£144 per hour for non emergency plumber

[Vaud]

mangos said:

At the moment I am feeling a bit embarrassed by the whole thing as I should have just paid the guy and moved on with my life last year. It would have saved a whole load of stress.

And allowed him to carry on bullying other people. Perhaps a frail 90 year old who could be taken for 1000s... Good for you for standing up to him.

[Lazermilk]

Vaud said:

mangos said:

At the moment I am feeling a bit embarrassed by the whole thing as I should have just paid the guy and moved on with my life last year. It would have saved a whole load of stress.

And allowed him to carry on bullying other people. Perhaps a frail 90 year old who could be taken for 1000s... Good for you for standing up to him.

Agreed, standing up to him is not something to be embarrassed by in the slightest, as above you may just stop him from having the time to scam someone else.

Glad to see BV is having a look over it too

[MB140]

I’ve read the thread from the start. I just don’t get this plumbers mentality. If your billing £144 an hour then surely it’s not worth the time and effort to chase someone. I mean costs aren’t awarded in small claims are they so it’s not like he can claim the days wages back. It’s costing him more to go after the money.

I suppose it’s his bullying I must win mentality.

Either way mangos I will repeat what I said earlier. Keep going. It’s the only way he will learn is if people stick it to him.

[jrh17]

The plumber is the one who should be embarrassed, not you

[Hoofy]

MB140 said:

I’ve read the thread from the start. I just don’t get this plumbers mentality. If your billing £144 an hour then surely it’s not worth the time and effort to chase someone. I mean costs aren’t awarded in small claims are they so it’s not like he can claim the days wages back. It’s costing him more to go after the money.

I suppose it’s his bullying I must win mentality.

Either way mangos I will repeat what I said earlier. Keep going. It’s the only way he will learn is if people stick it to him.

Yep. I don't get it. If he's routinely making £144 an hour, chasing this is reducing the hourly rate dramatically. All that faff turning up, writing emails, posting on Facebook. Mangos, you're getting value for money.

[Usget]

Don't feel embarrassed, you've had 32 pages of people telling you you're doing the right thing. I don't think there's even been any trolling which to my knowledge must be some kind of record?

[Old Man Fred]

I have been reading this whole thing and whilst i don't have anything useful to add the case i would say well done OP for not just giving in, as someone mentioned if it makes the plumber think twice about doing this kind of thing again then it's a brilliant result

Very generous offer BV to look over this, this community really surprises me sometimes, in a good way

I will happily contribute to any fund if needed for a professional shouty person to accompany Mango to court

[mangos]

Allocation to Small Claims track came through the post yesterday. Court hearing date set at 11th July pending the claimant pays £55 hearing fee by 13th June.

The court has changed the claimant to Mr Plumber T/A IGM Plumbing & Heating.

Im wondering if this would be accepted in the hearing or if the claimant would still need to be down as the LTD company...

[anonymous-user]

I will email you at the weekend.

[mangos]

Breadvan72 said:

I will email you at the weekend.

Thanks so much Breadvan. I really appreciate you taking a look at this.

[silentbrown]

mangos said:

The court has changed the claimant to Mr Plumber T/A IGM Plumbing & Heating.

Im wondering if this would be accepted in the hearing or if the claimant would still need to be down as the LTD company...

That's still as a sole trader. A sole trader can't claim they're "trading as" a limited company.

I think what matters is the invoice/terms and conditions. If the terms and conditions and invoice is from the limited company then he can't claim as a sole trader. Also check if the VAT number (which MUST be on the invoice) also matches the company. You can check that online here, but do it before March 29th! http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/

Just put GB and their VAT number in both parts of the form

[donkmeister]

Mangos, another one who has been lurking in this thread since you started it. As someone with elderly parents and a FIL I have stepped in on a couple of occasions to stop them getting shafted by dodgy bullies (plus one of my own) and I always spare a thought for those who can neither stand up for themselves nor have someone who can stand up for them.

You are fortunately someone who DOES stand up for themselves, and from the way you are conducting yourself I expect you stand up for others too. I wish you luck.

[PurpleTurtle]

Hoofy said:

MB140 said:

I’ve read the thread from the start. I just don’t get this plumbers mentality. If your billing £144 an hour then surely it’s not worth the time and effort to chase someone. I mean costs aren’t awarded in small claims are they so it’s not like he can claim the days wages back. It’s costing him more to go after the money.

I suppose it’s his bullying I must win mentality.

Either way mangos I will repeat what I said earlier. Keep going. It’s the only way he will learn is if people stick it to him.

Yep. I don't get it. If he's routinely making £144 an hour, chasing this is reducing the hourly rate dramatically. All that faff turning up, writing emails, posting on Facebook. Mangos, you're getting value for money.

He won't be routinely making £144/hr though - he'll undoubtedly be a lazy prick doing very little actual work, but when he does turn up trying to rip people off to the tune of that. You can bet your bottam dollar, all 144 of them, that he's fully au fait with the Small Claims Court process probably having lied his way through it many times.

Stick with it OP, rooting for you. Well done to BV72 for helping out, PH at its best.

[spanky3]

Another lurker who thinks you're doing the right thing. I'm also reasonably local and now won't be a customer of his anytime soon.

If BV recommends you get representation on the day I'll happily chuck a tenner in a to crowd sourcing fund towards it. Any firm that has to rely on fake positive reviews (and is stupid enough to leave a public audit trail of requesting help to do so) deserves everything they get.

[PorkInsider]

donkmeister said:

Mangos, another one who has been lurking in this thread since you started it. As someone with elderly parents and a FIL I have stepped in on a couple of occasions to stop them getting shafted by dodgy bullies (plus one of my own) and I always spare a thought for those who can neither stand up for themselves nor have someone who can stand up for them.

You are fortunately someone who DOES stand up for themselves, and from the way you are conducting yourself I expect you stand up for others too. I wish you luck.

Wholeheartedly agree with all of this.

It might seem easier to roll over and pay the bullying toerag the money, rather than go through the hassle of court, but making a stand will hopefully benefit all the other people that this chancer will try to rip off in future.

I applaud you for digging in, Mangos!

[PorkInsider]

spanky3 said:

Another lurker who thinks you're doing the right thing. I'm also reasonably local and now won't be a customer of his anytime soon.

If BV recommends you get representation on the day I'll happily chuck a tenner in a to crowd sourcing fund towards it. Any firm that has to rely on fake positive reviews (and is stupid enough to leave a public audit trail of requesting help to do so) deserves everything they get.

Likewise, I’m happy to throw a few quid in if representation is going to be needed.

Can’t go too far wrong with BV providing some advice from the sidelines, too!

[PorkInsider]

silentbrown said:

mangos said:

The court has changed the claimant to Mr Plumber T/A IGM Plumbing & Heating.

Im wondering if this would be accepted in the hearing or if the claimant would still need to be down as the LTD company...

That's still as a sole trader. A sole trader can't claim they're "trading as" a limited company.

I think what matters is the invoice/terms and conditions. If the terms and conditions and invoice is from the limited company then he can't claim as a sole trader. Also check if the VAT number (which MUST be on the invoice) also matches the company. You can check that online here, but do it before March 29th! http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/

Just put GB and their VAT number in both parts of the form

Company name looks a bit different?

[Oceanrower]

Vatcheck.eu is very good.

Gives company name AND registered address.

Edited to add, this number is valid.

[Andeh1]

How are you getting on OP?

[Lazadude]

Andeh1 said:

How are you getting on OP?

Court case is 11th July. Suspect all quiet until then