Friends wants a favour

[Afternoonteaandcake]

My friend’s father passed away 2 months ago. She is still living in the house as she was his carer.

There is a large damp patch in the kitchen and it is coming from either the dishwasher or downstairs toilet. My dad is a plumber and she wants him to come round on Tuesday. He said he will be he usually assesses the work first.

She has just told me she wouldn’t be able to pay him till 6th February when he gets paid. She is quite unreliable and will disappear for months. I don’t want my dad doing work and not being paid because that will cause a strain between me and him. He usually gets people to pay him straight after the work is done as he has had hassle in the past getting money.

Her sister will own half the house too so I don’t know why she isn’t paying for repairs too. I did try and put her off and said get someone else as my dad was away but she wanted to wait for him.

Also it could be insurance job as the wall will need chopping and replastering and my dad won’t do this work. He would only do that if it was his own house as plumbers don’t do plastering.

He doesn’t mind telling her what needs to be done and not do the job if hassle is involved.

What should I do?

You just need to tell her that your dad can’t do the work unless she is in a position to pay him, and not budge on this.

I would tell her you will ask you dad to come and assess and let you know a cost. However half up front half on finishing the job, which could be done when she gets paid

Does she not have insurance? She should sort it through them - they’ll come quickly in a leak emergency and then if they can’t send someone quickly they often authorise you finding your own plumber and then reimburse the cost which would mean your dad was guaranteed the pay?

This probably wont end well. Just tell her
your dad's advice is to go through insurance and he is too busy to get involved sorry.

Your dad should not compromise his business because a friend wants a favour. If your dad does an assessment first, then he still needs to do this. He then needs to quote first the work. Only when he’s done this, he should proceed, maybe asking for a deposit first (half payment?). By then, it could easily be after Feb 6th.

Or this.

My entire family fell out when my plumber Brother did some work for my Aunt, my poor Bro did it as a favour to my Mum as Aunt was stuck with emergency situ. Do not ask your Dad, tell your friend he is unable to attend due to work commitments.

Just tell her he expects payment once the job is done so either she waits till she gets paid or your dads advice is to go through insurance. X

I'd just tell her he's too busy, so she should get someone else.

She only wants your dad to do it, because she'd have to pay any other plumber immediately.

I also suspect that she has no plans to pay your dad…

She should probably speak to the Solicitor who is dealing with father's estate as a release water of could cause further problems. The Solicitor could arrange for a plumber to be paid direct from the estate.

I agree, her sister will be sorting out the probate.

She has idea how to live on her own. I had to make a list and sit with her while she got all the bills transferred in her name as she had no idea who to contact and what to do and she is 46 🙄

People are being an bit unkind. Your friend has recently lost her father and if she was his carer and lived in his house her whole life is going to be turned upside down.

Don’t be too harsh with her or assume she’s deliberately trying to get something for nothing. She may want to use your dad because she trusts him.

It’s a very bad idea for the reasons pp have said, but it’s understandable.

As is so often said on here, "No" is a complete answer. Just tell her that you've spoken to him more than once, and your dad says no.

Back out.

Or you'll find yourself paying your dad and getting stiffed.

Yes my dad could come and have a look. His first availability is 6 Feb 😃 Then she’ll have the money to pay so all is well.

I think you're in the middle of what could be a sticky situation. Tell your friend you'll let your dad know her financial situation. Tell your dad.

Because it’s probate property, I agree with PP that it needs to go through the solicitor as it’s about his estate, so she doesn’t need to pay herself, it’ll likely be advised to go through the insurance

Your dad will get stiffed for this. I suggest he is too,swamped with work but can recommend someone else?

Why don’t you just tell her that your dad can’t afford to wait for payment? If she needs help straightaway and can’t pay straightaway then he can’t help.

Thanks for all your advice. This morning she said she would be very embarrassed if she couldn’t pay. I don’t know why she would mention this if she said is getting paid in Feb. It’s already a sign.

We will go round. He can tell her what needs doing then tell her contact the insurance. He has told other people to use insurers before if the job is too big or senses they are a time waster.

As people have said the estate should be paying but I sense they probably want someone to do the worth for nothing as they don’t want their inheritance being used 🙄

Until probate goes through she might be waiting for a while and she won’t know the final sum till then so it’s possible she meant that.

I think your solution is a good one, OP. Your dad can give his expert advice then refer her to insurers if appropriate. He might still get the work if he wants it because payment will come straight from them.

Tell her she has to pay the supplier up front for any parts required. She has to have payment for labour ready at the end of the job. Maybe pay a deposit for the labour as well.

She don’t give up. She has text me tonight saying she told the insurers she has damp. They said they won’t come out as they only do leaks.

I don’t know why she told the insurers this as there is no damp on the wall but from what we have see there must be a leak from the wall in the downstairs toilet. As a result this has caused the wall to bubble over from the leak. I’m just annoyed she keeps trying to drag us into it when the whole idea of house insurance is to do major work from damage.

My dad is past retirement age and shouldn’t be expected to be doing plumbing work and chopping out walls.

Tell her your dad's stopped working and she'll need to find someone else!