I am truly sorry to learn of your experiences. From a slightly different perspective, can you please tell me/us (I am happy to have a private message) why you chose this particular contractor and why you specifically rejected any others. Was it cost, or what he told you, or claimed ??? Did you look elsewhere other than the web? Did you check any qualifications - did he claim to have any (to state my position on quals, I am not a believer that the entire world must have a paper ticket in order to be able to work or gain experience - in any sphere). everyone has to learn somewhere. I am just interested in your decision process.
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I can answer all of this on this forum, as I am not naming names in public. The answers to your questions are:

1. I chose this contractor because he was recommended by the reviews of others on ratedpeople.com. In case people do not know how this site works, you list the job you want doing, and the 'professionals' who have been checked out by the site then say that they would like to give you a quote on the job. You are sent 3 contractors. If you do not like their quotes, then you re-list the job for the next 3 quotes etc etc.
The contractor I chose was because of several factors, he had glowing reviews, his past work on his website was excellent, and I spoke to a satisfied customer. Also, he was the only contractor who knew what a 3 way valve was and how to fit it (ok I have now found out he didn't, but art the time etc etc).

2. The price this contractor was charging was what I thought to be the best price for the job. I made enquiries with Trading Standards before I got any quotes and they told me that you should pay approx the same for installation as you do for the items to be fixed. This contractor met the criteria.

3. My bathroom is only 7 feet by 6 feet (the toilet is seperate), so it is really small, and this contractor said the work would be completed in a maximum of 7 days. Others said 3-4 weeks. Onbe said 10-12 weeks!

4. As for qualifications, I hold my hand up and say that I didn't check, although I did check that he was registered with Companies House. Also, a lot of the time, recommendations and word of mouth can be the best qualification, I thought. I now know that to be only partially true.

5. As for Phil asking about my rating for the contractor on ratedpeople.com, when I contacted them, they asked me to send a list of the problems which they posted as my review to ward off others. Evidently it's 3 strikes and you are out on that site.

Hope that answers everything.
 
Hi redmohican, sorry there have been developments it sounds serious now. 🙁

I suppose I was making a witty comment about the review but seems insignificant now.
 
Sorry to hear about your problems. Sounds like one of those tradesmen from hell you see on TV. If it was purely lack of experience, anyone who cared about the work they do would have been very embarassed and would have bent over backwards to put things right.

Trouble with some of those websites is that people can get their mates to recommend them. You can't beat word of mouth. About 50% of my work comes from word of mouth only, and a job well done with a satisfied customer is the best advert you can have.

It does affirm my suspicions that those websites are a bit of a gimmick and I for one will definitely not be using them. Reputation is everything in this business.

Regarding the 3 way valve - even the most experienced plumbers are going to come across new things they don't know how to fit, but the only thing that matters is that they find out how to do it correctly and follow the manufacturers instructions.
 
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In case anyone is interested, I have today started court action against this contractor. If possible, can a Moderator please let me know if it would be helpful to others if I kept this forum up to date with the progress of the case?
 
If you are going to post, only post facts. Suppositions and speculation on a pulblic forum could be deemed hearsay and could affect your case. Of course when concluded you can write up in full! An aproved and reputable tradesman should be brought in to assess the standard and compatibility of the work done.

Trouble is, even if you win the case you can have a devil of a job getting your money back and it can be expensive getting enforcement notices and having goods seized.
 
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im gonna close the thread gentlemen.
not being biassed either way, but it is an ongoing legal battle, so best not talked about until over. this does not mean the forum agrees or disagrees with the OP or has taken a side !
good luck to everyone involved
 
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