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Original poster

Not able to contact plumber - he has £3000

134 replies

Hello113 · 05/12/2024 14:29

Plumber was meant to start my bathroom this week but I can't reach him. I've been trying for 2.5 weeks. I've WhatsApp, text, email and call - nothing. Phone goes straight to voicemail. As of yesterday my WhatsApp messages are on one tick. He has £3000 of mine which I paid for materials. What to do now???

OP posts:
SalsaLights · 11/12/2024 20:41

Collect the materials and find another plumber. You should be able to use most if not all of them but if necessary sell on the part that won't fit properly. Chasing this guy for a refund has disaster written all over it and could take months if you have to use the small claims court.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 11/12/2024 20:38

I really think you should collect those materials that you've paid for that are in your name. I'm fairly certain another plumber can do whatever this no-show guy was going to do. You'd be crazy to kiss £3K of them goodbye.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 11/12/2024 20:09

Hello113 · 11/12/2024 20:01

I'm worried another plumber wouldn't be happy to, for example one of the parts the plumber had made a special plan for how it was going to fit. I think it's wiser just to start again because I'm worried I'll just be left with materials I can't use. He spent all the money on the materials, I haven't paid him any labour costs.

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I wonder if he is ill or something as he hasn't made a financial gain by not contacting you as the materials are still with the supplier.

Original poster
Hello113 · 11/12/2024 20:01

Jinglesomeoftheway · 11/12/2024 19:48

Can you pick up the materials and then get a new plumber to install them? Has he spent all of the money on these materials or just part of it?

I'm worried another plumber wouldn't be happy to, for example one of the parts the plumber had made a special plan for how it was going to fit. I think it's wiser just to start again because I'm worried I'll just be left with materials I can't use. He spent all the money on the materials, I haven't paid him any labour costs.

OP posts:
Jinglesomeoftheway · 11/12/2024 19:48

Can you pick up the materials and then get a new plumber to install them? Has he spent all of the money on these materials or just part of it?

Original poster
Hello113 · 11/12/2024 19:15

Ive spoken to the shop and the materials have been ordered and are in a warehouse in my name. I gave him the money and he put the order in because he gets a big discount. I can cancel but the refund will go to the plumber and then he will need to give the money back to me.

OP posts:
inmyera · 10/12/2024 11:09

have you called your bank yet?

Original poster
Hello113 · 09/12/2024 11:06

Still unable to reach him via email phone WhatsApp and text message. The money I gave him was to order materials because he has a discount with the shop which has been confirmed by the manager of that store. I've emailed the bathroom shop he was ordering from to see where the order is up to because I don't know where I will stand if my materials have already been ordered.

OP posts:
samsswampy · 09/12/2024 10:46

I lost a few thousand to a plumber 15 years ago, he was doing a lot of work for me and then said he had an accident, damaged his legs and couldn’t work anymore as he was now disabled. He said he owed money to lots of traders and he was now bankrupt so couldn’t pay me back. I consulted a solicitor but they said it would cost me a lot to take him to court and I still might not get anything back so it was best to give up.

Modernfamily2011 · 08/12/2024 16:52

@roses2 - Exactly! My bank refused to look into it as I paid by transfer, the builder even had the same branch as me and they still wouldn’t do anything!

Oreyt · 08/12/2024 13:27

O know why should the bank lose out?

I'm sorry it's awful.
I mean I've asked recently for bathroom fitter recommendations.

Why did your friend recommend him? Where did she find him?

roses2 · 08/12/2024 12:46

For those of you who say your bank will refund, have you actually done this in the past?

I've been had before by a builder and got nothing back from the bank because the payment wasn't classed as fraud by them.

Oreyt · 08/12/2024 12:42

MoleAndBadger · 05/12/2024 21:25

I am sorry. Never pay by bank transfer. Always use a credit or even debit card. You have more rights.

How can you pay by debit card?

skyandocean · 08/12/2024 10:48

Get in contact with ur bank and let them know you've been scammed, they will try to recover the funds.

Google his address if it's registered, I would even visit the address but take someone along with you.

CanelliniBeans · 08/12/2024 07:44

Modernfamily2011 · 07/12/2024 21:24

@CanelliniBeans - your story sounds the same as mine! I was given so many excuses…. I did call my bank and they wouldn’t investigate as i’d transferred the money so a year later i’m still waiting 🙄
went through small claims and it takes forever despite him admitting he owed us the money, he agreed to pay it back in installments and didn’t even make the first payment!

I don't know how people can live with themselves. Sorry you haven't been reimbursed.
We got caught out about 10 years before the bathroom by a rogue trader who we found on Rated People . Rated People said they couldn't help us as we'd bank transferred £6k. We got half of it back from the builder but never saw the rest of it.
I only use debit card or credit card now so the bank has to help.

Mt61 · 08/12/2024 01:32

Mt61 · 08/12/2024 01:25

Pay them on your credit card then you have back up & always take photos of the job along the way, then you have proof of before & after- if they do a shit job. I bloody hate work men, stressful time 🙄

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saying that, I nearly got ripped off by a roofer advertising on check a trader! Long story short, did end up getting the money back as my husband had his police uniform on when the guy came back to quote for another job- pointed out what shit job he had done the week before (plumber put me wise has noticed the roof had poor repairs, whilst fitting a cowel on the chimney).

Mt61 · 08/12/2024 01:25

pigsDOfly · 05/12/2024 14:59

Very interested in this post as I have also been asked to pay 25% of the total cost of a bathroom renovation, and wondered if this was normal as I feel very uncomfortable with it.

Apparently though, a lot of tradesmen do this now as far as I can tell from googling it.

His estimate also states that until the job is finished all materials belong to his company, which is a bit thick considering he wants me to pay for them upfront.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you OP. It does sound like he's a scammer.

I'm assuming you didn't go through a website like 'mybuilder.com', if you did that should be your first port of call.

I hope you manage to get your money back.

Pay them on your credit card then you have back up & always take photos of the job along the way, then you have proof of before & after- if they do a shit job. I bloody hate work men, stressful time 🙄

Modernfamily2011 · 07/12/2024 21:24

@CanelliniBeans - your story sounds the same as mine! I was given so many excuses…. I did call my bank and they wouldn’t investigate as i’d transferred the money so a year later i’m still waiting 🙄
went through small claims and it takes forever despite him admitting he owed us the money, he agreed to pay it back in installments and didn’t even make the first payment!

EasternStandard · 07/12/2024 08:03

Good luck op. Hopefully the bank will help

pilates · 07/12/2024 07:58

I would go to his house as he is not answering calls or messages. If no luck, I would contact your bank and trading standards.

CanelliniBeans · 07/12/2024 07:50

This happened to me with the same amount of money. Plumber made all kind of excuses about being beaten up, being on holiday and being in hospital as to why he couldn't start. Three months later I went to my bank (paid via debit card) and they investigated and refunded me. I never pay a deposit now although happy to pay for materials being delivered directly to me.

BooneyBeautiful · 07/12/2024 00:26

Hello113 · 05/12/2024 19:25

Same as me. I do have his address because it's on the invoice.

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How did you pay him? Even if it was by bank transfer, you are protected now, so please contact your bank right away. If you paid him in cash, you will have to take him to the Small Claims Court. You can do this online, but obviously you will need proof that you did indeed pay him, so I hope you have a receipt. Good luck!

LigamentBandy · 06/12/2024 22:33

Plumbers etc usually/often sole traders ( I believe) so companies house wouldn't be useful, more likely to get him on nextdoor app gumtree Facebook & similar platforms

WeeOrcadian · 06/12/2024 22:33

Look for the name on Companies House

Get someone to act as a customer and approach him, get it all on camera with sound