About me
Tom Cave Plumbing & Heating is run by Thomas Cave, a sole trader based in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, NE26. The business is Gas Safe registered (No. 985973) and I hold Gas Safe engineer licence No. 6140176. I'm not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to my prices. These terms apply to all work I carry out for you, alongside any written quote I give you. Nothing in them affects your legal rights as a consumer.
Prices and quotes
- The prices on this website are starting prices, to give you a clear idea of cost. Your actual price depends on the job and will always be agreed with you before I start.
- For bigger jobs, such as a new boiler, I'll give you a free written quote after a survey. Written quotes are valid for 30 days.
- Repair prices cover labour. Parts are charged on top, and I'll tell you the cost before fitting them.
- If I find extra work is needed once I've started, I'll explain it and agree the price with you before carrying on. I won't do extra work without your agreement.
- Making good after the work, such as plastering, tiling and redecorating, isn't included unless it's listed in your quote.
Call-outs and hourly work
- Between 8am and 6pm, a call-out is £65, which includes the first hour of work. Each extra half hour is £30.
- Before 8am or after 6pm, a call-out is £120, which includes the first hour.
- Time spent finding a fault is chargeable, even if the repair is then quoted separately or you decide not to go ahead.
Booking, changes and cancelling
- If you need to cancel or rearrange a visit, please give me at least 24 hours' notice so I can offer the slot to someone else.
- If you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, or I can't get access when I arrive at the agreed time, I may charge the £65 call-out fee.
- If you book work by phone, email, through this website or in your home, you have the legal right to cancel within 14 days of agreeing the work, without giving a reason. To cancel, call or email me.
- If you ask me to start work within those 14 days and then cancel, you'll need to pay for the work done and any parts ordered up to that point. Once the work is fully complete, the right to cancel no longer applies.
Payment
- Payment is by card, cash or bank transfer.
- Payment is due upon completion of the work or, if stated on the quotation, within 7 calendar days of the invoice date. If payment is not made by then, I reserve the right to charge interest at 4% a year above the Bank of England base rate, from the due date until you pay, plus reasonable costs of recovering the debt. For business customers, I may instead claim interest and compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
- For larger jobs, such as new boilers and bigger installations, I may ask you to pay for materials before work starts. If so, this will be set out in your written quote before you agree to go ahead.
- Once materials have been ordered for your job, payment for them is non-refundable. If I'm able to return them to the supplier, I'll refund whatever the supplier refunds me.
- Parts and equipment remain my property until they've been paid for in full.
My guarantee
- My workmanship is guaranteed for 12 months from the date the work is finished. If something I've done goes wrong in that time, I'll come back and put it right free of charge.
- Parts are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. New boilers come with the manufacturer's warranty, which I register for you. Most manufacturers need the boiler serviced every year to keep the warranty valid.
- The guarantee doesn't cover faults that were already there before I worked on your system, parts or work supplied by other people, normal wear and tear, or damage caused by misuse, frost or accidents.
What I need from you
- Safe access to the work area, and a clear space around the boiler or appliance.
- Accurate information about the problem and your property, including anything you know about asbestos or previous work.
- Somewhere I can park nearby, or advance warning if parking is difficult.
Asbestos
If I find or suspect asbestos, I'll stop work in that area until it has been tested and, if needed, safely removed by a licensed specialist. Testing and removal are at your cost. I'll agree any change to the timing or price of my work with you before carrying on.
Unsafe gas appliances
As a Gas Safe registered engineer, I must follow the industry's procedure for unsafe situations. If I find an appliance that's dangerous, I'll explain the risk and, with your permission, turn it off or disconnect it, and attach a warning notice. If permission is refused for an appliance that's immediately dangerous, I'm required to report it to the gas emergency service. I'll always give you a price to put things right.
Old parts and waste
When I replace a boiler or other parts, I'll remove and dispose of the old ones responsibly, unless you ask to keep them.
Responsibility and insurance
- I hold £2 million public liability insurance.
- I'm responsible for loss or damage that's a foreseeable result of my breaking these terms or not using reasonable care and skill. I'm not responsible for loss caused by problems that already existed with your system, or by events outside my control.
- My total liability to you for any claim relating to a job is limited to the price of that job.
- Nothing in these terms limits my responsibility for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for anything else that can't be limited by law.
Complaints
If you're not happy with any part of my work, please tell me as soon as possible by calling 07860 256795 or emailing info@tomcaveplumbingandheating.co.uk. I'll always aim to put things right quickly.
Bookings, paperwork and your information
I manage bookings, quotes, invoices, gas safety certificates and service reports using Gas App, and these will usually be emailed to you from it. Please check your junk folder if you're expecting something from me. How I use your personal information is explained in my privacy policy.
The law
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.