Hi,
I was wondering if someone with more experience re: plumbers could give us some advice please.
Back in January/February, my fiancée and I arranged for a plumber (something neither of us have ever had to do) to come and completely renovate our bathroom in March (ie: over 4 weeks notice). We arranged a price, and the job start/finish time by email (inc. Word documents for the exact work details and costings), so everything is clearly mentioned. This was after we took quotes from 4 other plumbers, and checked references (which were good - though I note one did mention the plumber in question had been 1-2 days late in starting for them, but did a very good job).
We specifically booked time off work (between my fiancée and I we arranged for 3 weeks off to ensure that there was more than enough time for the job to be completed).
The plumber contacted us just before he was due to start the job last Monday (18th March) to say he had been held up with another (large) job that had taken longer than thought and had messed him around (apparently changing their minds about what they wanted here and there). He said he could not start until Monday 25th March as a result.
This obviously annoyed and upset us, but we accepted it with as good a grace as possible and have waited since.
I contacted the plumber in question today by text (Sunday 24th March) to re-confirm he was starting tomorrow, and he has just replied that because of the recent snow this weekend, he has been unable to complete the job, and needs another 2 days to finish the work and get paid. He therefore will not start until Wednesday this coming week.
As annoying as this is, is this acceptable? Or would others feel this is unprofessional and (likely) a breach of (written) contract (as we have clarification on email).
Should we be asking for compensation for our wasted leave (we couldn't go back to work at short notice as all our work had been cancelled in anticipation of us being off and couldn't be re-instated at short notice and therefore wasted our annual leave sitting at home) as money off the job, or should we be pursuing this legally?
I was wondering if someone with more experience re: plumbers could give us some advice please.
Back in January/February, my fiancée and I arranged for a plumber (something neither of us have ever had to do) to come and completely renovate our bathroom in March (ie: over 4 weeks notice). We arranged a price, and the job start/finish time by email (inc. Word documents for the exact work details and costings), so everything is clearly mentioned. This was after we took quotes from 4 other plumbers, and checked references (which were good - though I note one did mention the plumber in question had been 1-2 days late in starting for them, but did a very good job).
We specifically booked time off work (between my fiancée and I we arranged for 3 weeks off to ensure that there was more than enough time for the job to be completed).
The plumber contacted us just before he was due to start the job last Monday (18th March) to say he had been held up with another (large) job that had taken longer than thought and had messed him around (apparently changing their minds about what they wanted here and there). He said he could not start until Monday 25th March as a result.
This obviously annoyed and upset us, but we accepted it with as good a grace as possible and have waited since.
I contacted the plumber in question today by text (Sunday 24th March) to re-confirm he was starting tomorrow, and he has just replied that because of the recent snow this weekend, he has been unable to complete the job, and needs another 2 days to finish the work and get paid. He therefore will not start until Wednesday this coming week.
As annoying as this is, is this acceptable? Or would others feel this is unprofessional and (likely) a breach of (written) contract (as we have clarification on email).
Should we be asking for compensation for our wasted leave (we couldn't go back to work at short notice as all our work had been cancelled in anticipation of us being off and couldn't be re-instated at short notice and therefore wasted our annual leave sitting at home) as money off the job, or should we be pursuing this legally?