New Bellway home cust care: Gnats coming through gap in strip on window sill

ms4

Hi all

We purchased a new build Bellway home last year. Our experience has been mixed. Some good, some bad.

We recently called their customer care as we have seen gnats and sometimes other little flies coming through a little gap in the strip on the window sill adjacent to the window. I hope that makes sense.

The customer care has almost made me feel like we're complaining for no reason (hey, i'm not an expert in house building ). They said that it's summer so they would come through.

Then the window fitters called saying that a little gap needs to be there for some reason (something to do with water?!).

I was wondering anybody has experience of this, or if typical style windows on new builds are prone to insects coming through in gaps like this. Is it normal??

Thanks

lynzpower

Sorry your customer care team are taking the pi55 IMHO

I have a new build and there was a little bit of not damp, more moisture coming through the window sill. I told them about it, they came and resealed the windows, and tinkered about, seems perfectly fine now.

I had millions of gnats/flies etc in my garden, but they dont tend to come into the house unles the wondows are physically open.

bylromarha

Sorry to tell you this, but, IME, you have to fight Bellway customer care tooth and nail to get things like this resolved.

It took us 18 months of stroppy letters and phone calls...and 3 different heads of customer care in this time(says a lot IMO) to get our issue resolved the way it should have been done in the first place.

Holes for small insects to climb through are unacceptable and not normal. Keep on at Bellway and ask them for some sort of proof that this is correct window construction if they insist that there isn't a problem with the holes.

missile

I guess you are refering to the small slot in the frame? This is there to provide ventilation. I suggest you cover up the vent with a piece of masking tape. If you do get a problem with condesation, then you can easily remove the tape.:rolleyes:

Jorgan_2

The vents, in my experience, are usually designed so that they can be opened or shut by the user.

You say there is a gap in the sill, is this a drainage hole? If it is, creatures shouldn't be able to get into your property. Keep on at Bellway, get them to rectify the problem. If needs be, speak to a local double-glazing company & ask there opinion.

Bellway were featured on GMTV this, their idea of customer care seems to differ from those who buy their properties.

ms4

Thanks for the responses.

The gap is between the long plastic strip and the bottom of the window where the window sill is. The window fitter came round today, and said there is meant to be a little gap on the outside to let water out, fair enough. Filled in the gaps inside so that was ok.

I agree with all your comments about their customer care. We have found that their idea of customer does differ from what people expect on the whole. Only one of the senior management there actually appears to be willing to listen and understand (ex builder I think). Even the site managers have been good. So i'll give them their dues. Our main problems at the moment are with the head office and the lady who looks after the customer care for our estate. I alreadly mentioned her comment about it being summer and to expect this problem :mad:

Just to go slightly OT, today my wife asked if they could send someone around to clean the extractor fan as it was noisy and contained dirt. The lady said that's down to us to do now. My wife said they've done this before though, and her response? "They must have done it out of the goodness of their heart". :mad: :mad:. Do they not even understand how their responses come across! I wouldn't even think of employing people who speak in this manner if they are dealing with the public.

I think we did ok with the actual house we bought and the site managers have been ok with us, however their customer service and apparent reluctance at the head office means that I wouldn't recommend buying something from them unless they can sort some of their staff out. There is more I could say but it'll be saved for another thread!

And for those that think it's only a minority that have complaints and they have many more satisfied customers, my opinion is that too many people don't complain and accept what they have been given. I've even seen a Bellway home survival kit on the web!

welnik

I was unfortunate to purchase a Bellway home and found the after service absolutely appalling.

I had an A4 list of faults. I had saw cuts in the bath, a hole in one of the internal doors, a leaking pipe in the wall in my living room, the fence panels were just hammered into the ground and blew away the first bit of wind we had, damaged worktops, stairs falling apart due to being held together by plasterboard nails and the crem de la crem was a faulty boiler which packed up Christmas Eve leaving us with no hot water and heating for 4 days!

I bought my house in 1989 and would never buy a new house again and would never buy a "second Hand" Bellway built house.

The inspector that checked the faults said "well what do you expect for £50,000! I wouldnt mind but this was at the peek of the boom and 18 months earlier we could have had a much nicer house in a better area for about £35,000.

A lesson to all readers, steer clear!