Central heating nightmare

On the 18th Nov my central heating stopped working just as we had snow After being reccomended a plumber (our usual guy is on the brink of retirement) he came and had a look. All seemed fine, he said we needed a new pump which he fitted and assured us he wont take any money until the job is completed. Once he fitted the pump he told us that the water wasn't flowing & we'd need a new diverter tap which he would fit the next day. Didn't hear from him for 2 days! He came and had another look on Monday 26th, we gave him a spare key to the house (silly) and expected it to be sorted when we got home from work. Still no heat! Called him up on the night and agreed he would come in the next day & I would have the day off.
He did come, raced around the house for 40 minutes and gave up, saying that even with a new pump & diverter the water still isn't going through and the only way he could find the blockage would be to start ripping up the pipework. He complained that he has another 20 customers he has to sort out, as they too have no heating, and he doesn't have time for this and if we wanted the work doing it's going to cost and in his frustration he said I can get someone else in to do it! With that I let him storm off and decided to call him later that night. I told him I'm going to have to get someone else in as he has had 3 attempts and we still have no heating.
He commented on what he has outlayed for the new pump, which is all very nice, but it still isn't working. I have asked for our house key back
but he said he wasn't supprised by my attitude and don't call him back again, to which he hung up on me. Calling him back only got me to his answerphone. Now the wife is now very nervous because this guy has access to our property, and we both work & the kids are at school during the day. The heating still isn't working but we have been advised to ring
Glowworm to get an engineer out to us.( Our boiler is a Glowworm Micron 55f). Is this guy going to be trouble as I haven't given him a penny. Yes, I feel for him he has struggled but I feel he has had enough chances. Advice greatly appreciated.

I'd be getting my keys back before anything if I was you. Leave a message on his answer phone saying that if they are not returned in the next 2 days, the police will be involved.

Paul, you are too trusting. NEVER leave a key with someone you have never met. IF you MUST leave a key with someone, make sure its with someone you know and let them open the house and get them to stay with the tradesman.

I too think you should telephone the guy, and politely but firmly ask him to return the key within the next 24 hrs or you'll have no alternatives but to change the locks and send him the bill or use it to counteract his costs.

Most CH pumps cost around £30 - £60 so use that as a guide for how much you might offer him for parts should he demand payment.

If cops don’t come out for a burglary they will probably arrest you for wasting police time if you call them for this.
Take no risk, change your lock or make sure house is always double locked so he can’t get in.
His story is an excuse anyway as you never need to rip out pipes to find the blockage.

of the VERY occasional times that I get given a key its usually for a big job and I dont leave till the punter comes home

I dont want to be accused of nicking anything

stuff that for a game of wotsits

Thanks guys for your replys. I texted him last night asking for my keys and he says yes, as long he can get back what he has outlaid on parts. That is fair enough so I then texted back asking for a reciept for stuff he has had to buy. I think that is fair, I won't pay a penny for any of his time though.
BTW, I am going to change the locks anyway, this guy is 6 foot five!!!

I was once left keys under the mat and cash on the table by someone I had never met.

We are often given or left keys but I encourage them NOT to be left outside. A corner shop or filling station is much safer.

Tony

Turned up at a job once and there was a note taped to the door in full view.. Gasman the key is under the mat can you put it back when finished...

A mate phoned me for a job and said just go round the doors are never locked , said to him you not bothered about being burgled . His reply was if they want in they will get in... Few months later he got burgled and guess how they got in .. Yep they smashed a window and climbed in.

Two mates leaving a key address job, dog is sitting at the doorstep they chase it around the garden and get it back into the house..
Next morning foreman shouts them over in the depot and says "that woman isn`t happy about the dog". Mate replies " took us ages to catch it and get it back in whats her problem". ITS NOT HER DOG.. OOPS

LOL

I'd get the lock changed.

He's had the key that long, he could easily have had a copy made. Getting the original back is no guarantee that your house is still secure.

namsag, did ya get them from that book they sent round to all the bg boys?

What book? all genuine. in twenty odd years all kind of things happen.. Favourite is customer lets mate in to do job , half way through she says i am off to work just let yourself out the front door...
So when job is finished out he goes out the door, shuts it behind him into a double glazed porch goes to open door and it is locked .
Summers day and stuck in there for an hour till he attracts neighbour who then phones customer at work to let him out... He was not amused but we pished ourselves laughing.

Stories got hundreds off them

Just to keep you all updated on my progress. I texted this guy on wednesday night about getting my front door key back, & he said he would once he was reimbursed with costs of parts he has outlaid for. I texted back saying ok, give me a receipt for parts and i will pay. he replied, thanks, no hard feelings, I did my best... Now this guy lives 5 minutes away from me and we still haven't had our key back...The wife is going nuts, & shes going to have a eppy soon Tonight we have our locks changed so once I get his bill for his parts, I shall give him my bill for changing the locks. I think thats fair, hes had 2 days to drop of the key & his bill I did get someone else out to sort the heating after he tried,and this guy done it in 15 minutes. He said that the other guy hadn't bled the main system properly, thats why the pipes were blocked. This plumber wanted to rip up all my pipes....