HELP! builders have damaged my door!

happymummy24-7

I will try and be brief!

My nest door neighbours have builders in at the moment.They have been there 3 weeks and the house is scaffolded-we are a semi so the scaffold is just on our boundry.
They have been removing the render from the front and side of the house with one of those elsctric hammer things-however the last bit they left was the bit on the boundry at the front between our two houses,as they said it was delecate so the more experienced builder needed to do it!
They removed it on Tuesday morning and when i looked out my window the whole amount of rubble (large and sharp pieces) had hit the front of my house,windows front door ect and was all over the top of the drive,piled up at the step at the front door all over my hanging baskets,hedge ect! They brushed up the larger bits of rubble which was no problem-i had absolutly no problems with all the mess ect as i presumed they would clean it all up before they leave. BUT-when i opened the door i found 2 chunks had been taken out of the frame at the bottom and the same area was covered in chips to the paint work (its a pvc door finished in an oak colour instead of white) where the large chunks had hit and landed-i wasnt happy!
I called in my neighbour to look as the builder had left and she said i needed to get the builder to sort it out so she called him to come and look.I had to go out in the mean time as he didnt show up but on my return i had a note to say he's had a look and will probably be replacing the door,from my neighbour.that was fine until the next day when the builder called in to say he actully taking responsability because they couldnt have caused the damage! Now i am not a liar and felt very upset at being called one,but he sain he would be getting Forensic tests carried out to date the damage and i would have to go to court!
HELP....what do i do!? The 'boss' is on holiday (!) so he cant be fought with!
They took no precautions to protect my property or me for that matter,any of us could have opened the door that morning and been hit.All i expect is the decency to put right any damage they caused,the last thing i needed was a new front door!
they are still working there for the next few weeks but its guys who are just working for the main builder at the moment-they are nice,making a mess but cleaning it up!!! they are removing the chimney tomorrow......im terrified!
Thanks,laura.

Badger_Lady

Go to court if they want you to

Seriously, if you're totally convinced (which you sound to me) that they did the damage, then no "forensic test" is going to prove otherwise!

Sounds like they're trying to scare you off - surely they can't take you to court, you would have to take them to Small Claims for the cost of repair/replacement..?

Polly

Call Consumerline on 0845 600 6262 for advice. Sounds like he's chancing his arm so time to call his bluff. Good luck

kazwookie

Get some photos now, of the damage and where all their stuff is etc.

a11waysindebt

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Go to court if they want you to

Seriously, if you're totally convinced (which you sound to me) that they did the damage, then no "forensic test" is going to prove otherwise!

Sounds like they're trying to scare you off - surely they can't take you to court, you would have to take them to Small Claims for the cost of repair/replacement..?

Same advice here.Forensic tests:rotfl:

Its not O'Reilly is it from Faulty Towers:rotfl:

happymummy24-7

thanks fro the quick reply.
Yes i feel they are trying to scare me off.....they picked the wrong girl,lol.I totally agree that the test will obviously prove its new damage BUT,and this is the best bit....the 'Forensic' person is something to do with the builder as he said he couldnt get him at the moment coz he is on holiday (i see a pattern here,dont you!?) The company has two 'partners' apparently and i have been dealing with the one who doesnt appear to be the actual boss...yip thats right,because hes on holiday!!!!!
I would like to get my own CSI tests done on the flippin door-i just dont know who to ask!!! I certinally have no problem taking them to court as they took absolutly no precaution to protect my property whilst they threw ruddy great lumps at it,so what leg do they have to stand on to deny they damaged it.
I am the person who would have rather had an apology for the damage for which they took responsability and perhaps it fixed up to look better and not leak through the bigger holes...and that would have been that BUT now they have wound me up with their behaviour and im not a happymummy!!

happymummy24-7

haha,i know im half laughing myself!
I have photos taken from the moment it happened even with all the rubble laying on the drive! Every chip from every angle which are so obvious as under the oak colour is white pvc!! the two holes are at this moment now filled up with the final stuff they throw on the plaster,the dash stuff,as they have been doing that all day!

Teza511

Give health & safety a call. This could put his plans on hold & cost him more money & they could help you. Take photos of your door,frame, garden & next doors area being worked, on even a picture of them working.Then contact trading standards.
Logg everything down. Do not come to any verbal arrangement with this person. As he will not do what he say's.
Hope this helps.

happymummy24-7

ok consumerline cant help me because i didnt employ him...lucky me!!

Im scared to contact health and safety because although he is breaking at least 4 codes eg leaving large containers of petrol sitting on the drive overnight ect as the people he is actually employing are hardworking normal guys who are just doing their job,and probably arnt paid too well and im scared they would loose their jobs!!

Sagz_2

happymummy24-7 wrote: »

Im scared to contact health and safety because although he is breaking at least 4 codes eg leaving large containers of petrol sitting on the drive overnight ect as the people he is actually employing are hardworking normal guys who are just doing their job,and probably arnt paid too well and im scared they would loose their jobs!!

I'd go down the H&S route too.

You would be doing his employees a service - everybody has a right to be safe at work.

Next time you discuss the damaged door with the builder just mention the words 'Health & Safety' - what if you had been leaving you house when the chunks fell that damaged the door? He's be paying for a lot more than just a new door.

Teza511

I don't think they would lose their jobs as its down to the forman & company to ensure health & safety at work. I'm a tradesman myself, those hardworking guys doing their job would have caused the damage by not taking care. Its down to the company to do method statements for how the work will be done in a safe way.