Gas ‘ clown’ made mum’s blood boil
A MUM whose boiler was on the blink called a local tradesman and found she was dealing with a “clown”.
He came out to inspect it after the woman, Leila, had problems trying to fire it up.
Within minutes of inspecting it he said it could not be repaired and needed replacing.
He then gave her a quote of £910 for a new boiler and £ 350 for installation.
Leila accepted the quote. She needed hot water and heating restored as quickly as possible.
The man agreed he would install the next day. So far so good. But then the problems began.
Checks
Next morning the tradesman explained the new boiler was a different size to the old one and might be difficult to put in the same place in her kitchen.
Leila was going to work, leaving her 18-year-old son at home, so it was agreed the boiler would be installed “in the best location”.
When she got home, in Southend, Essex, Leila walked into her kitchen and saw a messy wall where the old boiler had been.
She thought the j ob was unfinished. But her son told her the man had said it was done.
Leila then went into her front downstairs bedroom and was staggered to see the new boiler installed on the wall – above the bed. She immediately contacted the tradesman to complain.
He replied that she had told him to put the boiler “in the best location” and he considered this was it. He then refused to discuss it further.
This story really highlights the importance of following these steps:
1 Check tradesmen out online and make s ure t hey are reputable.
2 Get everything in writing, especially what work they are going to do, where, and all the costs.
3 Never pay ALL the money up front. Keep some back to be paid when you are happy with the job.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, tradesmen have to exercise “reasonable care and skill”. Failing that, you will be entitled to a refund, replacement or repair.
Locating a boiler unexpectedly in a bedroom may fall short of this. Still, she should never have left him to install it wherever he fancied.