failed lead loc

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Hi would like a bit of advice, Fitted a bathroom a fewmonths ago and had to fit two leadlocs no problems all tested under pressure few months later got a call saying locs failed and are trying to bill me for the damage any advice??
 
I should think they would be able to claim off you public liability insurance.

Why did it fail.

Was it the right fitting for the job.

Did you fit it correctly.

Not seen one fail before.

More information.

A Philmac universal coupling is a much better fitting
 
Try and resolve it amicably. Rather hard to prove it is not your fault, could run up bit of a bill in legal costs if it gets that far.
Did you advice them that a leadloc is a makeshift solution? I always make very sure that the client understands they only have a one-minute warrantee, or until I am out the door, whichever comes sooner.
Can you prove you have pressure tested under 10 bar?
 
Knowing how these things work, its possible to tighten them up to the point that they seal the water.

But they have to be tightened up FURTHER to make the gripping bits actually grip the pipe, that can/should be quite tight.

Do you really think you did that?

Having TWO fail really sounds as if you had not tightened them properly.

How much experience of these do you have? Are you a new entrant?

Tony
 
I should think they would be able to claim off you public liability insurance.

Why did it fail.

Two failed? How did that happen; wouldn't one turn off the water fastish after one had failed? I suspect there is something we haven't been told going on.

Were they fitted on hot water pipes? They are rated up to 80 degrees C. Was the immersion heater turned up?

If fitted to the manufacturer's instructions, you were not negligent but you may have difficulty in convincing them about that. Let the insurance company deal with it.
 
Insurance normally covers you even if you are neligent !

However, the insurance is then often speedily withdrawn!

Tony
 
Thanks for replies, sorry fitted two one failed. I am sure correctly fitted "tightened past just sealing to secure fitting to pipework". Have fitted plenty before with no problems, yes could claim on insurance but I have no evidence that it was my joint that failed. they have got someone in and repaired any damage it is very easy to say it was my joint that failed. As to how long I have been in the trade, 7 years and never really had this situation before we have all had the odd leak before but only minor weeping or something whilst testing.
 
In that case, 2 valid questions for them:
Why did they not contact you immediately?
Could they please show evidence that it was indeed your fault, and not a faulty coupling? Or somebodyelse's work that failed?
 
[quote="george792";p="1333594]

I have no evidence that it was my joint that failed.

they have got someone in and repaired any damage it is very easy to say it was my joint that failed.

[/quote]

Did they pay you for the work you did ?

Were they happy with your work ?

Do you answer your phone at all times ?

Did they make no attempt to call you ?

This just might be a case of they making up a claim !

There are a few crooks who do that! I had experience of a motorist who claimed that I had had an accident with them, damaged their car and injured them!

Someone posting on here was going to replace his carpets but they were flooded by a leak! A dodgey advisor on this forum told him not to mention that he was about to replace the carpet but instead to claim for its replacement off the poor plumber!

They should have called you immediately any problem arose to give you the opportunity to put things right.

What is the level of their claim?

Act curteously but guardedly!

Tony
 
The answer is quite simple, Your insurance will not pay pay, untill they have assessed the damage, by having it repaired they have invalided any claim.
 
That is probably not the case either!

Basically its up to the client to make a claim against YOU !

YOU then have the choice to pay it yourself or fight the claim, in court if they take out an action against you.

OR you can pass their claim, with your side of the story, to your insurance and let them deal with it ( usually they pay as thats cheaper than fighting the claim ) often after getting a loss adjuster to visit and give an uninformed opinion of the cause. ( "Faulty plumbing work in your case " )

Unfortunately, as everyone knows, plumbers cause leaks and that makes it difficult for those few who dont! I have had a few myself!

Any court would understand that the client does not want you back in the house after your faulty work and got someone else to assess/repair the fault. They would be their technical witness. I could pull them apart on cross examination though! Do you know who it was?

Tony
 
Thanks again for replies, the job was done for a large diy store as a contract job I have since stopped contracting for them. they are saying they have been and repaired the bathroom. it is the store that are billing me for the work without letting me assess the fault first as I no longer work for them.
 
Thanks again for replies, the job was done for a large diy store as a contract job I have since stopped contracting for them. they are saying they have been and repaired the bathroom. it is the store that are billing me for the work without letting me assess the fault first as I no longer work for them.

I have a friend who does Dolphin installations and have also met several kitchen installers who do work for third parties.

He says its well paid but all of them say the downside is that if the client complains about anything a "snagging" firm is called to do any remedial work, always at a high price, and its often just that the client decides they want something done differently rather than anything actually wrong with the original job.

They all say thats the downside and otherwise the work is very well paid and they have to accept that as part of the deal.

So how much are they billing you for? How is it apportioned between damage and repair?

Tony
 

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