The very condensed version of the story is that the plumber came to fix my boiler, two weeks later it broke again, they spent 1.5 days at my house to try to solve the problem only to leave us two times with carbon monoxide emissions around 110 PPM (1-2 PPM is normal) After they left us with the boiler still broken, our local power company came over and within 5 minutes he had identified and fixed the problem. The plumber billed us $1000.
For whatever reason, I feel really guilty about this because he spent so much time at our house, but I can't justify paying him because he essentially caused the problem, did not fix the problem and left us with a furnace emitting very high levels of carbon monoxide. On top of it all, the guy from the power company came in and fixed the problem by replacing a missing piece of the pilot assembly within 5 mins.
Thoughts on the case? Why do I feel guilty?
PS He is very mad and probably going to sue us.
2007-04-26 18:22:36 · 11 answers · asked by Johnny Johnny 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I paid him for the initial repair.
2007-04-26 18:27:36 · update #1
Report him to the BBB. If that does not get his attention, there are usually TV news reporters who question the business a consumer complained about. Bad business practices on TV goes a long way.
2007-04-26 18:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by monica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of these answers are correct. I was in the "business" for 47 years. Pay him for the initial visit plus traveling time, tell him why and note it on the billing that the reasons are: and explain it to him.
Collect all the documentation on it plus all the work reports from the people that did fix it. You'll need to prove it in court if it goes this far.
If it does go to court, sue for time involved, do not try to make money on this, the judge will frown on it.
More then likely the repair man, if he has any intelligence, will drop it and cut his losses, better to learn a lesson the hard way and forget it, he actually did nothing for you.
2007-04-26 23:24:54 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does the plummer know who fixed the problem and how? It cost him a lot of time and money to pay his apprentice. However, ask him if you are responsible to pay for their lack of knowledge and inability to fix a 5 min problem? Pay him the service call and reasonable time looking for the problem. He did try and you did call that particular company. Be serious, tell him you want to be fair. If he threatens to sue you, tell him to be careful. Remind him that he placed your lives in danger with carbon monoxide and you have documentation. Good Luck
2007-04-26 18:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by Modern Man 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You pay any contractor to do the job for you. You do not pay them for the amount of time they spend. Most contracters like to get in and out. Hit it and quit it. How long he spent on the problem is irrelevant. You are paying for results. He is supposed to be the expert. If you got crappy results, you should not feel guilty, or obligated to pay. Also, if the plumber is angry is irrelevant. So what if he is mad? Get a lawyer. With a lawyer, you can get the plumber's lawsuit dismissed, and even possibly get money from the plumber, for your time, inconvenience, and other misery.
2007-04-26 18:34:07 · answer #4 · answered by sopcwebservant 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it sounds to me like you need to get documentation from the power company on exactly what they did to fix the problem.
you also need to make clear documentation of everything that went on, including verbal agreements you made with the plumber about the situation, especially the payment arrangement.
do this before you talk to them again. have a witness if possible.
you could sue them for leaving you in a living situation that is potentially fatal. if they didn't know how to fix it, they should have told you they didn't know how and stopped wasting their time.
2007-04-26 18:33:20 · answer #5 · answered by misspurrl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He'll probably sue, and unless you have an exceptional judge, or a contract with specifics as to his responsibilities, they will put a mechanic's lien on your house until you pay. I'd go armed with anything you can dig up on this guy from the BBB or others who have had problems with him to the hearing.
2007-04-26 18:28:02 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Know-it-all 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
let him sue, and once he does you can counter-sue for even more money than he's asking for. if you can get someone from the power company to testify on your behalf about the poor quality of the plumbers work, you have a good chance at cashing in, not to mention the CM emmisions........
2007-04-26 18:28:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if what you say is true, I would say he got off lucky. Seeing how he almost killed you and your family. Im sure it was an accident, but i think you both should learn from this and chalk it up as a lucky as hell.
I would not pay him 1000.00
2007-04-26 18:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by Jason P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pay him the initial house visit price but if he didn't fix it you should not pay
2007-04-26 18:26:39 · answer #9 · answered by Izzy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You certainly should not pay him. Would you expect to be paid for such a bad job?
2007-04-26 18:26:44 · answer #10 · answered by maple1985 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋