to think that emergency is actually an emergency and not some time between now and 6pm?

[Glitterknickaz]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

Had a childfree night, mum has them overnight. Rare and much enjoyed.
Until we came downstairs this morning.

There is water pouring through our kitchen ceiling.
It's not like the bathroom is above it or anything, this has got to be a heating pipe or something. So we've shut off the water at the mains and put a bucket under it for now, but there's a big hole in our kitchen ceiling (size of a fist). Shut the boiler down and I think that's all we can do. It is still dripping through, but not pouring thankfully.

Rung the housing association. Their emergency people have never heard of us (that's happened before - we've only lived here six years and they've not put us on their tenant list for their emergency service). So it took them an hour to confirm we're who we say we are

I've explained the situation, including that I have three disabled children, and they've said someone will be here between now (well an hour ago) and six this evening. Mum's having to keep the kids, they can't use the loo or wash their hands or anything here, and one of them has dodgy continence so we'd not be able to clear up properly in case of accidents. My poor mum!

Is it really an emergency service if it takes eight bloody hours to come out?!?!?!

Some things will never be totally cost effective, unfortunately that seems to be the side effect of running an adequate repairs service which by it's nature will deal daily with unexpected and sometimes repeated repairs. That's life!

Anyhoo, yes it will get fixed.... eventually.
Just having the water back on tonight will do for me.
I think anything like this is ridiculous.... iygwim.... sending someone out that can do the job but can't because it's not his department.... it's silly.

Uh oh.
Just used the loo, tried to use a bucket of water to flush it and the bowl has filled up....
DH on the case

Got any convenient bushes outside to piss behind till it's fixed?!

Wonder why that is, a bucket of water usually works fine in loos! Hope your DH has sorted it!

Update.
Nobody's coming today.
We're to manage without running water possibly til Monday.
On which planet is that acceptable?

That's really annoying, is there nothing in your contract about maximum response times? What excuse are they giving, just that it is Sunday?

I understand you're cross, but the last bit of your post... well, on a large part of this planet, actually, there are still many people with no running water. Totally not normal in this country though- I hope they pull their fingers out and sort it for you sooner, also that you can arrange for the kids to stay elsewhere.

I do understand that in some countries they do not have running water.
We do here.
I depend on it to care for my children's needs effectively.
All I am asking for is a cold water running supply for the weekend, not a complete repair.
They say they do not have anyone available.

It's Homeserve. They left me with a leak under my concrete floor for 5 days. Caused thousands pounds more damage then necessary. Hang on I have their chief exec's details......

Sorry I can't remember which is the right email address. I sent one to both [email protected]; [email protected]

I really really hope that you can get something sorted. Can you get in touch with your HA themselves to explain?

No, there is no way of getting hold of HA, the out of hours message just gives Homeserve's no.

I've looked all over website, absolutely no emergency contact numbers.

Oh no. I really feel for you. I can't bear HS. I called up and started crying as was so distressed with the whole thing - do not get off the phone - ask to speak to a manager etc etc. Poor DCs are they still at nannys?

No, thry're home

so the kids arent there, someone could go to mums to help her out with them if required

and you are getting your repairs sorted free of charge, quickly.

hmmmmmmm

glitter I understand what you mean about the emergency of HA.

A few years ago my heater started dripping water out so turned it off and called. Told someone could come but not until early hours so I probably wouldn't want them to. I mentioned yes I did it was -2°c outside and 8° in.

Person arrived at 2am and removed condenser that was broken but no iece to fix it as emergency person only.

Rang emergency next day as house by then 4°c and asked if emergency accomadation for night. The woman told me I wasn't the only one without heating in the world and to put a jumper on. My concern was DS as medical needs.

I remained poilte and pointed out I only asked and she was in a heated office so a bit of empathy wouldn't go amiss.

Then they wouldn't give me a rough estimate of time on the Monday someone would come round. I work f/t and just wanted an idea. Was also told I couldn't get my BIL who owns business keeping private rentals as not employed by them. He could have fixed it in 10 minutes and wouldn't have charged me as piece cost about £3.

YANBU. I'm really sorry your in this situation.

I can't believe the smug, snobbish attitude some if the posters on here have; they seem to be suggesting that a mother with three disabled children in her home and a contract with a company to ensure the prompt repair of plumbing should be grateful for still having no running water because 'she's getting the service for free'.

There are so many things wrong with that attitude I don't know where to start; but I'll try;

?as pointed out earlier Glitterz has a contract for repairs of this nature to be completed within 24 hours (with best practice target of earlier)
? this contract is paid by Glitterz via her rent (I pay for an HS package monthly but I bet if I was on here complaining about a similar situation I wouldn't be having comments made about getting my repairs for free but then I'm a homeowner and tazmin et al would think I'm entitled to complain?!@)

Good luck getting it sorted Glitterz, if it isn't resolved within 24 hours do complain to the HA, especially as the reason seems to be there provider letting them down.

Tazmin - why the fuck are you saying hmmm to Glitter? She has got NO running water until monday - is that REALLY getting things sorted quickly? And her kids are with her, so she has disabled children, one with continence issues, and NO RUNNING WATER. That's no water to wash hands, make a drink, flush the loo, clean up an accident etc etc.

Please, come back and explain why you think the OP is being unreasonable (which is what your hmm implies very clearly).

Oh no - you can't!!

"Private tenants would also get it free at the point of use though"

That was true in our case, or at least the repairs we had to have done was true. Leaking tap? Phone up letting agency and they sent someone round to repair it, with the cost covered in the monthly rent we'd been paying. Annual gas safety check? Again, agency arranged it and covered the cost.

If Glitter was in a Private rented property and her LL was doing this to her noone would say hmmmmmm. Just because she is in a HA property, some people thumb their nose at her. Twats.

Glitter, its not acceptable, especially as you have disabled children. Dont let people get to you, although I know your stressed.

And dont give me that 'large part of the world' shite while thats true, its not acceptable in the UK.

They deleted Glitter and not Tazmin???

why? Glitter had a right to be upset IMO by the narrow mindedness...

It's not on that you have to wait until monday for running water. Unfortunately these companies don't seem to care about circumstances :(

When ds was just 1 our heating broke which meant we had no hot water either. I phoned our insurance company up (who are are dedicated one to the boiler) and they told me that I had to wait 2 weeks at least. I was fuming as they didn't care that it was down to -10 outside and I had frost on the inside of my windows or that my ds was very poorly and ended up in hospital on a nebuliser at the time. They refused to get anyone out to me before then. Shits.

It ended up costing us £500 and two plumber visits to get it sorted beforehand.

Sorry I went off o my own rant there

glitter that is disgusting, I cannot believe that they would leave you without hot or running water for that length of time with disabled children in the house,, you pay your rent so they should deal with it.
it isn't free as it is part of the rent you pay.
ingore the crap on here and hopefully it will get sorted soon.

It's still not fixed, by the way.
Shelter have recommended I declare myself homeless. That would mean we end up in a hostel. Our home is tailored to our kids' needs. The upheval would be too much.

DS2 isn't coping with the loo not flushing and has therefore started to use his bedroom as a toilet.
Try dealing with that with kitchen roll, wipes and hand gel.