Please help me with employer holding my wages

[Kay101]

Water expands when it is heated, so this would rise the pressure. But if a 10 bar test exceeds the final pressure of the heated pipe it would not leak? Is that correct?

10 bar is very high pressure
If its open vented it will not increase in pressure regardless of how hot it got
The highest I've known is 7 bar
5 bar is a reasonable test pressure

 

[Kay101]

Yes but then what about if it's just a fracture or pin hole in the solder and the flux keeps it water tight till the heat test?
im not saying that's the reason for it but I have had a weep after heat testing.

fair enough but its very rare, usually a pressure test will find a leak if its there

 

[EastLondonPlumb]

Yes but then what about if it's just a fracture or pin hole in the solder and the flux keeps it water tight till the heat test?
im not saying that's the reason for it but I have had a weep after heat testing.

Having seen what you all said helps thank you all. Regardless of the test, for him to withhold money due to these reasons he needs to have that in writing with my signature he cant just change the rules to suit himself.

I will write him a letter tonight and with regards to the heat test i will write something along the lines of.

'You told me you would not release payment until the water systems are fired up as to be heat tested, i offered you to test all the work to the 10 bar you use on site and you told me you would charge one days money to test 4 hiu units. I agreed to which you stated that you would also want to test eight second fixes on kitchen sinks which were incomplete due to lack of materials being drain off vales, iso valves and washing machine valves. To have that tested it needs to be completed and i can not be responsible for any fault with this work once someone else has worked on it. However it would have been possible to cap the second fix to test but you said it would take someone two days to test 4 hiu units and 8 second fixes on kitchen taps. I find that unreasonable as it took me under a hour to test the whole first fix on an entire floor of 4 flats. I agreed to let you charge me two days and go ahead and test it, not that i agree with being charged for testing as this is an actual stage of works which is needed to be completed and is a vital part of any work completed. I offered you and are still giving you the chance to test all work at 10 bar, non of the systems are unvented so heat expansion will not exceed 7 bar. With further regards to your heat test you did not have the correct equipment on site to perform a heat test nor was there any mention of any heat test, the standard practice was to test with a hand pressure test with air or water, water being the more commonly used.'

 

[lame plumber]

tribunals are for employment law and employees, not you though. Question is how much is actually owed to you, is it for materials or just labour, 1000s or 100s, time to think is it worth the hassle and walk away if its not, it will cost you more to take him to court and even if and when you win, he can pay a £1 a month if he has no money!

 

[deandive]

Id be knocking on his door...........but then again I am 6'4" and well built. Saving that take him to small claims court, it may stop him doing it to others in the future.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

What is job & knock please?

 

[rpm]

Saturday morning jobs can be, Go when your done and book all morning.

 

[Millsy 82]

I have found in the past that when an employer starts holding back money it usually ends one way. It has happened to me twice in the past (I was directly employed though) the first time I got taken for £3500.00 and the second time only about £150.00 but I spotted it before it was too late and walked 3 weeks later he went bankrupt.

Try and get your money back but don't hold your breath.

 

[Rickster123]

I have found in the past that when an employer starts holding back money it usually ends one way. It has happened to me twice in the past (I was directly employed though) the first time I got taken for £3500.00 and the second time only about £150.00 but I spotted it before it was too late and walked 3 weeks later he went bankrupt.

Try and get your money back but don't hold your breath.

did you get your 3500 back from when you were employed?

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

I have found in the past that when an employer starts holding back money it usually ends one way. It has happened to me twice in the past (I was directly employed though) the first time I got taken for £3500.00 and the second time only about £150.00 but I spotted it before it was too late and walked 3 weeks later he went bankrupt.

Try and get your money back but don't hold your breath.

i think I would have emptied the van into my shed if it happened to me, that's a lot of dosh mate.

 

[brum]

Unfortunatley if your subbing this will happen possibly on a regular basis especially if you are in a city or big town been there know exactly how you feel bud all the best anyway..brum

 

[southcoastboile]

I can see it from both sides I think it's unfair of him to ask you to pay two days wages to test the installation but if there is a few leaks it would cost him money to put right.

from what I can make out you also left early without testing the work. I think you should have stayed to test it as you were on a day rate and it hadn't been finished. From the employers point of view this is a bit of a p*ss take.

he has agreed to pay you some money and the rest after testing. I would make sure you get the first lot and agree a fair price for the rest. What he has offered doesn't seem fair.

If you are subbing on a day rate and you don't work a full day I think he has every right to be annoyed.

The court could perceive it as fraud if you have invoiced at a day rate and left early. It's always best to talk it out rather than mess around with court fees etc.

 

[Nostrum]

How much are you owed?

 

[Millsy 82]

did you get your 3500 back from when you were employed?

Not through the company and not all of it. I got some back off The government I think it was from the NI

 

[Millsy 82]

i think I would have emptied the van into my shed if it happened to me, that's a lot of dosh mate.

I did I got 1 transformer, 1 sds drill, 2 leads and a 110v light. The rest of the kit was mine. 1 of the lads sold 1 of the vans! But unfortunately mine was a hire van as the head gasket went on mine.