Solitary chicken - need advice

[Lydia]

Our experience has been overwhelmingly rubbish with different companies.

 

First there was Anglian 'Home Improvements' who damaged our flat roof making it leak. They admitted it was their mistake but refused to come round and fix it. Two months of calls followed, during which time our kitchen ceiling went mouldy as a result of the damp. We finally took them to court and won. However, they would not remove us from their contact lists and they continually called wanting us to sign up for more work. We threatened court again and they finally stopped.

 

Then came a local firm, Twyford Windows, who we employed to do our porch. They did a rally shoddy job. The glass in the doors let in moisture after less than a year and the door has never ever shut properly. Also, the chap who fitted it all was continually smoking, which seeped into the house as he was near the front door. I had to ask him to refrain twice. They replaced the door after I offered to get Trading Standards involved but then went on radio silence and stopped answering the phone and emails. When the door went again a few months later and then the glass blew, we couldn't face having them round again so have put up with it for 5 years.

 

Then came Zenith Home. They did some work for us in the 90s and were fine if expensive. We arranged an appointment for a quote for the porch and front door this weekend but no-one arrived or called to cancel. I called customer services this morning who implied that it was our own fault for wasting our time waiting in as we had not received a confirmation call! I pointed out that we were not aware of this procedure and naively thought an appointment card with a time and date on it was sufficient. Apparently the time was 'just a guide anyway'.

 

We have another firm coming at the weekend. Let's see if they turn up!

[Grandmashazzie]

What a nightmare. I try and get someone that someone I already know has used and can recommend. My daughter has stopped workmen in her area if she likes what they were working at Windows etc. She has got quote from them but before she goes ahead she calls at the original house to ask if they have been happy with their work. She has been lucky in that they have maybe then recommended decorators etc. Perhaps you could look for similar work done and ask householder the company they used,most people are flattered.

[soapdragon]

Wow....what a saga! Its so frustrating and I feel for you! Have you asked around locally to see who your neighbours have used successfully? We are lucky that we have some great tradesmen near us but, if I ever need anyone 'extra' I either ask around or use the local Parish Magazine and we have been very fortunate so far!

 

Personally I would never use one of the 'national' upvc window people....we had exorbitant quotes from two of them who then immediately cut them by half when we told them it was too much! We then went to a local company in Wallingford who were half the price again (so a quarter of the original quotes!) and did a fantastic job. They return now and then to replace a few more windows, as funds allow!!!!

 

Fingers crossed for you for the weekend....maybe you could ask the company to provide references? They should be happy for you to talk to previous clients; if not then warning bells ring

[Valkyrie]

I use Checkatrade now. I have had people in before that have been recommended by neighbours (and my mum) only to have the window company send a different team of workers who were less than perfect. Had to get the company back. Although they had different people with sofits and fascias - and those guys were fantastic. The window people were supposed to leave the windows inside looking as though nothing had been removed. Not so - they leaned out using the drill to steady themselves on the inside window ledge and I ended up with a Phillips head hole in the wood. They damaged kitchen tiles. The back door wasn't sealed - still lets in damp. Yet I had seen a really good job done on my neighbours house.

Next came the bathroom guy - I had seen his work - it was good. This time he had his son in law who was very slapdash and did not think at all. As a result the loo was damaged and replaced. The sealant around the baths was s"Ooops, word censored!"py and his jeans dug holes into the new baths. The floor tiles were laid and finished way short of the door. The new door on one of the bathrooms had a cut near the bottom where he'd started to cut it too short. The shower panels - instead of tiles - were also cut too short so there is a gap between the shower tray and the walling. They were supposed to remove the tile shelf in the downstairs loo - also they were supposed to paint it all but by that time I'd had enough of them. I was supposed to paint it after that but I never got round to doing it all. So then the decorator that was recommended to my mum - and I saw no reason why I shouldn't use this person - came along and only did half the bathroom. She said that she only quoted for the wall - not the woodwork - well I have tongue and groove panels. What's the point of only slapping paint on part of the bathroom. She said she thought it was stained. Yup, with knotting!!! We did however have a brilliant plasterer - the walls were so smooth that it was a shame to paint them - which this lady did and I had to try and sand down the drips where she slapped it on so thickly that there were horizontal lumpy lines with added drip trails all over my lovely plaster. Enough to make you cry.

 

So now I only go for those with lots of ticks!

[Willow]

We've had a mix, some brilliant, OH of a forum member superb job replacing our soffits and guttering etc, and excellent local roofing company - neither had easy job as there's been 3 different extensions onto a non standard roof layout for the original house. Then'Carpenter' who is a which local trader, and has good write up in little green book was beyond awful. I need to get someone out to quote and finish & correct the work he did but can't face the whole process

[Olly]

It's a nightmare isn't it. Can't get anyone to quote for a new bathroom - it doesn't seem to be be a big enough job to interest them.

 

Do you have a local Streetlife group? I use this for finding tradesmen that others have used, you do get a lot of replies from people recommending themselves/their relatives so I always look for genuine arms-length recommendations.

[Cinnamon]

Our experience has been overwhelmingly rubbish with different companies.

 

First there was Anglian 'Home Improvements

Then came a local firm, Twyford Windows

Then came Zenith Home.

 

Sounds like you live near to me by the name of the local firm!

 

We have just closed our business after 30 odd years of trading, but could have told you to avoid all 3 of these companies.

The amount of work we have done fixing up bodge jobs is unbelievable

 

I would suggest going by recommendation too....all of our work was on recommendation & we had so much we often had to turn it down!

You really cannot beat a good local firm that others have used & they are happy to recommend

[chickencam]

We used the window company who had just replaced our neighbour's Windows, saw their work visited their showroom and got other quotes too. They were great, quick, neat and tidy, they have come back a couple of times to replace a couple of small panels, always quickly, I been very impressed.

We also used a local company to install an air conditioning unit in our bedroom a few weeks ago, it leaked at first because it funny have enough fall on the drain pipe, they came straight back to fix it and were mortified that it had leaked. It was a new model which we were first to have installed, again very neat and tidy.

It is the luck if the draw sometimes I think.

[Lydia]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

Grandmashazzie, I wish I had your daughter's confidence to just go up and ask people! I admire that. We (OH and me) are both introverts and round here is not terribly neighbourly, so asking others is a bit of a nightmare.

 

Cinnamon, yes we are in Berks. Twyford Windows was a recommendation from one of OH's colleague and they did rather our us off using local firms because they were so bullish and worse than Anglian (and that's saying something!)

 

Fingers crossed for the new firm, which is also local and recommended

[soapdragon]

Lydia, I can recomend the company that does our windows, based between Wallingford and Didcot so not a million miles from you - they make to measure on site at their own workshop and are excellent! PM me if you want further info!

[Lydia]

Thank you. If the next lot are a dead loss, I'll definitely take you up on that

[soapdragon]

It might be a god plan to get two or three quotes anyway so that you can check they are competative ?!