Plumber damaged home

E

Eithneangela

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We recently had what appeared to be a blockage in our ensuite loo (when flushed, water rose to top of bowl and then slowly seeped out). Got name of plumber locally, he came, said the problem was caused by lack of air in the pipe, and he punched holes in the pipe coming out of back of loo into external shore. Seemed to fix the problem, however within a couple of days, when flushed water came out through holes plumber had punched in the pipe and flooded the place. Result is the solid oak floor has buckled, had to call another plumber in who immediately discovered the real problem which was a blockage visible when the shore outside was lifted. In the meantime, first plumber tells me he's a sole trader, has no insurance, can't do anything re the damaged pipe and the resulting buckled floor. Any ideas on where we go from here?:mad:
 
House insurance possibly ? How much damage needs repairing ? May have excess so may not be an option either.
 
Probably need new water pipe for loo, plus at least 50% of solid oak floor in bedroom to be replaced. I agree that I could claim on house insurance however, this has more than doubled since last year (in the process of renewing at the moment) and I don't really want to affect no claims bonus. I think we'll just have to settle for rocky road to bed for a while and hope that the blockage doesn't recur.
 
That's possibly the maddest thing Iv heard.

"mmmm there's a blockage so there must not be enough AIR getting into the pipe, so I'll put a few holes in it and leave an open sewer pipe in a bathroom."

Where did you find him! A good name and shame is deserved me thinks
 
Have a look at the procedure for the small claims court:
[broken link removed]
From my reading of it, if the damage is under €2,000 then you should be able to make a claim, even though he's a sole trader.
 
tiger said:
Have a look at the procedure for the small claims court:
[broken link removed]
From my reading of it, if the damage is under €2,000 then you should be able to make a claim, even though he's a sole trader.
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He probably should go down this road, but that doesn't mean it will work. Even with a court judgement, it is very hard to get the money. The steps involved in enforcing a small claims court judgement are fairly arduous. If the guy has no obvious assets and isn't too worried about his credit rating, it will be hard to get the money.
 
I mentioned small claims court to him but he basically said he had nothing. Unfortunately I was given his name by an acquaintance (his mother-in-law) and I don't really want to cause bad blood. So, it's the rocky road for a while!
 
im a sole trader and i have insurance,so saying he is a sole trader and has no insurance is a nonsance,he was a cowboy,drilling holes in a sewer pipe was idiotic,was the guy in the phone book,or a handy man,call him again explain your floor is ruined and if you cant come too some settlement that you will have too take legal action,see what that gets you.
 
You should at least inform the Mother in law of the man that you were dissatisfied with the work carried out and that she should not recommend him again.
 
You should get him back into the bathroom and get him to look into the bowl and while his head is in there shove it in as far as it will go! at the same time relieve him of any money in his pockets. Ask him polietly to cough up money to repair the damage he has caused, if he refuses tell him you will put posters of his name up around the locality, shops etc. it might get him to shift himself. I wouldnt let him back in the house to do work as he obviously hasnt an ounce of sense
 
Thanks for the responses - some helpful, some funny, all sorts welcome. I wouldn't let them across my front door again for fear I might cause a problem to his personal plumbling. In the meantime, I'm stuck with a loo which has holes punched in the sewer pipe, another loo which hasn't enough oomph to flush the (good quality!) paper and buckled solid oak floorboards. If I wasn't a kindly, gentle soul I'd get livid but I know going after him will achieve nothing, if I claim insurance the annual cost will double again next year - so, rocky road to bed across the floorboards, pay for a plumber who is with a company who's insured and hopefully live in peace :(
 
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