Trading Standards complaints

[lawrenso]

Hi Craig..I'm a trading standards approved business and yes it is true that you have to give the company the opportunity to rectify their mistakes. If they refuse, then you can get someone else in to put it right and deduct the costs from their payment. You may also be able to bill them for additional expenditure but I would take legal advice before taking that step. You can fit the sanitaryware temporarily and I would include this in the letter or a follow-up letter, so that they are aware they will have to remove the products before they can rectify their mistakes.

Also, I assume they gave you an estimate or quote for the works together with the scheduled start/finish dates. That document should also have specified the payment terms and if it says 'on completion of works' then you do not legally have to pay them anything until the works are completed.

Also, a little unknown law.. since 1 Oct 08, all estimate/quotes/contracts over £35 that are concluded during the visit, must have a cooling off period of at least seven days and must include details of the consumer's right to cancel the contract. It does not usually apply to contracts concluded after the trader has left the premises but your trading standards staff may be able to advise whether your contract should have had it included, if it was given to you after they had left your premises.

Good luck!

Hi Daveyboy - any advice you can through on my thread would be greatly appreciated. i.e. Paid Tiler 350 out of 500 but has cost 1600 to get it all rectified.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Olz]

cheers for all your advice.i dont want to let the company back in house as they have insulted me enough with there work but trading standards have told me to write a letter giving them 14 days to rectify and complete the job which i have done.they have asked me to get 3 seperate quotes for the work they have done,ie taking old bathroom out (which wasnt hard as the toilet was already taken out by myself and bath was out appart from 2 pipes),alter new pipework to suit(basically moving it below floor boards but not rearranging as everything was staying in same place),fitting shower tray and preparing floor for tiling.ps/they have even used something like 6mm plywood which you have told me is incorrect thickness.
Trading standards have asked me to get 3 seperate quotes to take tiles off walls and floor,clean them and walls/or buy new tiles and obviously fit correctly.whilst all this has being going on ive had no option but to ask a friend to fit my shower,bath.sink,toilet etc as we cannot live without it as you can imagine.ive had to pay mate for this.i find it ridiculous that i hae to ask them back and also give them 14 days to rectify and complete the work.how can you do without a bathroom for so long.think ile see a soliciter as this has caused lots of unwanted stress which i dont need at all.thanks to john and dave for all your help

As frustrating as it is, you need to do exactly what trading standards tell you to do, if you dont, eg only give them 7 days not the advised 14 you will just be giving them get out's and may end up losing the case.

 

[boro1986]

hi Dave.there is nothing on the quotation regarding what you say.all thats on the contract is total jobs,total price,start and estimated finish date.1 piece of paper
regards
craig

 

[Daveyboy]

hi Dave.there is nothing on the quotation regarding what you say.all thats on the contract is total jobs,total price,start and estimated finish date.1 piece of paper
regards
craig

Hmmm.. ok, as you're calling it a quotation, I'm assuming that word appears on the document so that means it is a fixed price for the works listed; any other works not listed on the document would be viewed as an additional work and the cost agreed with you prior to it being carried out. An estimated finish date means the works could take longer than planned but within reason; if they allowed 5 days and it takes more than 10 days, I reckon that would be considered unreasonable, unless major unforeseen works was necessary. As there are no specified payments terms on the document and if there has been no verbal discussion about payments prior to works commencing, it is reasonable for you to assume payment will be on completion of works and not before. They would also have to submit an invoice for the works.

 

[mikethetile]

unless previously agreed payment is on satisfactory completion of job

if i understand the situation right they are demanding payment for works done so far and have indicated they will not return

proceed with caution at this stage as the law is a minefield

im assuming that you supplied the tiles and they specified and supplied the adhesive

write back and state you are n ot satisfied with the works giving your reason ie incorrect and unsuitable adhesive used

state in the letter you are not refusing to pay and would like the tiles replaced at their expence and stuck with the correct adhesive, giving them 14 days to either reccomence work or book it in asap

also state that as they have left your family without amenities you have incurred extra expense to have your pan etc temporarily refitted and you will be stopping this from their invoice

this should cover you on refusing to settle their invoice and puts the ball back in their court

remember you will pay...................as soon as they have completed the job they quoted for

 

[boro1986]

hi lads.ive sent a follow up letter to contractors enclosing evidence(the data sheet for weber fix plus which states "not suitable for porcelain tiles") and a letter from topps tiles stating it should not be used. ive put in it that i am and always have been willing to pay for work thats done to a satisfactory standard.my date for payment to them was up yesterday(20/4/09) so ile be receiving in the post probs.cheers for advice

 

[boro1986]

i have also found a bit of the plywood that was used on the floor which is 5mm.i think after wot u guys said this is incorrect also