Pesky Builder.

Update. I spoke to the insurance company today and they have agreed to send out somebody to see it for themselves. It is also somebody rather than the original PCA, so it will be a fresh pair of eyes. At this stage, the insurance company are being understanding and helpful, as well as sympathetic but they probably know that's in their interests. I think when I told them I feel the house is unsafe and I fear for our safety and don't feel safe here and also that I'm only finding dangerous things that can be seen and not what else might be lurking.

Shudder. :runaway:
 
srichards said:
Best wear a crash helmet at all times, just in case ;)
Click to expand...


Crossed my mind that.

Or the possibility that we might have to move back out for the place to be sorted and put back properly. :crying:
 
You not being there is possibly how they got away with doing such a shonky job. If the householder is there they can't cut corners so much as you can walk in on them doing something they shouldn't at any time.
 
It must be the house equivalent of a 'cut and shut'.

I'm guessing here but the figures involved monetary wise must've been huge, I'm thinking at least £40k. The whole interior was ripped out, floors, walls, the lot. No disrespect to anybody trying to get on (quite the opposite) but there were a lot of apprentice types here and on my visits, no apparent leadership. I think they were given tasks for the day and left to it.

The builder made his quick bucks, lots of them.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a complete nightmare for you Dale!

Whilst there are a lot of good, honest tradesmen, sadly there are some truly shocking ones who's work puts people in danger.

My Brother's a plumber and worked for a guy that would constantly ask him to cut corners. There was one job in particular he asked my Brother to bodge something to save money. The family had a daughter that was about the same age as my niece (around 2 years old) and it was around the time where a small child had been scalded to death in her bed by some sub-standard plumbing that had failed above her :(

At that point my Brother went it alone and has been doing so for the last 8 or so years, sometimes he struggles a bit but he can sleep soundly at night knowing he's done an honest and safe job.

Your insurance company seem to be making the right noises, let's hope they get things sorted for you ASAP!
 
Dale. said:
The builder who was contracted and recommended by our insurance claims advisor removed the boiler and then according to him, a certified gas engineer was used to re-fit it and apparently, a gas safety certificate was issued. I've never seen or have a copy of that certificate. It just doesn't add up, I can't help feel that the boiler was re-installed by the builder's normal crew.
Click to expand...
The gas safety certificate is yours, not the builders. He has to give it to you.

Ring Trading Standards and Building Control, there is something dodgy going on with this. Ring them today.

I would also ring the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Conduct Authority as the insurance company is managing this cock-up.
 
Thanks for the advice all, it's appreciated.

I spoke to the insurance yesterday who were going to call me back today. I specifically requested that it wasn't our original PCA who called me back but she did. I think she had an agenda and without making any accusations, I felt she tried to get a rise out of me (too old for that nowadays) and also asked me questions that shouldn't concern her. Basically, it was said that the builder was prepared to come out and rectify the new problems. Yeah right.


Anyway, after that, which shook me up, I phoned the insurance again. Without saying too much, it's now in the hands of their complaints department.

I'm a patient chap, so we'll see what happens from there but if we can't resolve it ammicably at that point, then it's to time to bring in the above suggestions.

CO monitor installed in the boiler cupboard and said cabinet now propped up.
 
You are entitled to a copy of the gas safety certificate. If you don't get one you must contact gas safe.
 
Cheers Gerry (y). I've never had or seen that certificate. I will wait on the insurance getting back to me now and raise it with them to see if they can get it to me, or at least a copy of it. If that fails, I will contact Gas Safe. One thing concerns me about waiting on the insurance company though is that it might take a few days for them to get in touch now whilst they investigate the ins and outs of this .

I can't contact the builder directly now as it's become untenable to do so.
 
You must contact Trading Standards and Building Standards about the builder regardless of the outcome with the insurance company.

Imagine you hear of a child dying because of a dodgy gas installation in a couple of months time? You'll feel like sh*t if it's the builder you didn't report..
 
Alastair said:
You must contact Trading Standards and Building Standards about the builder regardless of the outcome with the insurance company.

Imagine you hear of a child dying because of a dodgy gas installation in a couple of months time? You'll feel like sh*t if it's the builder you didn't report..
Click to expand...

When you put it like that, I realise I have little choice. You're right.

I feel the insurance company are siding with me, for now at least but I don't know what is going on behind the scenes so I don't want to antagonise them just now, but if I get no satisfaction when they get back to me, then Trading Standrads will be my next move.
 
Dale - just a thought

Is it possible for you to get a report from an independent surveyor on the standard of work done by the Insurance Company's builder ?
 
camerassassin said:
Dale - just a thought

Is it possible for you to get a report from an independent surveyor on the standard of work done by the Insurance Company's builder ?
Click to expand...


I have considered that option, as well as independent gas engineers etc. I'm really hoping to avoid this getting any messier and I'm waiting now to see what the insurance company say when they get back to me as it's being investigated now as an official complaint.

If I don't get satisfaction after that after that, all options are on the table. (y)


Does anybody think it's unreasonable to expect a boiler service as part of the inspection that I wanted to give me the comfort I seek with the boiler? I thought that would be part and parcel of a thorough check but it seems to be a sticking point for the builder. He's prepared to have it inspected it by "his independent" :confused: engineer. I've lost confidence in the builder and won't allow him or anybody associated with him back to my property.

And now of course, the kitchen cabinet is loose on the wall. :eek:
 
Sorry if I missed it but have you put the insurers on a timescale for reply and action or you will escalate it to the Insurance Ombudsman or maybe the FCA is the appropriate body.
 
I'd be asking the insurance company to fund an independent survey by a company of your choosing (or agreed between you and the insurers).
Stick to your guns - their previous contractor appears to have been dangerously negligent and I'd no longer have faith in their supply chain.
 
Box Brownie said:
Sorry if I missed it but have you put the insurers on a timescale for reply and action or you will escalate it to the Insurance Ombudsman or maybe the FCA is the appropriate body.
Click to expand...


Yep, 3-5 working days from yesterday, so I would think I'd hear off them by next Wednesday.
 
Dale. said:
When you put it like that, I realise I have little choice. You're right.

I feel the insurance company are siding with me, for now at least but I don't know what is going on behind the scenes so I don't want to antagonise them just now, but if I get no satisfaction when they get back to me, then Trading Standrads will be my next move.
Click to expand...
I hope the builder's not doing any other jobs in the mean time.
 
Alastair said:
I hope the builder's not doing any other jobs in the mean time.
Click to expand...


He is as far as I know, they see the problems here as minor. He just wants to send somebody out to inspect the flue and re fit the screws. The problem with that is I have no confidence in them and they are not coming back here.

All I can do for now is wait on the insurer getting back to me. If they can send somebody here so I can speak to them with a fresh start, then we can move on.

Just as well I have pics of the whole thing, from the tear down to the rebuild. :sneaky:
 
Hope you are keeping the insurer informed of all this, and any trade association the builder is in.
 
Indeed, the insurance are right up to date. I've now lodged a formal complaint with them about the builder.
 
A positive update.

The insurance company phoned me direct on Tuesday past to hear my side of the story. They then said they would look at both sides and call me back. Today, Thursday, they did.

As it stands, they agree with me. However, they are sending out 2 personal claims advisors next week to see it for themselves and they will advise repairs etc. Our first PCA has become biased and subjective, so it won't be her and I have specifically requested that it isn't as that is now a confrontational relatonship as she is patronising and uncompationate, IMO.

So now we'll see but compensation was mentioned but I'm not quite clear what that means. If they offer it, I'll take it but I'd rather my house be safe and if I have to choose between the 2, I know which one it will be.

As for the builder, they are taking steps against him but couldn't tell me what that was, not that I really want to know but at the very least, I would think he will be made aware of his errors. They have also reprimanded our original PCA.

That's all I dare say here on an open forum but for now at least, it seems common sense might prevail, we'll see.

More fuel to the fire arose this morning when my almost 5 year old daughter caught her leg and scratched it on the bath panel, which is now hanging off ( panel, not her leg :whistle: ). I looked behind the panel and there are just a few bits of wood holding it in place, you couldn't call it a proper frame.
 
Positive update.

Were I you, I would take the position that you want/require/must have a fix of all issues & errors in a timely manner to suit you not them!

That for the inconvenience/upset et al compensation is your right not an option for them.

The above and possibly other aspects that only you are privy too are your right and not simply the largesse of the insurers!

Basically as they have admitted fault (if I have read it right) the only way for them to learn is make them "pay" for their mistakes.

Lastly, I echo the previous posts ~ that your daughter is aok.
 
Thanks all. (y)

I feel the ball is firmly in our court now and we are having the say. I won't be making unreasonable requests like build me a mansion and I'll shut up :LOL: but I won't stop until I get satisfaction. If I don't, thenTrading Standards and Building Control will be my next step but my feeling is, it won't come to that now.

I will update again, when I have news.:)
 
Obviously you're still discovering faults a fair while after the work was done. I'd make sure you don't sign anything that says this latest round of rectification work is a full and final settlement, you never know what other shortcuts this chancer has taken. ;)
 
Very true Larry. I have made them aware of that. The guarantee is still valid until February 2017 too. I suppose it stops becoming their problem at some point due to fair wear and tear but this isn't even close to that. That said, if anybody, God forbid, got a significant injury in the future, then that would be a different ball game, this is a picnic compared to what that would be.

My Daughter is fine guys, just a very light graze. She said she's a little sore and considering where it got her, she's going to be. I wish it wasn't but it is more ammunition for me.
 
Last edited:
Hi all.

It's been a long and messy fight, which ultimately involved The Financial Ombudsman, but today I have finally been able to bring closure.

The boiler has been sorted at their cost,

We have (albeit a scanned email) gas safety certificate. This is currently with Gas Safe just to be checked, as I felt there were a few anomolies on it, no house or engineer's number for example. If Gas Safe say it's acceptable, than I will have closure there too. I did feel I had an obligation to get it's validity checked though but it's now between Gas Safe and the contractor to sort out, if it needs sorting.

The problems in our bathroom have been rectified, including a brand new floor at their cost.

Our kitchen, which was damaged in the leak and then woefully stored and then woefully colour matched is getting replaced, at their cost.

We have received compensation. It was never about this, but if we deserve it, then we'll take it.

There were some other, smaller issues but for the sake of closure, I've forgone them

A result in our favour but it has been a difficult time and in all honesty, I feel the contractor who did the work has lead the insurance company up the garden path.

Claim now closed and all settled.

Oh sweet closure!!

:)
 
Last edited:
Cobra said:
Result (y)
Click to expand...


.... and I have a sneaky suspicion that the contractor/builder is no longer on the insurance company's approved list. Sad for him but I suppose he asked for it.
 
Dale. said:
.... and I have a sneaky suspicion that the contractor/builder is no longer on the insurance company's approved list.
Click to expand...
Well, that's what these "lists" are supposedly for. It does make you wonder how many other times, he's screwed up in the past.
 
Cobra said:
Well, that's what these "lists" are supposedly for. It does make you wonder how many other times, he's screwed up in the past.
Click to expand...


I'm guessing there's been lots of complaints, although I don't know that for sure but if what he did here is anything to go by, then it's a given.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top