Who’d have thought there’s be a third week of nightmares on Bexley Watchdog. Green Planet Plumbing and Heating is under the spotlight tonight (abbreviated)

Looking for tradesmen, I’d much rather get a local engineer in than leave it to one of the high street names.

I originally brought in Green Planet and Heating. Based just around the corner from me, I asked them to quote for a major GCH upgrade worth around four grand. Initially I was quite impressed, Brian Meacock, the director spotted several far less intrusive route for my upgrade than his competitors. However, that introduction soon went south.

…Let’s fast forward…

…9 months rolls around since moving in. I receive my first water bill – it is literally multiples over my previous property – great. After moving into my new house, they’d failed to mention a rather substantial leak.

<insert Thames Water and various other investigations [we’ll pick this up later]>

Worried, as you can imagine I called Brian Meacock back. After a short time he confirmed the problem must be between the water main and the kitchen stop-cock, and quoted accordingly.

Fantastic I thought. Green Planet Plumbing and Heating know what they are doing so I agreed for them to carry out the job. Works started well, a new main was re-routed to kitchen. Took about a day, thank god that’s sorted…

Two weeks later, I took a measurement.

I’m wasting more water than before this all started.  I called Brian Meacock and he arrives quickly, he confirms despite his fix the leak must be between the stop cock and the main water meter. I call out Thames Water who arrived many weeks later, and tell me – no it must be inside.

I call Green Planet, but Brian Meacock was on holiday so I call Unitec. After a short quote, Scott [director] of Unitec shows up and diagnoses the problem – the lead pipe I asked Green Planet to replace during their fix has failed.  (if you’re not aware, lead was used for pipe work decades back, it’s has lasted through the years because it isn’t disturbed – unfortunately when it is touched or manhandled that seal is broken).

Turns out Green Planet Plumbing and Heating didn’t bother to repair roughly a foot of lead. After their works that tiny bit of lead was disturbed and breached almost immediately. That breach threw a heavy spray of water under my hall and living room damaging wall paper, floor boards and electrics.

Turns out Green Planet made three major errors.

1. “Confirmed” the leak was between the outdoor stockcock and the water meter
2. They had routed passed the outdoor stop cock and had not communicated that to Brian Meacock
3. Failing to accept any wrong-doing (See email)

I dropped Brian Meacock of Green Planet a simple email asking him to cover the cost of the remedial works (£100).  And this is how he responded

I suggest you avoid Green Planet Plumbing and Heating.

 

[Update]

After significant effort, Brian finally gave me the ~£100 I asked for leaving me with a salesmen apology, and significant damage to my hardwood, wall paper and skirting.

I’ve had several plumbers quote for more recent jobs, each and every one has quoted on how poor Green Planet’s work was.

With this that in mind, avoid – or if you’re brave, pay after the fact.