plumber problem - what now?

[rck]

Just paid licensed, bonded, insured plumber $850. When he finished the work, he turned water back on and didn't check for leaks. There was nothing obvious at first, but 15 minutes after he left the bedroom carpet was soaked in one corner. He had put the ferrule in backwards in a compression fitting in the bathroom. I fixed that leak and phoned his answering machine to express my displeasure and ask him what he was going to do about the stained carpet. An hour later I discovered a second leak on a compression fitting on

5/8 inch copper pipe. I phoned again and again and he won't call back. Since this guy is licensed, should I notify the state licensing board? I'm afraid to call another licensed plumber because the next guy might be worse than the first one so I'll get out my torch and sweat in a decent fitting to replace the compression fitting, but I'm still p*ssed about the carpet. I somehow thought a licensed professional would know how to connect two pipes together.

Bob

[John Willis]

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:50:03 GMT, "rck" scribbled this interesting note:

Some of the reasons I dislike plumbers and compression fittings!:~)

-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

[rck]

Yeah, can't find many plumbers who know how to solder anymore. They love compression fittings, quick and dirty.

Bob

[trader4]

"He had put the ferrule in backwards in a compression fitting in the bathroom."

Not that I'm an expert on ferrules, but the ones I recall were symetrical. Aren't they?

[rck]

This is a 3/8 inch plastic supply tube for a faucet. The ferrule is not symmetrical. Shallow taper against the nut and sharper angle taper against the valve. Flip it over and it'll leak.

Bob

[AZGuy]

Absolutely. If your state is the same as mine, contractors take such complaints very seriously as failure to resolve can lead to loss of licence. I had a fence guy mess up my fence when he did a job for a neighbor. Two weeks of calls got zero action other then a claim that "it was like that, I didn't do it". Within a few days of filing the complaint with the Registrar of Contractors he was on the phone trying to set up a meeting and start the repairs.

I'm afraid

-- Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts:

"What, sir, is the use of militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. . . Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins." -- Debate, U.S. House of Representatives, August 17, 1789

[Roger Shoaf]

Well you called him and I take it he did not return your call. I would first call a guy that can pull up and dry the carpet so you don't get mold and mildew problems and then sent a bill to the plumber. If he doesn't pay or forward the claim to his insurance company, then file a small claims suit for the damage. Keep the valves you took off for evidence.

If he doesn't pay file a claim against his bond. They will pay and hold up his license until he makes good.

[xrongor]

you can call a lawyer.

or you can follow all the internet advice and then end up calling one anyway, hoping you havent screwed yourself in the process.

randy

[rck]

I've lived in some states with excellent consumer protection and enforcement of licensing laws. I just checked my state (Tennessee) and it says that because of the large number of complaints against contractors and the lack of staff for enforcement, the board has jurisdiction only over work which exceeds $25,000 in value. Bubba the licensed plumber knows this and therefore has no incentive to do good work on an $850 job. Now that I've calmed down, I think the best thing is for me to fix his mistakes, dry out the carpet and have it cleaned and then get on with my life, and then next time do the work myself even if it takes longer to do.

Bob

[rck]

I think a lawyer would probably be more dishonest than the plumber.

Bob

[effi]

try sending him a letter, certified mail, return receipt requested, expressing your displeasure with his work and indicating you will pursue a complaint with the licensing authority unless he re-inspects all his work (are mopre leaks looming on the horizon?) and repairs or pays for repair of the damage (is there water in the walls now? mold forming?)

get a couple of independent 3rd parties to witness the damage

file a complaint with the licensing authority under reasons other than the $25,000 "floor", if possible (look for a catch all rule, like acts discreditable to the profession, etc.), with sworn affidavits from the independent 3rd parties evidencing the damage

he would then be required to spend the time/effort responding to the complaint; that might slow him down a bit, in the future others should be able to check with the licensing authority and see the complaint if they check him out with the licensing autthority prior to deciding to hire him

contact your insurance carrier if you have plumbing leak insurance

contact the tennessee attorney general's office for possible relief there

tell everyone you know locally about the incident, that might cost him a job or two

[Bubba]

[trader4]

"I think a lawyer would probably be more dishonest than the plumber."

Well, they certainly cost more. I guess I'm amazed at all these responses. The OP just paid the guy and found the leak in 15 mins, so there isn't any huge damage involved, just some wet carpet. He didn't say how long he's been calling without getting a return call. I'd certainly give the guy a chance to respond before I escalate everything into crisis mode. I agree if the job was done right, it never should have happened. But any of the other avenues, they are going to expect that you gave him some reasonable amount of time to respond.

[David Martel]

Bob,

Call your insurance agent, have the damage documented, and file a claim. Get in touch with the plumber's bonding company ( your insurer may do this). File a complaint with the licensing board.

Dave M.

[m Ransley]

Stop payment on the check if is not already to late. You can complain but small claims court is an easy and normal DIY

[Edwin Pawlowski]

And charge double the price.

I'd get an estimate on carpet cleaning. Send the plumber a letter asking for the cost of cleaning. If no response, get the work done, thenhead for small claims court. Most states have them and it only cost about $25 to $50 to file a claim. If he does not show, you win. Just showing up will cost him more that what he'd have to pay you. Even if you never collect, you get some satisfaction from yanking his chain.

[scott_z500]

Do not call your insurance company and file a claim as suggested above. It's the plumbers fault, and they need to be responsible for the cost of fixing it, not you via higher insurance rates.

[Andrew Neilson]

I would be careful about filing an insurance claim. The way things are now, some insurance companies are just looking for an excuse to drop you. There are many horror stories about folks who have made routine claims and had their insurance company refuse to cover them any longer. It is really easy to get 'blacklisted'.

[rck]

He did the job Friday. I've called him twice a day since and he won't return my phone calls. This morning the gas company came to hook up the new heater. I asked him if he knew the plumber. He didn't but said it was no big deal to fix the plumber's other water leak on the 5/8 inch line while he was here. Yeah, let's here it for the local propane company. So now, both leaks are repaired and the carpet cleaners will be here tomorrow. I'm not going to tell the plumber the leaks are fixed. Perhaps it'll give him something to nag at him, perhaps not.

Bob

[Goedjn]

Small Claims court. You sue, you win, he doesn't pay, you go back to court, get a court order, take the sherrif with you, and take his tools. Three days later your house mysteriously burns down. The carpet is no longer a problem.