Breakage at customers

[rick]

Doing some work today and had to move a sort of plant stand made of plaster about 3 foot. When I put it down again it broke in two

Now bloke in house come running over and making a right fuss, saying how it cost him over £150. Now despite the fact it was a piece of crap anyhow, I politely pointed out that it must have had a hairline fracture as I simply gently moved it to one side. I asked if he has a receipt, and "no" was the reply. Few minutes later I find out he'd called the council to complain (as job was subbing for them). He then made a right arse of himself for the rest of the job, watching, getting in the way etc. I was tempted to walk out but kept my cool. Driving back, I wondered if it had been deliberatly placed "in the way" as there was no way it should have broken just from moving it.

I guess lesson learned is "don't move ANYTHING get customer to do it or sign written disclaimer". Don't want to look unhelpful etc. but what do you do ???

 

[Phil]

i have had the same in the past, not actually broken anything but had a real gem whos first words were if you break anything it`s coming off the invoice. well lets just say they got fed up before i did when everytime anything was anywhere near where i wanted to be. i also did get a disclaimer together for a house where they would not move anything as i really do not mind moving anything but you know what wardrobes are like they really don`t like being moved

 

[martysparky]

Maybe add something like this to T and C's

[FONT=&quot]Possessions, valuables and fragile items will be expected to be removed for safe keeping by the client. If we need move items for works progress we will not take responsibility for any breakages / impairments. [/FONT]

 

[Phil]

too right in the blame and claim culture we are now in you can`t be too careful.

although from a customers side that has had the lounge carpet washer and microwave wrecked in the past by a plumber i can see both sides.
the chump decided to not bother turning the stop tap off in the street when he was changing the main stop tap under the kitchen cupboard, instead he decided to use some freeze spray?? froze his hand to the pipe after spraying it and cutting it at the same time. water was gushing for half an hour whilst the clever guy waited for his mate to help him find the tap outside. needless to say i was least impressed when i got home from work

 

[High Tower]

How about :

We shall be working in ............room and would appreciate if you would get your crap and get out!

 

[martysparky]

too right in the blame and claim culture we are now in you can`t be too careful.

although from a customers side that has had the lounge carpet washer and microwave wrecked in the past by a plumber i can see both sides.
the chump decided to not bother turning the stop tap off in the street when he was changing the main stop tap under the kitchen cupboard, instead he decided to use some freeze spray?? froze his hand to the pipe after spraying it and cutting it at the same time. water was gushing for half an hour whilst the clever guy waited for his mate to help him find the tap outside. needless to say i was least impressed when i got home from work

Laurel and Hardy by any chance!

 

[Phil]

more like dumb and dumber. carpet was only two months old along with the electrical i said a few un type able words when i got home

 

[rick]

"Froze his hand to pipe" LOL

 

[rocker]

Don't start me on plumbers today. Useless, lazy, theiving barstewards.

 

[brucelee]

it looks as if his brain was frozen to, he wasnt sniffing the freeze spray by any chance was he lol, did you use your megger to melt his hand of the pipe as that would have warmed him up the spanner

 

[Phil]

best bit was when he said "Don`t worry about the carpet and washer love I do council houses and i will get yer a replacement from one of the house clearnesses"
I really don`t think so.

 

[brucelee]

yeah as if you would want someone elses cast off when yours was new hes a joker he would hae been eating the carpet after saying that to me lol

 

[Phil]

i do believe she did have a few words in response to that. needless to say it was a new carpet and all the electrical that got replaced by the insurance company afterwards. i now stay at home if we ever need the plumbing doing

 

[rocker]

new carpet and all the electrical that got replaced by the insurance company afterwards.

His insurance company, I hope....

 

[Phil]

not at first he said it was less than a cupful of water that dripped onto the lino in the kitchen yeh right. i claimed off my insurance who said they would be getting the money back from his

 

[martysparky]

Apparently in the next year there is going to be an equal to Part P for plumbers??? I read somewhere.

 

[rocker]

Apparently in the next year there is going to be an equal to Part P for plumbers??? I read somewhere.

Haaaa ha ha h ah ah ah ahhaaaa there's going to be a lot of out of work plumbers, then.

On account of them not being able to read or write and all.

The really funny thinig is that the water regs have been around for ages, but most plumbers don't even know they exist.

 

[martysparky]

Approved document H is available on the planning portal website if anyone interested.

I read it on the Access Training Wales website I think or one of the training center websites.

I think that Yes a lot would be in a position as you say Rocker unable to do what they did previously.

That includes me. I did a plumbing course 20 years ago (only basic and no mention of regs!!! ) and have fitted a few bathrooms in my time, for family etc, but I am not a plumber and if need be would do it now for a customer. But if something was out of my knowledge or comfort zone I would hand the work to my mate my mate who is a qualified plumber.

So many people take the money for work they cannot do properly without following the correct procedure as so called plumbers, bathroom fitters etc. If these people are made aware of the regs as like Part P surely it will generate more work for sparks. That my hope anyway.

Its rife in the bathroom world at the moment as that work is what people ARE having done.
So how many spots, showers and wirlpools are being botched?

Someone I know charges 7k a bathroom and is booked for about six months in advance.

I would welcome that kind of work BUT unlike some would not want to be responsible if a leak slowly destroyed every thing below for doing work that was not completed properly.
That would be some serious breakage on head.

I fitted some lights in a kitchen a few years ago and noticed some damp, looked in bathroom and found a leaking pipe joint. Informed customer to get plumber. Years later ceiling fell and new kitchen on insurance.

 

[rocker]

fitted a few bathrooms in my time, for family etc, but I am not a plumber.

Ha ha only a spark would deny being a plumber so vehemently! I guess it's the same to us as it is to people who go 'well, I do think immigration laws should be tightened up BUT I'M NOT A RACIST I' NOT A RACIST!!!'.

Bloody plumbers, coming over here, cutting our bonding.....

 

[martysparky]

god don't start me on the xenophobic