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Any legal peeps here with knowledge of consumer law?
john_p_b - 16/10/10 at 11:11 AM

i'm after some helpful advice with regards to some issues i'm having with a plumber and a new bathroom.

some 9 weeks ago now we started ripping out the bathroom. done everything top to bottom, laid a new concrete floor, walls and ceiling plastered, rewired everything.......

anyway, long story short, the bath is leaking like a sieve from around where the knob for the waste outlet fits. this knob is an integral part of the bath, the hole was pre cut and the waste system was supplied with the bath so this is not something we specified or had fitted ourselves.

the plumber has been back several times to rectify this but has failed on each occasion and his answer is always to just cover everything in more silicone sealer and hope for the best.

My wife and I have had enough now. for 9 weeks we've lived in a building site, for 6 weeks we had no bathroom what so ever due to one problem or another.

what we would like to know is can we get the plumber to remove the bath at no cost to ourselves on the grounds of it not being fit for purpose? so far we haven't paid for any materials or labour from the plumber and until i'm fully satisfied with the job i won't be paying a penny.

i would be extremely grateful for any advice given as i'm really about at my wits end now.

many thanks

John

interestedparty - 16/10/10 at 11:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by john_p_b
so far we haven't paid for any materials or labour from the plumber and until i'm fully satisfied with the job i won't be paying a penny.



There you go, that's the answer right there. He will have to sort it out eventually if he wants his money.

mookaloid - 16/10/10 at 11:38 AM

Citizens advice bureau - http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ they will compose letters for you, advise you etc

eznfrank - 16/10/10 at 12:22 PM

Did he supply the bath??

john_p_b - 16/10/10 at 12:51 PM

Yes he supplied everything.

Saying he'll just have to sort it isn't really the answer anymore. He was fully prepared to put the bath panel on ignoring the leak which would have obviously caused massive damp problems over time.

mookaloid - 16/10/10 at 01:15 PM

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/faq_index_consumer_affairs/faq_consumer_affairs_builder_taking_too_long_to_finish.htm

JoelP - 16/10/10 at 01:43 PM

what sort of plumber cant sort a leak when its all new parts

Call him back, tell him he has one more chance to fix it before you get someone else in and deduct the bill from his. He needs to speak with his supplier if he thinks the parts are at fault.

Did he seem competent during his time on site?

RichardK - 16/10/10 at 02:49 PM

Agree with Joels comments.

Cheers

Rich

loggyboy - 16/10/10 at 05:40 PM

We had a bath that did similar, i fitted it myself and the bath came from the clearance bargains at trade depot when it shut down, so couldnt take it back.
I found the leak was coming 'through' the fibreglass of the bath, where predrilled hole for the waste was, it was effectively bybassing any of the seals or silicone.
I used FG resin (car repair stuff!) around the rim of the hole, then used plenty of plumbers maite to seal it up. Worked a treat.

However, you are right holding back the cash till he fixes or replaces the bath. If you had supplied the bath then it would be another story, but if hes effectively being a 'one stop shop' then its all on him to finish the job off. Its amazing how much people will do when you dont pay them!

[Edited on 16/10/10 by loggyboy]

Ninehigh - 16/10/10 at 07:15 PM

Sale of Goods act..

austin man - 16/10/10 at 07:16 PM

whatever you do ensure that you document everything ie email or recorded delivery. Then send in writing your concerns and give a reasonable time for him to put it right ie 14 days from receipt of letter explain that failure to do so may result in you calling proffessionals in to complete the job. Have you contacted trading standards . I would personally ask him to remove all traces of the silicone and start again it appears that he is at the bodging stage. The silicone will discolour if constantly wet. I think he probably needs to fit new seals to the joints. I

woodster - 16/10/10 at 09:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
what sort of plumber cant sort a leak when its all new parts

Call him back, tell him he has one more chance to fix it before you get someone else in and deduct the bill from his. He needs to speak with his supplier if he thinks the parts are at fault.

Did he seem competent during his time on site?



i totally agree .... i would ask him who supplied the bath and i would ask them my self for new parts and ask them if they have had problems with this bath before .... it sounds like hes chasing his own arse trying to make a wage to many jobs going at once .... all plumbers do this run from job to job ........plumbers are tradesmen with their brains removed

RAYLEE29 - 17/10/10 at 09:54 AM

hi, inmo he shouldnt be using silicone to seal the waste should be using boss white or plumbers mate.
ages ago i fitted some cheap wastes to a double sink in our en suite they wouldnt seal eventually took them out found they were cracked fiited new ones with boss white and its all good
Ray