I need some advice about irresponsible plumbers who go missing in action after a promise of 'guaranteed' work.
I have a roof leak which I have so far appointed 3 plumbers and the problem is still not fixed. All 3 stated that their work is guaranteed but when the leak returns (it was never gone), they become uncontactable. Here was my experience.
1st plumber was more than 1 year ago - was quite rude and was not interested in hearing our concerns (where we hear the leak noises etc), and haphazardly (according to subsequent plumbers) applied silicon seal around the skylight. Cost approximately $300. Leak reduced but still there.
2nd plumber - came in a small corolla with his girlfriend waiting in the car and no tall ladder. The leak was in the middle of the house, but he said the water came from the front and applied silicon there. We were skeptical, as there is no way the rain could have splashed from the front of the house to the middle. Charged $150 for a 15 minute job. When the leak returned after the first lot of rain, he said he will charge $100 recall fee and said it was likely from the blocked gutter. Thought he could have just cleared the gutter the first time. We decided not to get him back.
3rd plumber - came back 3 times.
(1) First visit - he said the leak was from a blocked gutter. Paid $150. Leak came back, and it took him 2 weeks to return (no response for 2 weeks and suddenly rang one day and said he could come).
(2) 2nd visit - he said the original construction of the roof and draining pipes was not level, and there was pooled water on the lower the sides of the roof. He said he had to saw off the pipes to make it level etc. He couldn't finish the job on the same day, so we paid $200 out of the $250 he was charging.
(3) 3rd visit - he came back to complete the 2nd visit's job. My dad who has been assessing the leak noises all this time suspected that the leak is still coming from the skylight. Got him to remove the silicon (by the first plumber) and the skylight and fixed it back on again with a new layer of silicon. Charged $400. 2 days later, it rained and my dad managed to take a video of the water dripping around the skylight (from underneath ie. inside the house) and sent it to him. Called the plumber a few times, left messages and SMSes over the last 3 weeks, no response.
I wonder if these are tricks that plumbers use to return a few times to 'fix' unrelated problems to get money out of us, and when the work they did was proven to be incomplete/inadequate, they go missing in action. Is there governing body I can report to for their poor practice, despite 'all work guaranteed' as they claim. It seems like we are at their mercy. I would appreciate some advice here.
Do u know of any reliable and trustworthy plumbers, of if you are a plumber yourself and willing to help me with my problem?
Hi,
It sounds more like a job for a person that does Gutters and Roofing than a Plumber.
As far as complaints go:
http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/disputes-and-resolutions/complaint…