Plumber said it was OK to turn water on. £35K damage...

[Nige F]

...and no insurance!

off on, we asked if it was ok to turn the water on. He said it was, **as long as someone was in the house. **My brother turned it on and **left the house for 8 hours.** ?

!

You KNOW the answer don`t you - really you do . The first rule of compo culture is - Compo where compo is due . Sack your brother

 

[TonyW2]

"Really simple you tell the insurance company someone was staying/sleeping there every few days to keep an eye on the place no matter what condition the house is in with work being done. Keeps it within the 30 day no occupancy rule."

Really? And why should my insurance premium be increased to cover somebody else's lies?
If it did get to a court, would perjury be worth it?

[/code]

 

[dcawkwell]

You turned the water on and then LEFT THE HOUSE the plumber specifically
told you not to.

Any new system should be treated with caution until it has performed
reliably for some time.

I always advise customers to turn the water off after installing a combi boiler the new mains pressure on the hot water pipes can do exactly the same as you have had.

 

[xr4x4]

As the job was NOT completed & Signed off, I suspect the Conversation with the plumber went something like this:
OP - I need the water on to do (xy or z)
Plumber - Er well SHOULD be alright, but I haven't tested yet so make sure you don't go out!

The water was turned on by OP's Bro- who then remembered he had to go to the Wholesaler to buy (a,b or c) leaving the impending disaster!!

Of course I could be wrong, but after 36 years I have seen it all!!

bingo..

my thoughts exactly.

 

[corgiman]

and a reply from the op there was none

 

[expertgasman]

I would blema the brother for leaving the home unoccupies. BUT it is a bit daft saying YES turn on water if you are not entirely sure about the integrity of the work to date. As is the norm, we have only one side of the conversation.

Insurance IS available for homes unoccupied for more than 30 days, but you have to talk to Ins Co, and pay a higher premium. Clearly, it is daft to install expensive bathrooms, boilers (and copper pipe) without having theft cover.

Not having valid insurance while conducting a plumbing business is foolhardy, and engaging a plumber without it is equally so. BUT I have never been asked for evidence of PL, and I can't even think of being asked about it. We do use it as a sales tool, raising awareness of this and G\safe registration as far as possible.

Equally, how many of us did privates/homers/PJ's when employed. I did (decades ago!) and did not give PL a thought.

 

[kevindgas]

Not having valid insurance while conducting a plumbing business is foolhardy, and engaging a plumber without it is equally so. BUT I have never been asked for evidence of PL, and I can't even think of being asked about it. We do use it as a sales tool, raising awareness of this and G\safe registration as far as possible.

Equally, how many of us did privates/homers/PJ's when employed. I did (decades ago!) and did not give PL a thought.

sadly all too common with rising costs it is easy to let PL slip (i don't!) but it happens likewise i point it out that i have insurance and the fact i have never had to claim!
unfortunately the customer wants the cheapest quote! and doesn't care a toss about the legalities (until the **** hits the fan!)

sorry but i agree with everyone it is the fault of the brother not the plumber, who in their right mind leaves water on in an unoccupied house!

 

[Tarquin-F-Smythe-QJM]

Really simple you tell the insurance company someone was staying/sleeping there every few days to keep an eye on the place no matter what condition the house is in with work being done. Keeps it within the 30 day no occupancy rule.


And yes it is your brothers fault

You have proposed he commits fraud. First its criminal, and second its stunts like that from jokers like you that put my premiums up.

 

[cajar]

If your brother had followed the plumber's instructions, the damage would have been limited to a modest couple of hundred pounds at most, in the time it takes you to hear gushing water and reach the shut off valve.

This should be a note of warning to all plumbers out there too......Never give consent for the customer to turn the water on for any length of time until your system is tested - no matter how much it inconveniences them! There should be no question that the fault lies with them, but customers change face rapidly when looking at a £35k bill!

 

[adlplumbing]

sue your brother not the plumber he caused it by leaving water on
and leaving

 

[Whitespirit66]

Sue your parents for breeding children without common sense.

Guess what: I think it's your brother's fault too.

 

[muggles]

I call shenanigans, OP hasn't responded to something you'd expect to be fairly important to him in two days...

 

[Agile]

As usual the OP did not hear what he wanted to hear!

So he has deserted the thread!

One wonders how he ever expected anything different!

 

[expertgasman]

As usual the OP did not hear what he wanted to hear!

So he has deserted the thread!

One wonders how he ever expected anything different!

Nah, muggles is right, and we fell for it HLS

And, thinking about it. 35K is a LOT of dough to repair an empty house!!

 

[looneyfitter]

The OP is a joke. Hoe would the plumber be to blame and where is he getting 35k from? Walls won't need plastering at all and the brickwork will be fine.

Really annoys me that!!!