ChatterBank0 min ago
How Long Should I Give Kitchen Fitter To Put An Issue Right ?
31 Answers
Hi,
Had a new kitchen fitted in May / June this year & I heard recently the tenant hasn't been able to use the cupboard under the sink since moving in 'cos there's a leak. I've had 2 plumbers visit & now know the waste needs to be replaced as 3 nuts were cross threaded & they're "weeping". Am I right in thinking the fitter should fix it, as in shoddy workmanship ?
Things didn't end well with the kitchen fitter, tried to bill me for things I'd already paid for (I *never* had *any* receipts despite several requests), sent me invoices for late payment despite me offering to pay some before he'd finished (which he refused, said it'd mess his taxes up, wanted it all in one payment), rest once he'd finished as he was extremely unreliable. He finally finished the day the tenant moved in ! I had to block his e-mails as he was constantly sending me invoices.
I've sent him a text tonight, explaining what the problem is, asking what his intentions would be. I don't think he'll reply & I'll need to recoup the cost of sending a plumber to fix it (he's sending me a quote soon). Once I have a quote, I'll text the fitter again & let him know, I also want to give him a deadline as obviously the tenant wants it fixed !
How long should I say ? I was thinking 48 hours.
Had a new kitchen fitted in May / June this year & I heard recently the tenant hasn't been able to use the cupboard under the sink since moving in 'cos there's a leak. I've had 2 plumbers visit & now know the waste needs to be replaced as 3 nuts were cross threaded & they're "weeping". Am I right in thinking the fitter should fix it, as in shoddy workmanship ?
Things didn't end well with the kitchen fitter, tried to bill me for things I'd already paid for (I *never* had *any* receipts despite several requests), sent me invoices for late payment despite me offering to pay some before he'd finished (which he refused, said it'd mess his taxes up, wanted it all in one payment), rest once he'd finished as he was extremely unreliable. He finally finished the day the tenant moved in ! I had to block his e-mails as he was constantly sending me invoices.
I've sent him a text tonight, explaining what the problem is, asking what his intentions would be. I don't think he'll reply & I'll need to recoup the cost of sending a plumber to fix it (he's sending me a quote soon). Once I have a quote, I'll text the fitter again & let him know, I also want to give him a deadline as obviously the tenant wants it fixed !
How long should I say ? I was thinking 48 hours.
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The 1st plumber was a friend, we ran the cold tap hard for quite a while but found no leaks. Got a local plumber round, he thought was the overflow & re seated that. When it happened again, he's went round again (with the view to siliconing the pipe if it had come out again) & found the cross threads. He's given me a quote to fit a new waste & is waiting on my go-ahead, he agrees it's the kitchen fitter's responsibility. I would hope there's towels or something down meantime.
There's no WAY he'd have waited 2 weeks for payment, he was sending me invoices *before* he finished, weeks after he was due to. Surely there's guarantees of [at least] a year on workmanship (tho' I wouldn't rely on that), parts ? 2 weeks isn't long enough for sure. It's actually less than 3 months, kitchen finished & tenant moved in 12 June, leak reported 15 August. Plumber said pipe was "weeping" so p'raps was so slow it took a while to be noticed. I don't know ...
There's no WAY he'd have waited 2 weeks for payment, he was sending me invoices *before* he finished, weeks after he was due to. Surely there's guarantees of [at least] a year on workmanship (tho' I wouldn't rely on that), parts ? 2 weeks isn't long enough for sure. It's actually less than 3 months, kitchen finished & tenant moved in 12 June, leak reported 15 August. Plumber said pipe was "weeping" so p'raps was so slow it took a while to be noticed. I don't know ...
CW, I feel your pain. Really I do. In my time, I've heard enough of such horror stories to fill a book.
Not all tradesmen are wonderful, or even helpful. In a perfect world, anyone, not only tradesmen, but anyone who treats their trade and their customers like this would be barred from trading at all.
In my experience, the smaller the problem (a leaking overflow for heaven's sake), the more they show themselves in their true light.
Rant over. Down to practicalities.
The “job” is the most important consideration here. After all, I'm sure you know you have a legal duty to your tenant.
He is never going to put this right. In fact, you really do not want him anywhere near it.
You have a “friendly” plumber willing to make the repair at a sensible cost. Let him do it.
If you pursue this, you shall invite nothing but frustration and stress upon yourself. Believe me, even if this prat returns, it will not be fixed. It will be patched only enough to placate you. Then, you shall be calling on your own plumber after all.
Walk away from this conflict. It has already ended in tears. The bigger man is one who's willing to make a small sacrifice for the sake of the tenant, and... your own sanity.
Not all tradesmen are wonderful, or even helpful. In a perfect world, anyone, not only tradesmen, but anyone who treats their trade and their customers like this would be barred from trading at all.
In my experience, the smaller the problem (a leaking overflow for heaven's sake), the more they show themselves in their true light.
Rant over. Down to practicalities.
The “job” is the most important consideration here. After all, I'm sure you know you have a legal duty to your tenant.
He is never going to put this right. In fact, you really do not want him anywhere near it.
You have a “friendly” plumber willing to make the repair at a sensible cost. Let him do it.
If you pursue this, you shall invite nothing but frustration and stress upon yourself. Believe me, even if this prat returns, it will not be fixed. It will be patched only enough to placate you. Then, you shall be calling on your own plumber after all.
Walk away from this conflict. It has already ended in tears. The bigger man is one who's willing to make a small sacrifice for the sake of the tenant, and... your own sanity.
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