Plumber Caused Additional Damage

L

Leesider32

Registered User
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212
Hi all,

There was a leak in my house recently so I got a plumber in to fix it and because the house is under 5 years old and it was a plumbing defect he was due to send me a report with photos etc so I could go through Homebond. However, the plumber caused significant further leaking by leaving a pipe uncapped while he went to get something, this caused damage to the lights in the dining room and water staining on the light shades. He wouldn't take responsbility as that was what he was told when he called his manager. I called the manager but didn't get him and then missed his return call.

I left it for a few days as I was travelling with work but this morning I received an email for payment from the plumbing company. The report was not attached to the email so I clicked on the link "View your bill online" to see if there was any detail. I received a stripe notification on my phone but dismissed it without reading (shouldn't have done that) and closed the webpage. I did not enter any details or click on confirm payment however the merchant does have my card details from previous payments.

After this I tried calling the plumbing company but no answer so sent an email requesting the report, no response yet.

6 hours later I receive an auto email to say payment has been made and a receipt from the plumbing company. It is still a pending payment transaction with my bank so I rang my bank fraud number as it was late this evening and they were very nice but said they can't do anything.

Ideally I was going to get the plumber's report and go to homebond, hold back on the payment to the plumber so we can come to an agreement on the further damage issue but now that won't obviously work so I am seeking advice here.

  • The payment is still pending so if I call my bank tomorrow and say I am disputing the payment can they hold it in pending?
  • If this can't be done what course of action would you take with the plumber?
    • Ask for the report and once receive that bring up the other issue?
    • Ask for the report and bring up the other issue at the same time?
    • Communicate all via email rather than calling?
  • I know I will be able to go through small claims eventually if I get no satisfication but if I don't get a report I can't go to Homebond so all of that is potentially delayed.
 
Actually they do have the following on their invoice - "Please note that invoices are sent on completion of works.
Payment is due on receipt and will be processed from the card details on file the following working day."

Is this allowed? They had done work for me before so I don't remember it being mentioned and it wasn't an issue before. The questions still stand as unsure of what I should do next.

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
Last edited:
Yeah, the plumber said it to me when doing the work, the pillars in the bath tap were cracked when installed.
 
Homebond do not cover minor issues like leaks from plumbing, your policy document should make that clear. They cover the building structure along with mechanical and electrical fixtures.

Even when covered structural issues are identified, the payout often does not cover the cosmetic elements to make all good again, and the excess is in the region of €1,500.

You still need to chase the plumber to make good the damage caused by the sub-standard work though. If you checked for it in advance, yYou could pursue via their insurance if you don't get satisfaction from dealing with them directly.
 
My Homebond certificate includes both structural and defects insurance, the former is for 10 years and the latter 5 years. My understanding was that the defective taps would be included under the defects insurance but of course your info above puts a different slant on it.

Re the plumbing company I spoke with my bank and they shouldn't be allowed to take payment when I gave no explicit authorisation even if they have my card details. Anyway an email has been sent and we'll see what the response is.
 
Leesider32 said:
Yeah, the plumber said it to me when doing the work, the pillars in the bath tap were cracked when installed.
Click to expand...
What the plumber says to you is only his opinion. It's very difficult to get paid out on Homebond and I'd assume that one would need their say so before doing any work.
Leesider32 said:
this morning I received an email for payment from the plumbing company. The report was not attached to the email so I clicked on the link "View your bill online" to see if there was any detail. I received a stripe notification on my phone but dismissed it without reading (shouldn't have done that) and closed the webpage. I did not enter any details or click on confirm payment however the merchant does have my card details from previous payments.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a bad way to organise things. Giving credit card details. Better to go direct with tradesmen.

Leesider32 said:
Please note that invoices are sent on completion of works.
Payment is due on receipt and will be processed from the card details on file the following working day."
Click to expand...
And that definitely sounds like a pre-autorisation. If that's what it is your bank won't be able to stop the payment.
 
Leesider32 said:
However, the plumber caused significant further leaking by leaving a pipe uncapped while he went to get something, this caused damage to the lights in the dining room and water staining on the light shades. He wouldn't take responsbility as that was what he was told when he called his manager. I called the manager but didn't get him and then missed his return call.
Click to expand...
Normally I'd say he's a right chancer. But to his credit he did call you back and you didn't follow this up.
 
Leesider32 said:
My Homebond certificate includes both structural and defects insurance, the former is for 10 years and the latter 5 years. My understanding was that the defective taps would be included under the defects insurance but of course your info above puts a different slant on it.
Click to expand...
No, the defects cover refers to defects in the fabric of the building itself, it does not cover fixtures and fittings.
 
As Leo mentioned Homebond is a no go, do you think it’s worth going to the developer on this if/when I get the report from the plumber? I did let them know about the problem and gave them the option of sending their plumber but they ignored it.
 
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