Please help - have i been ripped off?

[Welder]

Miss F. Can you possibly get a shot of what the flexible connector connects 'to' behind the red pressure vessel please anlong with the rest of the pipe it connects into? Sorry, but it's rather important as you are renting out.

 

[missfrances]

I will ask my tenant Tom to take a snap behind the red vessel, as I didn't check this myself earlier. Sorry, there's a lot of pipework in the cupboard, so it was hard to capture everything.

 

[missfrances]

Here are a few other pics I took earlier, but I'll try to get the one you need from my tenant Tom later ...

 

[Welder]

I will ask my tenant Tom to take a snap behind the red vessel, as I didn't check this myself earlier. Sorry, there's a lot of pipework in the cupboard, so it was hard to capture everything.

Ask him to put the flash on too please. We're nearly there

 

[missfrances]

Will do! By the way, I can assure you (and Chris) I didn't want a 'cheap' job. I just wanted a good, honest job. Our house is lovely. Its our home, and we take great care of it.

 

[Welder]

Will do! By the way, I can assure you (and Chris) I didn't want a 'cheap' job. I just wanted a good, honest job. Our house is lovely. Its our home, and we take great care of it.

Fact is, we are all learning. We who try to help, get sick to death of people who complain that they get a poor job when they refused to pay to have it done properly. Personally I do not think of you and your issues in that light. As mentioned, we're all going to learn.

 

[chris watkins]

Will do! By the way, I can assure you (and Chris) I didn't want a 'cheap' job. I just wanted a good, honest job. Our house is lovely. Its our home, and we take great care of it.

I wasn't suggesting you were Vic (said some).

I think we have seen enough to be able to say you need to find another good company what understands unvented systems & has their Part G3 /un-vented ticket.
There are a number of installation faults that need attention & the cylinder need to be serviced, so forget the first company, you paid over the odds for poor work & I assume they did not advise you on the existing faults.
Start afresh & put it down to experience.

3 port valve installed with no signs of the additional 2 port required. No signs that the expansion vessel was touched etc etc.

 

[missfrances]

Chris - I have found another plumber, this time recommended to me, but he's not available until Thursday this week. I'm meeting him at my property midday on Thursday.

The original plumbers did not advise on any existing faults, infact they haven't even given me any paperwork! Yesterday they were trying to tell me they also changed a boiler 'fan' in December, but today they say they didn't. The story keeps changing. I've requested a breakdown from them 3 times now.

I posted on here originally as I was concerned I'd been ripped off, and wanted some advise. Since then there's been some suggestion that the (overcharged) valve installed has been fitted wrongly, which is worrying! I've continued posting as I thought it would be wise to get a second opinion.

 

[chris watkins]

Chris - I have found another plumber, this time recommended to me, but he's not available until Thursday this week. I'm meeting him at my property midday on Thursday.

The original plumbers did not advise on any existing faults, infact they haven't even given me any paperwork! Yesterday they were trying to tell me they also changed a boiler 'fan' in December, but today they say they didn't. The story keeps changing. I've requested a breakdown from them 3 times now.

I posted on here originally as I was concerned I'd been ripped off, and wanted some advise. Since then there's been some suggestion that the (overcharged) valve installed has been fitted wrongly, which is worrying! I've continued posting as I thought it would be wise to get a second opinion.

So let them do there stuff, you are more clued up now so see what they say, get costs etc.
Although I am still unsure is it the boiler or the cylinder that isn't working now?

 

[Rob Foster]

Fact is, we are all learning. We who try to help, get sick to death of people who complain that they get a poor job when they refused to pay to have it done properly. Personally I do not think of you and your issues in that light. As mentioned, we're all going to learn.

I am still in chking

 

[Rob Foster]

Chris - I have found another plumber, this time recommended to me, but he's not available until Thursday this week. I'm meeting him at my property midday on Thursday.

The original plumbers did not advise on any existing faults, infact they haven't even given me any paperwork! Yesterday they were trying to tell me they also changed a boiler 'fan' in December, but today they say they didn't. The story keeps changing. I've requested a breakdown from them 3 times now.

I posted on here originally as I was concerned I'd been ripped off, and wanted some advise. Since then there's been some suggestion that the (overcharged) valve installed has been fitted wrongly, which is worrying! I've continued posting as I thought it would be wise to get a second opinion.

ok ...can you scan and post the invoices please on here I/we will look at them ..Rob Foster
aka centralheatking so maybe you paid...cash ! with no record
please advise

 

[missfrances]

I did not pay cash! I paid by card, over the phone. I have a record on my bank statement of the payment made for £498 to the company. I requested the plumbers email me the paperwork on that day, including a breakdown, as I was shocked by the price, but they never did, and now they're saying they don't have any invoices because of a change of ownership of the business! Yesterday they agreed to email me a breakdown, but I'm still waiting for it. I think I could be waiting a long time! As for the next plumber, who I'm meeting on Thursday, happy to post his advice.

 

[Welder]

I did not pay cash! I paid by card, over the phone. I have a record on my bank statement of the payment made for £498 to the company. I requested the plumbers email me the paperwork on that day, including a breakdown, as I was shocked by the price, but they never did, and now they're saying they don't have any invoices because of a change of ownership of the business! Yesterday they agreed to email me a breakdown, but I'm still waiting for it. I think I could be waiting a long time! As for the next plumber, who I'm meeting on Thursday, happy to post his advice.

TBH, I do not understand why you are even entering into this type of discussion. It's both annoying and distracting so rise above it.

If you want chapter and verse about what is wrong and, most importantly, how to fix it just post what has been asked for please. We will then set you right with something you can action rather than pontificate about.

Sorry to be rude but I've not got time to waste. Your choice.

 

[Rob Foster]

I did not pay cash! I paid by card, over the phone. I have a record on my bank statement of the payment made for £498 to the company. I requested the plumbers email me the paperwork on that day, including a breakdown, as I was shocked by the price, but they never did, and now they're saying they don't have any invoices because of a change of ownership of the business! Yesterday they agreed to email me a breakdown, but I'm still waiting for it. I think I could be waiting a long time! As for the next plumber, who I'm meeting on Thursday, happy to post his advice.

ok MissF... basically there is no paper trail on this one so far, no
recipts for the work carried out
and it might seem no records of whom helped you ...surely you took their GSF number and telephone etc ...centrakheatking

 

[Rob Foster]

TBH, I do not understand why you are even entering into this type of discussion. It's both annoying and distracting so rise above it.

If you want chapter and verse about what is wrong and, most importantly, how to fix it just post what has been asked for please. We will then set you right with something you can action rather than pontificate about.

Sorry to be rude but I've not got time to waste. Your choice.

I agree YD. we are wasting our time in a wally ...I am out ...but will watch. chking

 

[Rob Foster]

TBH, I do not understand why you are even entering into this type of discussion. It's both annoying and distracting so rise above it.

If you want chapter and verse about what is wrong and, most importantly, how to fix it just post what has been asked for please. We will then set you right with something you can action rather than pontificate about.

Sorry to be rude but I've not got time to waste. Your choice.

I agree YD. we are wasting our time in a wally ...I am out ...but will watch. chking

 

[Rob Foster]

I agree YD. we are wasting our time in a wally ...I am out ...but will watch. chking

oops posted 3x sorry maybe I was getting bored chking
lets get on with the next real problems hey.

 

[missfrances]

Thanks Yorkshire Dave. I've been trying to rise above it! Getting a little upset. I visited the house today just to take some better images of the pipework, and I've now asked Tom (tenant) to take an extra photo behind the red cylinder. I'll have to wait for him to get back to me.

 

[Rob Foster]

Thanks Yorkshire Dave. I've been trying to rise above it! Getting a little upset. I visited the house today just to take some better images of the pipework, and I've now asked Tom (tenant) to take an extra photo behind the red cylinder. I'll have to wait for him to get back to me.

all yours Y D

 

[Welder]

ok MissF... basically there is no paper trail on this one so far, no
recipts for the work carried out
and it might seem no records of whom helped you ...surely you took their GSF number and telephone etc ...centrakheatking

People just don't do that Rob. We all want to believe we've got a 'good un' and there's no need to worry

 

[Rob Foster]

People just don't do that Rob. We all want to believe we've got a 'good un' and there's no need to worry

you and I must meet up I think
...I can travel ..after march when it gets lighter .. your call
Rob Foster ..whats your drunking place ....deliberate miss spell ! ...Rob Foster

 

[Welder]

you and I must meet up I think
...I can travel ..after march when it gets lighter .. your call
Rob Foster ..whats your drunking place ..deliberate miss spell ! ...Rob Foster

I agree.
I tried to open a conversation with you earlier today but was told I couldn't Any idea why?
Have you blocked me again

 

[Ric2013]

FWIW, if the business has changed ownership then I would usually expect that the business still exists and its records, assets, and liabilities will pass on to the new owner. While I can understand that certain details might be lost, anything contractual and recent should still be there! Sounds like you are being fobbed off.

We've all been there. Recently my van got scraped while parked on my own drive and, at the same time, my fence was knocked over by a contractor working for Essex County Council. Despite plenty of forensic evidence, the police was uninterested and nothing got sorted. But I dealt with the problem: repaired the fence and van and got on with my life. I will raise the issue at a council meeting about how contractors should be selected more carefully, but in a way, it's good that I didn't make a claim on the contractor as my insurance did not go up. Similarly, I would suggest that if you have written to the company and had no proper reply, you concentrate on the current problem and worry about what you were charged another time when you're less annoyed.

If Dave and Rob are meeting at some point, then I would be interested in joining them if they are interested? PM me if there a small social and you want me there as I think you would both be interesting to meet.

 

[Rob Foster]

I agree.
I tried to open a conversation with you earlier today but was told I couldn't Any idea why?
Have you blocked me again

no way i dont know how to do do that anyway
[email protected]
ref Yd

 

[Welder]

Enough already. I want to get on with my life...

So, let's look at the issue you posted where your water pressure was dropping so you had the repair for £500 carried out.

It is obvious that the 'control block' (the new part consisting of a pressure reducing valve and pressure relief valve) is new. Based on the fact that you've not had any maintenance carried out on your unvented cylinder to that point, it is quite likely that the filter inside the pressure reducing valve had become blocked leaving you with a much lower flow rate - which you would describe as a loss of 'pressure'. As it would be completely calcified (bunged up) the correct resolution was applied. That is, to fit a new control block.

Herein lies a problem. A non manufacturers part would cost no more than £50. Adding 25% is reasonable so a parts bill of £70.

IF it were a 'genuine' part (read further stitch up) from the manufacturer then it could well be double that. All in all tho, nowhere near £200.

As you are in London, the most expensive plumbers are Pimlico Heating. They charge £157 per hour. So, your maximum labour charge should have been approx £150. Again nowhere near the £300 you were charged.

Moving on. Your system is a mess. It needs urgently resolving in order to be both compliant and safe.

As a landlord, you have a legal obligation to have it appropriately serviced, but you also have a duty of care.

What you need, is an experienced G3 engineer to look at your system and to set it right. You will need a full service on it to make sure it is fit for purpose and working most efficiently. This will involve some pipework modifications to make it comply with regulations and to remove your neck from the noose should anything go wrong and it harm someone, or do damage to your home.

Insurers look for things like this in order to escape their moral responsibilities. If you had a water leak on the hot side, insurers may well ask to see the cylinders maintenance history. If you cannot provide it then they can, and do in my experience, simply walk away from the claim due to YOU not carrying out required maintenance.

The fact you simply did not know means nothing. It's entirely your responsibility to find out what you don't even know to ask about

I strongly suspect that the engineer who turned up was NOT G3 qualified. Obviously I cannot know, so IMHO, it should form a line of enquiry from you to them as to the person attending's appropriateness of qualifications. The reason you have a right to know, is the poor state of the cylinder installation and its lack of servicing. Every G3 engineer I have ever met would have pointed out all of these things when there or reported post event simply to cover their backsides Further, the engineer should NOT have worked on it if unqualified.

It is NOT dangerous in the short term so do not panic.

It does however need fixing urgently and appropriate resolutions applied. Please make sure he/she checks the rating of the control block components even though they are new. They MUST be rated the same as original to comply with safety accreditations.

Overall, it's a bit of a bugger's muddle really. The good news is that you are now placed to both understand what was and to move forward with some considerable confidence.

You have now learned that as a landlord your head is in a noose continually. You really must both investigate and take seriously those various responsibilities but, unfortunately, agents also try to BS you by wittering on about aspects of things just to scare you - e.g. annual legionella assessments and deep cleans.

Anyway, I hope we have been able to help. When you return, as I know you'll not be able to keep away for our combined charms, you'll be a little wiser. Please update us.

Sorry it was so long