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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have expected the plumber to contribute?

136 replies

AmbitiousHalibut · 11/02/2021 09:04

I'm genuinely a bit puzzled here so would appreciate your views.

Last week our plumber came to service our boiler. We've just moved so it was the first service in this house, but he'd been coming to our old house (10 mins away) for years. We've called him out for emergencies in the past maybe a couple of times, but broadly we just see him annually for the service. He's always been very friendly and we chat a fair bit while he's working.

Our new house has a large appliance which is also connected to the gas, so after he'd checked the boiler, and had a quick look around the rest of the house to check the loft tank, bathroom tank etc, he told me he needed to turn off the large appliance to check the gas. I asked (casually) if he knew how to do it because I didn't, and he said yes. It also has instructions written on it, I discovered later.

Anyway, when he went to turn it back on, a valve broke so he couldn't. I called the guy who had serviced the appliance when we moved in a few months ago, and they talked for a few minutes about what had happened. The appliance guy said it was a fairly common problem and a bit of a design flaw, and that he'd come the next day to fix it.

It ended up costing over £200 as the part is crazily expensive. The plumber texted to ask how we'd got on and I said pretty much that. He replied saying something like "ouch, sorry". He then emailed me his invoice for the service, again apologising for adding to my invoices.

AIBU to have expected him to offer to contribute to the repair cost? I texted him to say I was surprised to receive his invoice and had expected at least a conversation about him contributing. I said I didn't expect him to cover the full cost, although I think some people in my position might. He replied very politely but basically saying that his service had highlighted a fault, and that was pretty much that.

AIBU here? I try and treat people fairly and it really bothers me to be at odds with anyone so it's really weighing on my shoulders.

OP posts:
emilyfrost · 11/02/2021 10:03

YABVU and it was really cheeky of you to outright tell him you expected a contribution. You say you “try to be fair” but that wasn’t fair at all Confused

TulisaIsBrill · 11/02/2021 10:04

Wait a second. So there is a device that anytime anyone turns it off and on, a valve is likely to break, with a circa ~200 charge to rectify?

Or is there a method of doing the off/on that avoids this happening?

If the former - this appliance is fundamentally unsound and needs a recall/replacement by the manufacturer. That is utterly ridiculous and the plumber shouldn’t pay.

If it’s the latter - and there is a technique to avoid that happening, the plumber should pay because they shouldn’t have touched it without absolutely confidence imho, especially after you asked whether they were confident about turning it off/on.

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:06

My DH is a plumber and no I wouldn't expect him to pay .It was a design fault so it was going happen it just happened to do it when the plumber did it .If he had been deliberately careless then that would have been different. He has a loving to make expecting to pay when it's not his fault he might as well have done the job for free .My DH luckily only ever had this done to him once in the years he has been a plumber it was wear and tear, he didn't pay for it and he would never do a job for that person again. If you find a good plumber you should respect that fact. My DH has repeat customers treat them badly they won't come back again.

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:07

living not loving got to love auto spelling .

SirVixofVixHall · 11/02/2021 10:07

Very common thing to happen with an Aga. Not his fault, it would have happened whoever turned it off, and it needed to be turned off for him to do the job he was there to do.
Happened with mine under the same circumstances actually, and no, I didn’t expect the plumber to pay .

Nith · 11/02/2021 10:10

It sounds like this would have happened whoever turned the appliance off. The plumber can't be liable for £200 just because he turned it off instead of your husband.

TonTonMacoute · 11/02/2021 10:11

The appliance guy said it was a fairly common problem and a bit of a design flaw

This is the problem, not the boiler man. I would be getting pissy with Aga (if that's what it is).

SoulofanAggron · 11/02/2021 10:11

YABU. It wasn't the plumber's fault. The other guy admitted to you it's a common fault with that particular appliance.

bigdecisionstomake · 11/02/2021 10:13

YABVU. This is why technically, tradesmen like plumbers aren't supposed to touch other equipment - they should wait for the householder to do it then proceed from there. In reality, this would mean the bill going up if a second visit is required so to be helpful and keep costs down they often do things like this themselves. It does leave them open to being taken advantage of though - glad you won't be taking advantage on this occasion though as every time someone does this, one less tradesman is likely to want to help a householder out rather than protect themselves at a cost to the client.

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:14

@C152

I seem to be the odd one out, as i would expect the plumber to cover the full cost of repairing / replacing an item he damaged. He should have insurance for this.
They do have an insurance, public liability my DH has to have it being a plumber .It would cover for damage for example say the plumber flooded the bathroom because a pipe burst while he was working on it .It is for accidental damage .Not for things that have a design fault the insurance company I doubt would touch it they would tell the home owner to highly little take up with the original manufacturer. I am saying this I actually can't ask my DH because he is at work but I am going to ask him when he comes home because I reckon I am right
borntobequiet · 11/02/2021 10:14

I think you’ve possibly lost a good plumber, which might be inconvenient for you in the future.

WinstonmissesXmas · 11/02/2021 10:14

Go to the manufacturer and claim from them!

pinkearedcow · 11/02/2021 10:15

Good tradespeople are hard to find, I would send him an apologetic text asap.

Brefugee · 11/02/2021 10:18

if it's confirmed as a design fault why aren't you on to the manufacturer for them to make it good? Insurance or not the plumber isn't on the hook for this.

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:18

@bigdecisionstomake

YABVU. This is why technically, tradesmen like plumbers aren't supposed to touch other equipment - they should wait for the householder to do it then proceed from there. In reality, this would mean the bill going up if a second visit is required so to be helpful and keep costs down they often do things like this themselves. It does leave them open to being taken advantage of though - glad you won't be taking advantage on this occasion though as every time someone does this, one less tradesman is likely to want to help a householder out rather than protect themselves at a cost to the client.
You have a very valid point there .And tradesmen in the same are they do talk to each other. If there is a person who is know to try to take advantage they will warn each other and you will struggle to find a good tradesman .
Somethingsnappy · 11/02/2021 10:18

Put it this way...if someone borrowed your car for one journey and whilst driving it, the brakes failed (or something)...would you expect them to contribute to repairs?

Newnamefor2021 · 11/02/2021 10:21

Why do you have a service? It's to check for faults, problems and check the safety! If you take your car for an MOT and they discover a problem you don't demand they pay for it so I am unsure why you think the service engineer needs to pay for your faulty appliance.

He did what you paid him to do! Obviously if he had knocked over a vase or knocked your car with his van then that's different but he was testing the safety of an appliance which clearly had a design fault or was broken, and he identified that and got someone to fix it ASAP.

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:21

@borntobequiet

I think you’ve possibly lost a good plumber, which might be inconvenient for you in the future.
I think you are highly likely right. I remember my DH the one occasion someone tried a similar thing on him and he knew full well he wasn't to blame .They paid the bill and he said he would never do a job for them ever again and he will help anyone he will get up in the middle of the night in an emergency. But in their case not a chance .
Doingitaloneandproud · 11/02/2021 10:22

YABU and whether or not you would pay something is irrelevant. He doesn't need to offer as it wasn't his fault and he has a business. You should be apologising and paying his invoice in full for work done. Like another poster said, good tradesmen are hard to find, I'd keep the good one you have.

Newnamefor2021 · 11/02/2021 10:25

[quote AmbitiousHalibut]@Nith

Honestly, I think I'd feel awful and still offer to contribute! Perhaps I'm just a stupidly soft touch.[/quote]
It doesn't sound like your a soft touch, it sound like your grabby. You expect a service engineer to pay for your broken appliances. What is your job, perhaps we can explain it to you in those terms?

Coffeeandcocopops · 11/02/2021 10:27

Gosh I would be too embarrassed to ask that plumber to come back. Looks like you will have to find a new plumber. These people need an income. Why would you think he can just afford to wipe off your bill for servicing your boiler. He sounds very kind and polite.

MySocalledLoaf · 11/02/2021 10:27

You said there were instructions on the appliance that he didn’t read. Did he, without reading them, turn it off as described? If yes, YABU, if not and if the valve wouldn’t have broken if turned off that way, YANBU.

Cam77 · 11/02/2021 10:27

"I texted him to say I was surprised to receive his invoice and had expected at least a conversation about him contributing. I said I didn't expect him to cover the full cost, although I think some people in my position might."

I don't think he'll be back!

VicarofDibley · 11/02/2021 10:28

[quote AmbitiousHalibut]@C152

That's what my Mum said![/quote]
Then both you and your mum are very much in the wrong. I think you won't see that plumber again if you need a plumber. DH certainly would not return to do a job for someone with your's and your mums way of thinking. A good plumber should be treated with respect they deserve .You shouldn't of even asked knowing it was a design fault .Feel sorry for any further plumber that ever goes to you or your mum.

Original poster
AmbitiousHalibut · 11/02/2021 10:30

Okay everyone. I was wrong. Thank you.

OP posts:
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