When upmarket estate agent Savills had to call in a posh firm of plumbers to sort out a blockage in the Ladies, two unexpected things happened.
First, Pimlico Plumbers (run by millionaire Charlie Mullins – honestly, you couldn’t make this up), discovered that the cause of the blockage was condoms.
And next, an email from a director asking staff to refrain from “such activity” in the office went embarrassingly viral.
The email bearing the title “loos” was sent by Richard Gutteridge to some 50 staff at the Savills branch in Sloane Street, London.
It said: “After seven hours Pimlico Plumbers established the cause of the problem.
“Unfortunately the blockage was caused by a build-up of used condoms. Obviously such activity should not be taking place in the office.
“As well as being extremely inconvenient to have both loos out of order for an entire day, this has now cost the office a considerable amount of money.
“Please can we be considerate to the ancient Sloane Street plumbing going forward.”
The viral world was obviously delighted, although possibly rather surprised that it was Savills and not Foxtons.
But did the email mean that staff should not indulge in certain activity in the office? Not use condoms? Or simply not throw condoms down the toilet?
And who might those hot-blooded Savills people be?
Step forward the astonishingly resourceful Jamie Jago, living proof of how some PR people are worth every penny. She almost managed to shift the blame away from Savills and on to neighbours.
“Plumbers were called in to investigate problems with the ladies’ lavatories in Savills’ Sloane Street office,” she said. “It was discovered that the main drainage system, which is shared with adjacent buildings, was blocked with debris including condoms.
“The blockage has been removed and the system is now working.”
Gosh. And it isn’t even the silly season yet.
PS. (Note from Ros). I did try using that three letter word in the headline – the one that begins with s and ends with x. However, our software automatically bans that sort of language. If you post on this story, do bear it in mind and reach for the asterisks or euphemisms.
Having just unblocked my own house drains (not the same cause!), we only had to pay if the blockage was on our property within our own drains. If it is the mains drains, then it is covered by the water board. So, as Savills have had to pay, then nice try at the attempt to deflect 🙂
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I bet Savills get a significant increase in the job applications now! 🙂
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"However, our software automatically bans that sort of language."
Obviously no software problems in THAT office… 😉
(sorry Ros – it simply had to be done…)
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What a pity Jonnie isn't here to comment.
(somebody stop me…)
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Do Saviles specialise in condominiums?
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Wonder if they will be receiving letters from France in relation to this?
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It would never happen here – the only rubbers we use in our office never leave the end of our pencils…
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I would blame the board bloke. They simply can't handle the number of £r£ctions these days…
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"Please can we be considerate to the ancient Sloane Street plumbing going forward." – who says they went forwards? Might they not have used different positions?
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Well,Elbee, you know the old saying:
"Onwards and upwards…" 😉
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