They repaired the work before showing you the problem.
When repairs have already changed the evidence, reconstruct the original condition from records. Assess urgency, notice and cause before accepting the repair bill.
Corporate Recovery Partners
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The alleged defect has already been removed
A plumber is sent an invoice for emergency repairs carried out by another contractor. The damaged fitting has been discarded and the wall closed again. The customer says there was no time to wait. The plumber cannot inspect the original condition and needs the pre-repair records, explanation of urgency and actual repair scope.
Request photographs, videos, inspection notes and the repairer's findings. Identify when they were created and whether any parts or samples remain. Preserve the information in its original form.
Do not treat a finished repair photograph as proof of the original cause. It may show what was done without establishing why the problem occurred.
Collect messages and call records showing when the problem was reported and what response was possible. Ask what immediate risk required action and what work could not wait.
Avoid assuming either that all urgent work was justified or that you always had an absolute right to attend first. The contract, circumstances and applicable law require assessment.
Separate investigation, emergency containment, permanent repair and upgrades. Ask for an itemised invoice and the technical basis linking your work to the problem.
Consider an independent expert review of the available evidence where worthwhile. Make the evidence limitations explicit rather than asking an expert to confirm a preferred answer.
Have the liability and cost position reviewed, including any relevant insurance notification. Business.gov.au recommends checking facts and priorities before choosing a dispute route.
Explain supported findings and unresolved gaps. If negotiating a contribution, document the terms carefully so a practical compromise is not left to imply acceptance of unrelated damage or future claims. Ask whether removed parts, photographs or the repairer’s contemporaneous notes remain available; the original condition may still be partly documented.
