Help! My Plumber Didn’t Fix the Issue

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Plumber

So many of us find ourselves needing a plumber from time to time for an abundance of possible reasons. Sure enough, a plumber attends your property to tackle that water leak, a clogged toilet, or lack of hot water (to site just some potential issues necessitating such a professional’s attention). They carry out their work and leave, but there’s just one problem: the plumber didn’t fix the problem. Being a plumber can be extremely hard when they have not completed the original plumbing, as some houses have been completed by unskilled tradesmen.

So, what can – and should – you do if you pay a plumber to fix an issue, but they don’t actually fix it? What are your rights? Below, we provide the lowdown.

We Aren’t Just Talking About ‘Cowboy’ Plumbers…

Disreputable plumbers are undoubtedly a scourge to NZ homeowners and a blight on our industry. But if your plumber didn’t fix a problem that you asked them to resolve, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a “bad” plumber, or that they did anything “wrong” on purpose.

After all, sometimes, “things happen”. When fixing an issue, the plumber needs to turn the water off. This raises the possibility that after the plumber fixes the original issue and turns the water back on, this causes pressure through the pipes again and might lead to some secondary leaks. The likelihood of this occurring depends on many factors.

Do You Have to Pay a Plumber If They Don’t Fix the Problem?

The answer to this question depends on the particular circumstances and agreement that you have with the plumber. However, as an NZ resident, you do have certain rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act. You are entitled, for example, to ask your plumber to fix a problem if it arises due to their service being substandard.

This Act provides four guarantees:

  • Services will be provided with reasonable care and skill

  • Services will be fit for purpose

  • Services will be done within a reasonable time if no timeframe is agreed 

  • Services will be a reasonable price if no price is agreed

If your plumber fails to complete the requested work for you, they might be in breach of contract, which would give you certain rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act, as well as the Contract and Commercial Law Act. If this is the case, you may not need to pay them until – and unless – they fix the problem.

However, the plumber might not be liable if something outside of their control prevented them from finishing the work - our team will advise you and keep you updated.

We Can Fix Your Persistent Plumbing Issue!

Our team at Matthews Plumbing & Gasfitting can certainly sympathise with the nightmares that can arise when a plumber doesn’t fix a problem.

With our own comprehensive services, reputation, and attention to detail – as well as our Master Plumbers membership – we can be an excellent choice of a plumbing company to resolve your lingering issue for good.

If your plumber didn’t fix the problem, book a visit to your Auckland or North Shore property by our licenced plumbers today. We will be pleased to help fix your issue for an excellent price.