Help. Had gas tank and central heating installed and they've messed up! What are my rights?
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.45 PM
Recently bought a house where new had to have a gas tank and radiators installed. We have had issues from day one, but my main problem is they have made a right mess of my house. They have ripped my Lino in the kitchen and bathroom, smashed floorboards up, pipes from the radiators downstairs that go up stairs are not hidden in the corner but in the middle of the walls, next to doorways or windows and they have installed different size radiators to what we agreed and put them in places we never agreed. (I was at work when this was done). My house just looks a mess with pipes everywhere. I have refused to pay them the outstanding amount until this is sorted but they aren't even ringing me back to discuss. Just wondered what my rights were and is it possible to get the pipes moved in to a better position, them to replace my floorboards and Lino. Really upset. I wanted heating but was assured the pipes would be hidden.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Why on earth did you make a part payment towards there labour costs before you were satisfied with the installation?
It is not uncommon for installers to ask for a prior payment when boiler/rads/materials are on site. As for the labour costs, only to be paid on completion of works. If you feel that the work was undertaken with no due care and consideration to refitting floorboards you have a claim, but a far as taking up lino this is difficult to do without
damaging it in the process.
As far as dropping the heating pipes from above in the middle of the room this is not the conventional way or
good practise. Also radiators installed in the wrong places seems to me they have ignored any prior agreement as to the preferred location and size, by you.
You state 'they aren't even ringing me back to discuss'
As they are refusing to answer your calls then you have four options:
1. Write to the installer itemising the defects and any deviation from the agreed works requesting he put the matters right within a specified legal time frame, if he refuses then serve a notice of court action, see item 3 below. (take photo's)
2. Notify Trading Standards
3. Small claims court for breach of contract
4. Employ another heating engineer preferably by recommendation to correct items of
works you have highlighted.
Answered26 May 2013
0
Anonymous user
This type of work would would come with an estimate, there a list of works can be found or otherwise a specification that was agreed from the beginning. If the installer has deviated from the original agreement then you can take them to small claims under the sale of goods act 1979. So read the estimate carefully to see what it covers and what it docent and how the work would be done as often some traders would use words like "equivalent"
Crucially, there should have been an understanding as to where the pipes should run and weather they should have been concealed or not.
Also look at average prices against the works you asked them to carry out, if they underpriced then this may be their excuse for rushing the job. Cheap can be expensive and customers should be careful about deals that look too good, as thats exactly what they are. I spend 20% of my time putting other traders mistakes right, unfortunately at customers double expense.
regards
ben
ispacesolutions
