Pay plumber if job not finished/barely started?

[philv]

Hi,

hired plumber to replace shower.
Agreed price.
Replace shower with identical shower.

He came along, spent a a few minutes locating the stopcock.

Then i got a call saying the fuse is too low and the electric mains cable is too thin.

he suggested goign to a lower power shower, but still said fuse was too low.
I reluctantly agreed.
I had electrician pop round to uprate the fuse as plumber still suggested for lower power shower.

Later that day, he told me he couldn't get hold of the the lower powered shower, and would have to finish the next week.

After reservations from tenant, i told him to just install the identical one.
I would have the electrician go by again, to uprate the fuse again and put in thicker cable.

Since found the installation instructions for the shower online, and it appears the cable and fuse are as per manufacturer reccomendations (all dependent on whether cable buried in insualted or non insualted wall, attached to other materials, in conduit tubing etc).

No no news from plumber for 5 days. Not answerign phone.

So, the old shower still in place, working less than perfectly.
He obviously located the stopcock and took cover off shower unit and then replaced.

At what point do i give up and get another plumber?
Should i have to pay anything to the first plumber, who has efféctively not done anything?, given me misleading info resulting in additional unnecesary electrical costs, and now cannot be contacted?

Thanks.

[KTF]

philv said:

At what point do i give up and get another plumber?
Should i have to pay anything to the first plumber?

Today and no.

[Tonsko]

philv said:

1) At what point do i give up and get another plumber?
2) Should i have to pay anything to the first plumber, who has efféctively not done anything?, given me misleading info resulting in additional unnecesary electrical costs, and now cannot be contacted?

1) When you get sick of trying to chase him, i.e. now. He doesn't want the gig.

2) No. He hasn't invoiced you, and if he does (he won't) just tell him no.

[philv]

Thanks for the replies.

Much appreciated.

[Four Litre]

From my now hard earned experience - at the first sign of any messing about - bin them. The guy either doesnt know what hes doing or doesnt want the job. Either way youve had a lucky escape..