What would a court give me?

[ChrisR]

I've had bathroom fitters in my own bathroom.

They've drilled through into the bedroom by mistake so I have some hand sized lumps of plaster pushed off. It's wallpapered, but it's old and tatty (my junk room).

They've chipped a relatively new £2000 Jacuzzi bath, in 2 places. They didn't put anything in the bath to protect it while tiling above.
Like this
They made a hash of the tiny bit of plumbing they had to do, so I had to fix it today (Saturday). No CH was a result.
I stayed in ALL of Friday cos I saw a mistake or two happen and got anxious. There were other howlers, less expensive.

Can I claim for

• A new bath
  rewallpapering of the room with the holes -
  • consequential costs - it's very inconvenient cos it's
    A) full of stuff and
    B) my office.
  a day's lost pay at gas-man's rates

 

[dextrous]

Depends on what you've got in writing from them I suppose.

Also, I suspect that fixing their handiwork without giving them a chance to make good may leave it open for them to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing now. After all, it'll be your word against theirs that the damage was done by them rather than yourself when you fixed things.

 

[D_Hailsham]

I've had bathroom fitters in my own bathroom.

I hope you used them by recommendation and not because they were the cheapest

They've drilled through into the bedroom by mistake so I have some hand sized lumps of plaster pushed off. It's wallpapered, but it's old and tatty (my junk room).

They are responsible for making good.

They've chipped a relatively new £2000 Jacuzzi bath, in 2 places. They didn't put anything in the bath to protect it while tiling above.

Their responsibility. Hope they have insurance.

They made a hash of the tiny bit of plumbing they had to do, so I had to fix it today (Saturday). No CH was a result.

If they don't know about this, say nothing. You were doing them a favour.

Can I claim for
A new bath

I would have a go. It will be up to their insurers

rewallpapering of the room with the holes -
consequential costs - it's very inconvenient cos it's
A) full of stuff and
B) my office.

Again, it will be up to their insurers.

a day's lost pay at gas-man's rates

This is the difficult one. If you are an employee and had to take a day's leave unpaid or use up a day's annual leave, I think you would be able to claim. But if you are self-employed, I don't think you are. It would be no different to any other day on which you did not have any work. If you had work lined up and had to reschedule that, causing inconvenience to your customers or even loss of pre-arranged work, you might have a valid claim for loss of earnings.

I hope you have not paid the fitters anything. I would be inclined to write to them (recorded delivery, keep a copy) setting out your complaints and saying that you are holding back 50% of the contract price until the matter has been resolved. If they want their money, they will have to either get the problem sorted or go to the small claims court, where you would be able to present your case and justify the hold back.

 

[gregers]

so according to the o.p.these cowboys are intitled to 50% of a crap job.

hells teeth then all they need to keep going in bussiness is bodge up jobs and expect 50% of the totall job and run away????

dunno if this is correct but i would hold back all monies until you are satisfied that the job they were employed to do is carried out correctly.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Going to small claims court and getting a judgment against this posse of cow pokes is the easy bit. Getting them to pay up is something else.

 

[jeepster]

plumber says he charges £20 an hour, then bills 28 + vat to fit a soil pipe, i was here and it took him 2 hours talk a bout bankers

 

[dextrous]

plumber says he charges £20 an hour, then bills 28 + vat to fit a soil pipe, i was here and it took him 2 hours talk a bout bankers

I'm confused by your maths. 28+vat = £32.20 for 2 hours work. What's the problem?

 

[Whitespirit66]

plumber says he charges £20 an hour, then bills 28 + vat to fit a soil pipe, i was here and it took him 2 hours talk a bout bankers

Was he a registered charity? At £28 an hour, he should be!

 

[ChrisR]

so according to the o.p.these cowboys are intitled to 50% of a crap job.

Er, what ARE you on about??

---------
It's a high street bathroom shop. So far sounding contrite, but we'll see.

 

[gregers]

I hope you have not paid the fitters anything. I would be inclined to write to them (recorded delivery, keep a copy) setting out your complaints and saying that you are holding back 50% of the contract price until the matter has been resolved. If they want their money, they will have to either get the problem sorted or go to the small claims court, where you would be able to present your case and justify the hold back.

the part which says hold back 50%,which means youve paid or going to pay 50%,well thats how i read it.

 

[WDIK]

if a visit is required? just give the word Chris, the boys need a little exercise