£144 per hour for non emergency plumber

[mangos]

HotJambalaya said:

Just read this whole thing, nothing to add, but just wanted to say well done op. I can't imagine being in your personal situation, sticking it out shows real backbone. Well done!

Thank you

Defense has now been submitted with the help of a very kind ex defense lawyer who wanted to assist. Now is just a waiting game

[cheddar]

Another well done from me mangos

Blatant fakery of debt collection letters and court papers.

A truly dodgy outfit that would run a mile rather than actually take this court, good on you for exposing them.

Isn't any pher a plumber local to mangos?

[blearyeyedboy]

Another message of moral support from me, mangos.

I have nothing else helpful to say other than what's already been said by people more qualified than me. Keep your chin up, you're doing great.

[DrDeAtH]

cheddar said:

Another well done from me mangos

Blatant fakery of debt collection letters and court papers.

A truly dodgy outfit that would run a mile rather than actually take this court, good on you for exposing them.

Isn't any pher a plumber local to mangos?

I'm Hertfordshire based if that's any help

[MB140]

Just read this from start to finish. Well done op for standing up to this twonk. I can’t wait to see how this ends for him.

Best of luck.

[RB Will]

Apologies for coming over all Negative Nelly here. From reading the thread the people in question are obviously a bunch of scamming stes and I wish you all the best dealing with them.

The thing that came up half way through the thread that was not mentioned at the start and nobody seems to have made much comment about it (unless I'm being blind in which case ignore all this lol) is that the OP signed the invoice, presumably stating she was happy with the work, costs etc.
She then went on to explain that this was done "under duress".
If this ever made it to court how much weight would be placed on this? There is no proof of this duress and would a court even allow that you can be put under duress by your own child?

The company have probably shot themselves in the foot as all the evidence gathered shows they have been knobs and ignored procedure throughout but what would happen if they turned up in court and just said here is the happily signed copy of the invoice, OP is now not paying/disputing it because she thinks it is a bit much.

Just interested as years back I had similar with a certain online tyre supplier's fitting service and no matter what I had that showed procedure had been ignored, lies were made up, damage done etc I ended up getting nowhere because I had signed a form saying all was well, job done ok.
They had changed tyres on my car, massively damaging all 4 wheels in the process. When I came back to collect the car they got me to sign the form without me being able to see the car as they had parked it in a public car park 2 streets away. Drove it straight back into the fitting centre and complained and was just met with lies and accusations, they washed their hands of it and passed it on to the online tyre supplier who it had been organised though who carried on with the bullst and accusations falling back on well you signed the form so you must be making all this up.

[mdglen]

If you still need a plumber I can strongly recommend PHP Services based in St Albans. I'm Hertfordshire based and I've used them for over 15 years without any problems. There reasonably priced (for the Home Counties at least), and I've never been charged anywhere near £140 an hour.

[mangos]

Ive received a form to complete from the courts which requires me to say if I am willing to use their mediation service.

I am guessing I would be ok to say yes to this despite not agreeing that I owe this company any more money?

Is anyone familiar with a court mediation service?

[MB140]

mangos said:

Ive received a form to complete from the courts which requires me to say if I am willing to use their mediation service.

I am guessing I would be ok to say yes to this despite not agreeing that I owe this company any more money?

Is anyone familiar with a court mediation service?

Ive never used it myself. My understanding from reading other threads is that if you try mediation and the other party doesn’t then it’s seen as a plus for you as your ‘trying’ to resolve the issue and the other isn’t and it may sway a tight call case in your favour.

Again I’m not an expert just my understanding of how it might be perceived.

[bad company]

MB140 said:

Ive never used it myself. My understanding from reading other threads is that if you try mediation and the other party doesn’t then it’s seen as a plus for you as your ‘trying’ to resolve the issue and the other isn’t and it may sway a tight call case in your favour.

Again I’m not an expert just my understanding of how it might be perceived.

That’s my understanding. It can look bad if you decline mediation, I would agree to it though I’ve never had a case mediated.

[Efbe]

bad company said:

MB140 said:

Ive never used it myself. My understanding from reading other threads is that if you try mediation and the other party doesn’t then it’s seen as a plus for you as your ‘trying’ to resolve the issue and the other isn’t and it may sway a tight call case in your favour.

Again I’m not an expert just my understanding of how it might be perceived.

That’s my understanding. It can look bad if you decline mediation, I would agree to it though I’ve never had a case mediated.

you can go through mediation and just offer no compromise though.

[xjay1337]

Just commenting to say well done.

Sounds very unfair to me like they're trying you on.

Good luck.

[MB140]

Efbe said:

bad company said:

MB140 said:

Ive never used it myself. My understanding from reading other threads is that if you try mediation and the other party doesn’t then it’s seen as a plus for you as your ‘trying’ to resolve the issue and the other isn’t and it may sway a tight call case in your favour.

Again I’m not an expert just my understanding of how it might be perceived.

That’s my understanding. It can look bad if you decline mediation, I would agree to it though I’ve never had a case mediated.

you can go through mediation and just offer no compromise though.

That’s exactly what I would do. Appear at least to be playing the game.

[Wings]

mangos said:

Ive received a form to complete from the courts which requires me to say if I am willing to use their mediation service.

I am guessing I would be ok to say yes to this despite not agreeing that I owe this company any more money?

Is anyone familiar with a court mediation service?

Always good to agree to mediation, with the telephone mediation date, time agreed via email, with a further reminder just prior to the appointed day.

Mediation was via a three way telephone, with the mediation person acting as a go between the claimant and the defendant/me.

Although I moved my position in order to try and reach a settlement of the claimant's claim, we were too far apart in our differences to reach an agreement.

During issuing defence papers, I did make a request for the case to be heard to a court nearer to my home, sighting poor mobility issues, later saying my health had improved, and I could therefore travel to a court nearer to the claimant's location. Surprise, surprise the paperwork has been transferred to a court nearer to me.

It is now over seven months since I first received the claimant's legal papers.

I myself needed to engage a plumber last week, i needed to replace and install two 1800 x 600 rads. Three plumbers quoted between £400 and £950 to the same.

[Flibble]

The case is always moved close to the defendant, unless there is a good reason not to. You don't need to worry about showing mobility issues or the like.

[Vaud]

Wings said:

I myself needed to engage a plumber last week, i needed to replace and install two 1800 x 600 rads. Three plumbers quoted between £400 and £950 to the same.

Supply and fit, or just fit?

[bad company]

Flibble said:

The case is always moved close to the defendant, unless there is a good reason not to. You don't need to worry about showing mobility issues or the like.

This is one of the advantages for the defendant. Makes it harder and more expensive for the claimiant and in a small claims court very unlikely to win any costs.

[Wings]

Vaud said:

Supply and fit, or just fit?

Supply and fit, also rads came with new thermostats and one had to have an extension bar.

Incidentally, I left the old rads in front garden, only for them to vanish overnight.

[Andehh]

I would go to mediation.

Based on their ''opening argument'' and your 'defense' i cant see them turning up/continuing from here. Not only is it not worth their time (lost earnings), but I don't see how they can refute your well articulated situation. It also shows good will & intention by making the effort to attend.

I would however, stand your ground 7& simply refuse to compromise your position. Explain as politely & emotionlessly as possible that you dispute all their charges beyond the call out charge. You paid for the work they did (they came out, looked, did nothing) and outright refute their additional costs & charges for work they simply did not do. I would stand your ground and just point at your evidence pack.

Have a copy of your evidence pack in front of you, and don't be afraid to ask for a minute to look through it to then respond.

[will_]

Andehh said:

I would go to mediation.

Based on their ''opening argument'' and your 'defense' i cant see them turning up/continuing from here. Not only is it not worth their time (lost earnings), but I don't see how they can refute your well articulated situation. It also shows good will & intention by making the effort to attend.

I would however, stand your ground 7& simply refuse to compromise your position. Explain as politely & emotionlessly as possible that you dispute all their charges beyond the call out charge. You paid for the work they did (they came out, looked, did nothing) and outright refute their additional costs & charges for work they simply did not do. I would stand your ground and just point at your evidence pack.

Have a copy of your evidence pack in front of you, and don't be afraid to ask for a minute to look through it to then respond.

Small claims mediation is done by telephone so it's not much "effort" to attend.

It's a bit pointless if you're not prepared to compromise at all. It can be useful if costs are an issue but that is unlikely in the small claims court.