Grumble Thread

[Petrushka]

I've just done a 'Trustpilot' review for a 'family' plumbing company from whom I requested a plumber to call at my disabled sister's flat - she lives 60 miles from me - as the management had said her outside overflow pipe had a constant trickle. I was charged £42 callout fee for a same-day service...of course they failed to turn up! When they did (next day), they failed to find the source of the leak. Worse, I found out afterwards they charged £210/hour.....not to find a leak!

Worse still, eventually the manager of the flats gained entry and traced the leak to the lavatory cistern overflow due to faulty ballcock...he did this in five minutes!!!.....despite having no degree in plumbing!

Guess what star rating I gave in the Trustpilot review?

I had an identical problem with my lavatory cistern overflow and had located the fault myself but didn't know how to fix it. I rang my usual plumber and he talked me through the incredibly simple way to correct it. Done in seconds and no charge!

[Serial_Apologist]

I've just done a 'Trustpilot' review for a 'family' plumbing company from whom I requested a plumber to call at my disabled sister's flat - she lives 60 miles from me - as the management had said her outside overflow pipe had a constant trickle. I was charged £42 callout fee for a same-day service...of course they failed to turn up! When they did (next day), they failed to find the source of the leak. Worse, I found out afterwards they charged £210/hour.....not to find a leak!

Worse still, eventually the manager of the flats gained entry and traced the leak to the lavatory cistern overflow due to faulty ballcock...he did this in five minutes!!!.....despite having no degree in plumbing!

Guess what star rating I gave in the Trustpilot review?

A white dwarf???

[Roger Webb]

I had an identical problem with my lavatory cistern overflow and had located the fault myself but didn't know how to fix it. I rang my usual plumber and he talked me through the incredibly simple way to correct it. Done in seconds and no charge!

The real niggle in this case was that I spoke on the phone to the plumber while he was in the flat, and asked him if it might be the cistern - he replied that he couldn't get at it as it was behind the wall panelling (a typical 60s bathroom, replete with pink suite and matching fluffy carpet!

The manager who subsequently discovered the source of the leak merely flushed the toilet and then went outside and looked to see if the overflow stopped...it did! Almost worth £210/hour plus £42 callout!!!

[Roger Webb]

A white dwarf???

Eventually to become a Black Dwarf as the heat had certainly gone out of this plumber!

Which reminds me I often saw a plumber's van round Bristol with 'Luke Warm - Plumbing' emblazoned on the side. Now given that his name was probably Luke.....you just wouldn't, would you!!

[eighthobstruction]

....I had volunteered via NHS for a follow up survey ref Covid/Long Term Recovery.....via Imperial College. I did it , it took 3 times as long as they said, and somewhere along Imperial College tagged on a Cognitive Memory Test....which did the next day or so, but I abandoned it very quickly as many of the questions were the same as the other survey. I immediately felt that I couldn't be sure if the answers I gave the day before, were the same as the ones I was currently giving....felt very embarrassed and somewhat [very] stupid inadequate forgetful old man....................but perhaps that was the point of the second test, to see if the answers differed.
Today I got a NHS letter asking for volunteers for Nationwide Blood Pressure check survey....new resolve....binned it...

I am currently going through rigmarol of pouring 2 jugs of water in bathroom cistern so it will top up to flush....in a months time plumber will come to annual service the boiler, and I'll get it done then....local plumber reasonable £45-65 for call out...

[Roger Webb]

....

I am currently going through rigmarol of pouring 2 jugs of water in bathroom cistern so it will top up to flush....in a months time plumber will come to annual service the boiler, and I'll get it done then....local plumber reasonable £45-65 for call out...

You have a shortage in you cistern - my sister has a surplus........the world is in equilibrium!

[Petrushka]

The real niggle in this case was that I spoke on the phone to the plumber while he was in the flat, and asked him if it might be the cistern - he replied that he couldn't get at it as it was behind the wall panelling (a typical 60s bathroom, replete with pink suite and matching fluffy carpet!

The manager who subsequently discovered the source of the leak merely flushed the toilet and then went outside and looked to see if the overflow stopped...it did! Almost worth £210/hour plus £42 callout!!!

Fortunately for me it was a case of merely removing the cistern lid then hooking a finger round the thing connecting to the ballcock and lifting it up. The flow stopped immediately. When the water flows back into the cistern after flushing, the ballcock should rise with the water. It wasn't doing so, hence the unstoppable flow pouring out. Chances are that this is what happened to your sister. There's a possibility it could happen again and the cistern innards will need replacing.

[Roger Webb]

Fortunately for me it was a case of merely removing the cistern lid then hooking a finger round the thing connecting to the ballcock and lifting it up. The flow stopped immediately. When the water flows back into the cistern after flushing, the ballcock should rise with the water. It wasn't doing so, hence the unstoppable flow pouring out. Chances are that this is what happened to your sister. There's a possibility it could happen again and the cistern innards will need replacing.

Yes, your analysis is spot-on. Her situation is made worse because some clot boxed-in the cistern and then tiled over the screws that release the trapdoor at the top of the cistern - without consideration that something could go wrong with the cistern at some time in the future! At least the leak is to the outside....although a waste of water.

[eighthobstruction]

You have a shortage in you cistern - my sister has a surplus........the world is in equilibrium!

..heh heh, ....thread sofly lest I tell you of the dodgey bit of wire that makes the mechanism work

[eighthobstruction]

Yes, your analysis is spot-on. Her situation is made worse because some clot boxed-in the cistern and then tiled over the screws that release the trapdoor at the top of the cistern - without consideration that something could go wrong with the cistern at some time in the future! At least the leak is to the outside....although a waste of water.

....yes Roger but was the wall flush....

I guess if was in Bristol it would be f....lush !!....

[Jonathan]

We have a plumber here in York amusingly called All Cisterns Go...

[Pulcinella]

We have a plumber here in York amusingly called All Cisterns Go...

I've seen them on our estate.

[Roger Webb]

We have a plumber here in York amusingly called All Cisterns Go...

..................'Clean round the bend'.......might do it!

[Serial_Apologist]

..................'Clean round the bend'.......might do it!

Or even, Flushed with Pride

[gurnemanz]

We have a plumber here in York amusingly called All Cisterns Go...

I'm sure he's grateful for the plug