Plumber issues ... what would be the best way to handle this

Make all of your requests in writing. Fully document every contact or attempted contact. Take photos. If no satisfaction within reasonable period of time, file a small claims action.

When contacting plumber, be pleasant and nonthreatening. Good plumbers will have insurance to cover damage. Ask to make a claim.

Better yet, talk to your own insurance company. Most often they will settle with you and then go after other party for damages.

Reply to
franz frippl
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The difference between a professional and amateur in any field is how they respond when things go wrong. A pro will make good on the work; an amateur will play games and walk away.

Unfortunately it is hard to differentiate between the two until a problem arises.

Reply to
franz frippl

Don't you get it? The person who hired the plumber is not even the party with the primary damages. The apartment owners below, who's kitchen cabinets were damaged, are the ones most affected. Where in the law does it say that if a plumber screws up a job upstairs and it damages my ceiling or cabinets that the plumber has any right to make the repairs? What does a plumber know about kitchen cabinets? This is nonsense. As I pointed out, if some one runs into your car, they don't have the right to make the repairs.

And I say

One has little to do with the other. You think every plumber is just going to come over and admit to causing the damage. I agree he deserves a chance to see it. But the OP already said they tried to contact him and could not reach him. If you were the party downstairs with a water damaged apartment, would you sit around and wait for the plumber, who you have nothing to do with? I don't think so. You'd contact your insurance company, the upstairs owner and then take the necessary immediate steps. Pictures, receipts and insurance adjusters reports will establish what occurred and be sufficient evidence.

Total BS. Again, I asked what happens if someone hits your car? Do they have the right to fix it? No. Do they have the right to say who does? No If you get 3 estimates for the work, choose one that is reasonable and convenient for you, the party that caused the damage is responsible to pay. Suppose a tree company damages my roof while taking down the neighbors tree? Does the arborist get to try to fix my roof if he feels like it? Or pick the contractor who does? How about if my negligence results in breaking your son's arm? Can I pick the doctors? It's silly, and the answer to all is no. It doesn't get any simpler than this.

You've totally confused 2 very different things. One is, if a contractor fails to complete a job to the customer's satisfaction, then in most cases, it is expected that the customer would give him a chance to fix it. That's because it;s his area of expertise and part of the work actually contracted. Even then there are exceptions, and one of those is time is of the essence. This case is a leak that is causing damage to apartments below. The OP did try to reach the plumber, but couldn't. End of story. The OP is free to use another plumber for the plumbing repairs.

It's clear here who understands the circumstances and law. You completely ignore one of the most obvious points of this whole problem. And that is that the parties damaged are other apartment owners. They have absolutely nothing to do with the plumber and are under no obligation whatever to give him an opportunity to fix their cabinets or anything else. To suggest that is laughable.

The OP who hired the plumber is on the right track. Now, all they have to do is document everything, take pics, contact their insurance company, have the downstairs owners do the same, and then if what has been stated is true, the plumber is liable for the cost of the repairs, provided they are reasonable.

Reply to
trader4

Actually in most cases the contractor is entitled a chance to rectify something that was part of the work that he did. For example, in this case, if it were simply that the valve had a small leak, then it would usually be expected that the customer give him a chance to fix it. That's because it was part of the work he did. Even then, there are exceptions. If the work was so bad that it's clear the contractor is incompetent, then there is no need to bring him back.

In this case, there are very obvious indisputable issues that absolve the customer to do anything more work with the plumber:

A - This was clearly an emergency, they called the plumber and couldn't reach him

B - The damage caused, ie kitchen cabinets, etc has nothing to do with his area of expertise

C - The main damage is not even in the apartment he worked on, but others below.

Reply to
trader4

Just a tad confused here...

At 1:07 you said: "I couldnt get a hold of plumber #1 in time"

Then at 1:10 you said:"I was hesitant calling plumber 1 who messed this up"

"Couldn't get a hold of...in time" implies that you tried to contact him or at least planned to, while "I was hesitant " implies you didn't really want to contact him at all.

Which is/was it?

Reply to
DerbyDad03

What I'm not sure I've read yet is:

Did you initially call the "plumber" directly to replace the valve, or did you call the "large plumbing company" he is a contractor for?

Have you paid anyone yet for the initial valve replacement? If so who?

And when things went wrong, who were you unsuccessful in reaching (which caused you to have to get another plumber because of the emergency nature of the problem, the plumber who did the work or the contracting company?

My curious mind wants to know why you had to replace that valve in the first place. Was it leaking or maybe wouldn't shut off completely?

Lastly, I find it a stretch to believe that if as you said, the main valve was "replaced" how it where someone got a new valve with the wrong stem in it. Can you explain that to us?

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff Wisnia

I called the large plumbing company he is working for. They sent him out the night before to look at the main valve

*** long story short, I was going to be away from my place for some time, on my todo list is turning off the main water (cold and hot) valves. Upon turning off the main water valve, I noticed that water still came out of my faucet in small drips ... so it wasnt cutting off completely.

Called this plumbing company and they sent out a technician, who examined it and told me the stem would need replacing and we scheduled to have this done morning of the next day (since it necessitated turning off the town house water supply)

This is plumber #1

Yes Plumber #1

Unsuccessful in reaching plumber #1

Latter. It wouldnt shut off completely

The report from Plumber #2 stated that the wrong stem had been put in. Plumber #2 removed it all and soldered in a new pipe and valve. I am not a plumber so I dont know details, but I saw what was done and I can summarize the reports if need be

Thanks

Reply to
anubis

anubis wrote: ...snip story of bum job, second outfit, possible liability for damage, recourse...

The short story is, if you are potentially liable for damage to anything other than minimal wetness of your own property, call your insurance company. Having never had only renters' policy I don't know what they automagically include for liability, but there is certainly first place to start. If you're lucky, you will have liability coverage that will take care of any major outlay and the underwriter will then pursue restitution (or not, but it is no longer your concern).

Failing that, if you have significant out of pocket costs and the first outfit won't make it good, call an attorney.

If it's just annoyance level of cost, you could pursue the small claims route eventually if everything else fails.

--

Reply to
dpb

So if a surgeon messes up you HAVE to let him re-operate on you? WRONG!! In the case of a minor error normally courts like people to try and resolve it. Ex. a landscaper plants a wrong variety of bush. A resonable person would call him up and say "Please replace with XXXX variety as that is what is specified" Most businesses would see their error and make customer happy. If the original plumber was unavailable and proof a call was made is in existence- there is a right and obligation to correct problem. Have the wrong part as evidence and plumber #1 is out his fee and damages to other units as the owners are free to sue the first plumber.

Reply to
bigjim

Thanks. I understand the story better now. Your original post did start out saying "to replace the main valve", which I took to be the entire valve, "body, stem (and sinker)".

So, it's then possible that the first guy put in an incorrect part and didn't notice that something wasn't fitting correctly, though I would have thought he'd stick around for a minute or two after he opened it to to look at it and notice it was dripping.

(Or maybe he left it closed 'cause you were leaving your place momentarily and when you came back and opened it that's when the dripping started.)

Good luck, I think contacting your homeowner's insurer would be a wise thing to do.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff Wisnia

Why on earth not???

Reply to
Mike Granby

What nonsense! If the plumber was negligent and that resulted in damage to the dwelling or to other dwellings, he is liable in tort for the costs incurred by the parties. As to whether the costs of calling another plumber to rectify the situation are recoverable, that will depend on many things, but the cost of having him prevent further damage will certainly be. The question of whether the OP's insurance company or the insurance company of the other dwellings' occupants will pay is also irrelevant to the plumber's liability, as the insurers can quite easily pay the claim and then attempt to recover what they've paid out from subgrogation.

Reply to
Mike Granby

There's confusion here between two causes of action. First, if the plumber has failed to perform what he was paid to do, that is a breach of contract and providing the breach is not extreme, the rememdy would be for the plumber to fix the problem, and perhaps to pay any damages not excluded by the contract. Second, if the plumber was negligent as to the work performed such that it resulted in damage to the other party or to third parties that was proximate and foreseeable with respect to the negligence, he is liable in tort for that damage. It is possible that the customer has waived his right to claims for neligence in the contract, but the extent to which this can be done depends on the law in that State, and I'd be very surprised if a court would uphold something that lets a plumber flood somewhere without any risk of action against him. No matter what the contract says, the rights of third parties to proceed under tort cannot have been limited.

Reply to
Mike Granby

Exactly how is it logical in this case for the plumber to be allowed to fix the damage? What's under discussion is a major leak that caused water damage to OTHER APARTMENTS BELOW, including kitchen cabinets. That isn't something the plumber has any expertise in fixing. And why should the owner of the damaged apartment that had nothing to do with the plumber have to allow him to fix their ceiling, cabinets, whatever. This is ridiculous.

Sure, if the plumber did a job and it's later determined there is a minor leak, a drip, something not fastened, etc, then yes, a court would expect that you should give him a reasonable chance to correct it. But that isn't what's going on here.

Reply to
trader4

What makes you think the OP is a renter? Since the story involved hiring a plumber to fix a plumbing problem, it sure sounds like they own the apartment.

An attorney will quickly cost as much or more than this whole thing will likely cost. Small claims would be the next logical step if insurance doesn't fully cover it.

As long as it's not substantially more than the small claims limit, which could be $3-10K depending on location, for a case like this, small claims is the best option, not a lawyer.

Reply to
trader4

If you pay attention, that is exactly what the person who contracted with him tried to do. And they couldn't reach him. Now what planet do you live on where with leaking water doing damage to your downstairs neighbor's apartments, it's wrong to call in another plumber?

And again, the big potential damages here are not the work the plumber could even do. It's kitchen cabinets, ceilings to the apartment below, that the OP doesn't own. Apparently you and Toller think that everyone has to just bow down to the plumber and let him control everything, and decide who fixes what. That is clearly not how the law works. The apt owner below is under no obligation to the plumber to have him fix her cabinets or choose who does.

A second call to the company would also be

I don't know why you're trying to draw a distinction and make it sound like there are two parties here, the plumber and the company he works for. Absent any evidence to the contrary, when the OP says she called back plumber #1, one would assume that she called the business that she engaged to do the work. Why do you think she's calling some guy personally at home? And whether their guy screwed up something in an apt with a HOA or in a private residence is another non-existent distinction. Whether it's a private residence or a condo, the contractor is still responsible for any damage as a result o faulty work.

Thank you Judge Steve. The rest of us know it's barely begun.

The legal thing to do is to first mitigate the damages. The OP already did that by calling the first plumber when the water problem was discovered and when he couldn't be reached, calling in another plumber. And the legal entanglements already exist. Water from the OP's apartment damaged the one below. Now, she is potentially on the hook for the cost of the damages to kitchen cabinets and the like. And no, the apartment owner below doesn't have to let the plumber fix her cabinets or ceilings just because you say so.

If I hit your car, do I get to fix it? Do I get to say where you have to take it? Of course not. Or if I hit a golf ball through your window, do I get to fix it or tell you who you have to use to fix it? Absurd.

The OP has already done that. But, according to you, they should wait while water flows until they can find the original plumber and then let him decide how to proceed with water damage to someone's else's apartment.

No, they get sticky when you don't know anything about the law and listen to guys like you.

Again with this distinction nonsense. When someone engages a plumber, they generally call and are dealing with the company. They don't first call and talk to ACME plumbing, then switch to calling Joe the Plumber at home, who works for the company as an individual.

IF you don't get too smart alecky and bring out all the legal

Certainly they should be informed as quickly as reasonably possible. But in this case, the plumbing has already been repaired, because WATER WAS LEAKING AND THEY COULDN"T REACH THE FIRST PLUMBER. So, the work that the plumber could have done to solve it is over. What's left is for the plumber or his insurance agent to pay for the necessary repairs, which appear to be mainly to the apt below.

Reply to
trader4

Reply to
SteveB

What planet do you live on? The sensible earthly thing to do is call the guy and tell him he messed up. A second call to the company would also be advisable so that they know one of their guys has started something with a HOA. The next step is for them to fix it.

Cased closed. Solution reached.

For the anal pipe smokers, the discussion goes on as to what would be the legal thing to do, and to use polysyllabic verbiage to define the legal entanglements that could follow.

The most logical thing is to take the short steps to finding the simplest solutions. After that, you can play "What If" until the cows come home.

In the real world, problems like this are solved all the time, and quickly. It's just when someone on Usenet wants to ask questions of unqualified uninvolved people and then go by their suggestions that things get sticky.

Grab the bull by the horns and start with the plumber and the owner of his company. IF you don't get too smart alecky and bring out all the legal terms and threats, they just MAY solve your problem to everyone's satisfaction in a reasonable time. That is, ONLY if given the opportunity to do so.

Legal advice on Usenet is worth at least what you pay for it.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

I am not saying that the course you have suggested is not the most sensible one; I am just arguing with the assertions being thrown around here that if this course is not followed, no-one would have any legal redress. The argument that one has to go back to the original plumber or somehow no-one can ever recover any damages is simply nonsense. End of story.

Reply to
Mike Granby

There is a saying that goes something like, "You can't get blood out of a turnip."

Justice has nothing to do with what's fair or who's right. Many a guy has been right and gotten nothing. The only ones who make out are the lawyers who charge by the hour and really don't care how it turns out.

Experience after experience (in my life and in others) has shown me that sometimes you can be right, the court will agree with you, but you won't get a dime.

Your experiences may vary.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

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