Plumber caused extensive damage and now won't sort it out

[thistimeofyear]

Asked plumber to install a bathroom 4 weeks ago - day 1 he came to do first fix - I woke up at 5am next morning to what sounded like Niagara Falls cascading downstairs, half my living room ceiling had to be taken down and there is failing plaster and redecoration needed over whole area where water travelled. I have been extremely patient and understanding. He said he would make good but hasn't. We have been without a dining room and living room for a month because of this. Now he is demanding his money (he hasn't even finished the bathroom yet) plus extras and if I don't agree to them - in advance - he will take me to court and not finish. Just that really. He says the parts I ordered for the bathroom were no good. They weren't cheap. Been in tears, I am a single parent and could only afford new bathroom partly with savings and partly with loan from ex. How can people be so bloody vile! Just looking for a hand hold and advice. What experience/disasters have you had with trades and how did you deal/cope with them. I am struggling to cope with the whole situation and its affecting me mentally (can't sleep).

Yes, contact your home insurance. Do provide them with his business details. They may well chase up his insurance for the repair bill due to shoddy work!

Also inform trading standards.

He needs to claim on his liability insurance! Don’t pay him a penny until it’s been fixed.

Trading Standards. They are brilliant!

We had trouble with a builder and they talked me through what to do, gave me the specific wording for a letter to send him and told me to send it Recorded Delivery [or whatever it's called these days] so the guy couldn't say he didn't get it.
They also sent me the forms for Small Claims, although in our case it didn't get that far.
You local CAB might also be worth contacting - Trading Standards were more practical but the nice lady at the CAB allowed me to rant and was very kind and sympathetic, as well as giving me advice, forms for Small Claims and the contact info for Trading Standards.

Wishing you luck - and don't give the CF any more money!

First off you need to get advice. Have you got photos of the damage and a quote for the repair work? I would also be doing an inventory of the articles damaged. Write a calm letter detailing the damage caused and why you believe he caused the leak. I assume it's because of shoddy work? Explain that four weeks post flood you are losing confidence in his ability to make good on the repairs and are giving him 14 days to make good and finish the job to the specification. You can add in that you will pursue legal action but I would hope he would claim on his insurance to cover the costs.

Now if he doesn't respond, don't pay a penny. Get an assessment of the cost of the damage and throw it into the small claim court. I wouldn't be overly confident about seeing the money but you can get a county court judgement against him which can show up in his credit record, hopefully slowing him down in his tracks. With any luck you might be able to claim on your home insurance?

This happens to loads of people so don't worry too much.

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciated the hand hold. I have got photos of the damage.
The flood happened because of a plastic pipe they had installed.
I am going to a friend's tonight to have several large glasses of wine and then I will do what you all suggest. Mumsnet is just brilliant for support. I will be back

Hi, you need to call your insurance company first, they will send a loss adjuster to assess the damage. this isn't your issue to deal with, that's what you have insurance for.

Never hand a penny over to him now.

If he calls, tell him you've got your insurance company involved, I've had the same issue, they caused £60k worth of damage, it sank the plumbers company.

This wont be the first time his done this.