My problems began with a cracked pipe under the kitchen sink. Without the tools or expertise and with a large number of guests due for dinner, I reached for the phone book to find a plumber willing to do a weekend callout. Big mistake.

I gulped as I agreed to the company’s eye-watering charge of £80 per 30 minutes. Even my accountant does not charge that much, but I was desperate and I thought it was a simple job. Second big mistake. Continue reading →