Ripped off by conservatory co. PLEASE HELP

robjak

Last November I ploughed my life savings into buying new windows and a conservatory, nothing fancy, just a small conservatory.
In December the dwarf wall was built, then everything ground to a halt.
After several attempts at contacting the company, I was told that I had to pay the remaining payment in full before work could continue.
Stupidly, I handed over the remaining £10,000 on the 9th Feb 2006.
After another 5 months (July 2006), and alot of hassle and badly fitted fixings, I had new windows and almost a conservatory.
Now all work has stopped dispite several letters, a visit to CAB, phone calls to Trading Standards and the threat of small claims court.
The window sills are an absolute mass, parts of the conservatory are missing, a window wont even close, and some of the conservatory parts that are there are of a very poor standard.
Now the company is ignoring all of my efforts of contact.
I am not one of lifes complainers, and although the length of time to get this far niggled me abit, I continued to supply bacon butties and cuppas whenever a workman arrived.
What can I do now ?
This project has cost me £12,500 but will cost at least another £5000 to put right which I simply have not got.
Any suggestions all welcome.
The company by the way is :
GLENHAMPTON CONSERVATORIES
BRACKNELL

Their motto is :
OUR PASSION IS PERFECTION

AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COST

Can't_Get_Straight

The only help I can give is to bombard Trading Standard with complaints about the shoddy workmanship and ask them to inspect.

You could also try BBC Watchdog who will sometimes advise.

Failing that go to their head office address and state, with a recording device that you have taken pictures, have contact all of the above, plus rogue traders and are suing them. Follow the boss home if you have to (not to do anything), but just to let him know that you have his home address, should his company suddenly change names !!

sorry I couldnt be of more help.

wacko911

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

Put at least £100 on your credit card, even if you have the cash!

Why?

The credit card company would be liable for the FULL amount ie £12,000 odd.

Cost to you?

Nothing.

Bit late now if you havent paid with a CC, but if you have compain to the Credit card company and they will sort it out.

susieb

Are they FENSA registered, if so you can contact them to gt faults sorted

deanos

It does sound dodgy, when we got quotes for a conservatory they all said around 20% depost and the rest on completion.

Best advice is to see a solicitor alot do a free 1/2 hour or your local CAB , watchdog and rogue traders wont be intrested to be honest but maybe worth a try.

FENSA wont do anything either they are just a Self-Assessment scheme so if the builder is part of it they can self certificate the work without getting the council building inspector involved.

http://www.fensa.co.uk/faq.html

Doglover88

personally id have something happen to his fleet of vans..

robwend

i was thinking along those lines but wasnt sure of the feedback lol

mrcow

What about calling your local paper to see if they're interested in the story? Bad publicity is a powerful thing!!

Seek legal advice on what your next move should be. Have you got legal protection on your house insurance....if so, it's a wonderful thing.....use it!

I would think your best bet is to take them to small claims for the £5k to fix the job (I think the limit ofr small claims is £5k?).

Poppycat

Sounds like you have a claim for breach of contract. Send them a registered letter giving then 7 days to reply in writing with a date to finish the work in a reasonable time frame say 28 days or you will seek address in the small claims court for breach on contract the maximum amount is £5,000 that's summing you figures of rectifying the problem in your 1st post is £5,000

I wish you luck anyone would hate to be in this position, I hope the company isnt going down hill for your sake as you hear all the time of these rogue companies and ones that go bust only to set up a month time under a new name.

robjak

Thanks for all the replys.
I have sent them a registered letter and got no reply.
When I signed the contract I read it through (quickly as salesman was telling me how great the final product would be !), and saw that they had an assurance that came with a 15yr guarentee.
It was only after signing the contract that I realised only the panes of glass were insurred by the manafacters, right next to that there was a motif that is very similar to fensa.
When I contacted Trading Standards, they advised me to get in touch with FENSA to see if GLENHAMPTONS were members, sadly they are not.
I will definately not let this go and have sent off a letter and the file that I have made, using photographic evidence of the shoddy workmanship.

I am sick and tired of everyday people that work hard for what they have got, getting ripped off.

I am also mad with myself for not researching the company enough.

That reply about 'the fleet of vans', oh how tempting !!!!

Thanks again every1

Paul_Varjak

susieb wrote:

Are they FENSA registered, if so you can contact them to gt faults sorted

And if they are not FENSA registered did you get Building Control approval from your local Council for the works?