We paid almost £1000 to have our bathroom tiled and plumbed in. The guy did an okay job. However, he didnt link up the overflow pipe on the bath to the rest of the waste water system and this has lead to our neighbours flat getting flooded. The damage isnt too bad, i think we could probably just steam clean the carpet and get out most of the stain - the problem is i don't think we should have to pay for it as for £1000 he didnt do his job properly! I have contacted the tiler to tell him the story but he won't answer my calls, return messages or emails. I really don't know what to do. We saved for ages for this bathroom in our 1st home and i'm terribly sad about the experience. I dont think we can afford to buy a new carpet for the neighbour (if steam cleaning doesnt work)..... does anyone know legally how i stand or have any suggestion how i can claim the carpet money from the tiler? any thoughts would be appreciated.
2006-11-07 00:37:29 · 9 answers · asked by strawberrymoon 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
surely your home insurance covers it
they will then chase the tradesman (i use the term loosely) for the money
he should also be insured against public liability
I'm a electrician and i have to be insured to a min of 5 million
2006-11-07 00:41:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to talk to your insurance company. They may cover you for damage to your neighbours property.
They would seek to recover this from the tiler, and the insurance company would be more persistant and less personal than you could ever be.
Its a shame this first tradesman expereince is bad for you. There are good ones out there, a couple of tips:
1 - Never choose one based on thier Yellow pages or internet advert
2 - never go with a tradesman who is available at short notice.
3 - Alwasy seek references from neighbours or friends. Even tile shops, plumbers, electrical shops ( not DIY ) can give you names. The referal from the shop is normally better than a random name from a phone book
4 - don't pay up front. tradesman get stuff on a months credit at least, so the excuse of "i need to buy materials " doesn't wash. If they dont have credit with the local shops you've got to ask yourself why
5 - mistakes do happen during jobs, don't always assume the tradesman is a crook just because something goes wrong. Most tradesman are human and do a better job if you are polite and treat them with respect ( just like anyone would react ot thier manager ) - i'm not saying you were not polite.
2006-11-07 00:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Phone your insurance people, they wont want to pay and if you tell them the story they might replace the carpet next door and charge you builder.
If not, just send a letter to the builder for the cost of replacing the carpet and making good any anything else, tell him that if he doesn't pay you will charge him interest for a late payment (8pts above base rate) each month.
The man has to pay for it, send him letters, faxs, e-mails and phone calls, log everything you send him.
Try looking on the net for similar case law, it shouldn't be that hard.
Chances are the builder will claim it on his insurance.
2006-11-07 00:44:38 · answer #3 · answered by speedball182 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you have house insurance...check with them what you are covered for, or put forward an enquiry to The Small Claims Court. Don't tell him what you plan to do...let it be a surprise!!! He might settle. Ask citizens advice, they have been really good to me in the past. Good luck.
2006-11-07 00:41:41 · answer #4 · answered by minitheminx65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local citizens advice bureau they can give you advice about where you stand legally - I would have thought you could take him to the small claims court. By law If he is self employed he has to have insurance anyway so he won't really be out of pocket and it is after all his fault.
Hope it works out for you.
2006-11-07 00:44:51 · answer #5 · answered by mark leshark 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
,, I don't know where you live but in the USA we have a place called the better business bureau. (B.B.B) you can report the workers,, if you don't have anything like that take them to court and make them not only repair the shoddy work but pay for all damages done to the neighbors , people like that should loose their building license
2006-11-07 00:52:02 · answer #6 · answered by MissMonk 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tryy contacting the local trading standards officer. He will sort it for you
2006-11-07 00:40:43 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
trading standards should sort this out for you
2006-11-07 07:49:26 · answer #8 · answered by colin s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
watchdog.co.uk
2006-11-07 00:52:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋