[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] protective wall coating salesman on doorstep

rc45_2

Protectacoat have now gone into liquidation, as have a few other companies of a similar ilk, for those that are interested.

Phil

qetu1357

Never, NEVER, buy anything off anyone who calls door to door

Keith01923

First post, although use these excellent forums and site.

We've just had a guy round from a different compnay. I did a search on the company a few weeks back but got no hits - that I guess was the warning sign but as they said on the phone that the quote was valid for a year we thought it couldn't hurt to get them round.

Price was originally over £8k for the front, pebble dashing has started to come off. Came down to under £4000 if we signed there and then. Then despite my wife and I mentioning credit cards we then found out that its cheques only.

This is so unlike us, at the time our 14 month old and 2 week old were playing up but as there's a 7 day notice of right to cancel we let it slide. Did another search and a company called Multiguard came up pointing to the fact that the company is not associated with them. It looks like Hi-Tex is the new name for Protectacoat.

Please help - we're really stressed, we have emailed as per the order form instructions for right to cancel. So stupid I know, specially as I always turn away cold callers. But we were planning on looking into rerendering anyway...

We said we wanted to think and get more quotes and then got gullable as per pitch listed here. Should the email suffice? It says notice of cancellation is deemed to be served as soon as its posted or sent or in the case of electronic communication from the day its sent. Am concerned about the bank holiday impacting on 7 days, so will follow this up on Tuesday with a registered letter

If they come back to us, how should we approach it?

Maybe this needs an icon for muppet or hitting yourself on the head with a hammer etc....

malkie76

Definitely follow up with a registered letter. Did you email them with a 'read-receipt-notification' ? If you didn't then they could claim they never received your email. Consider a second email with a 'read-receipt-notification' and use a 'proper' email account rather than a free (eg hotmail) one.

Keith01923

Thanks very much for the quick response malkie76. Much appreciated.

Will follow up with the registered letter on Tuesday. (Typical it had to be a bank holiday tomorrow).

Sent it via yahoo but cc'ed in my wifes yahoo a/c as well. I can do a reply to all to confirm delivery at least.

Just so glad we didn't sign up for the finance deal

fluffnutter

I had someone knock the door from texcote(?) a few years back. Usual spiel about 'inspectors' being in the area. Foot in the door stuff and he wouldn't leave despite my trying to close the door. I finally got him to leave by saying 'fine, whatever, send someone round' and thought no more about it. As I was shutting the door I caught something about saturday at 1000. The doorbell duly rang a few days later on saturday which I ignored assuming (rightly) that it was the 'inspector'. About ten minutes later or so, I opened the front bedroom curtains.

Biiiig mistake! The doorbell rang again. And again. And again. The door was banged. Someone starting shouting "We know you're in there. Stop wasting our time. Open the door. You're contractually obliged to let us inspect your property and if you don't we'll sue you for breach of contract". The phone started ringing (God knows how they got my number). I ignored it and let it go to the answerphone. They left a message. It was 'head office' phoning advising me to let the 'inspector' in 'or else'. I was repeatedly phoned over the next hour or so, plus the continued banging on the doorbell and shouting.

It was alarming to say the least. These cowboys are nothing short of criminals.

imaginarynumber

I can confirm that after reading dozens of the N£VER PA!NT AGA!N site pages the only one that I could find that mentions that they are just a middleman is on the privacy policy page.

I for one would not use ANY specialist wallcoating firm. There is something unsavoury about too many of them- I appreciate that there are bound to be some reputable firms but the whole industry is tarred by many of the larger players.

Personally I would get a decent plasterer to re-render and then a decorator. It might cost as much but should last much longer.

boristhespider

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]


I noticed LIFECOTEs very elaborate website which states they have been trading since 1974 but when looking them up on Companies House, it appears they have only been registered for about a year or so.....
I also found out the 'trade association' they belong to is also owned and operated by Mr Steele. So guess whose side he would be on in cases of a dispute?:mad:

Abbafan1972

fluffnutter wrote: »

I had someone knock the door from texcote(?) a few years back. Usual spiel about 'inspectors' being in the area. Foot in the door stuff and he wouldn't leave despite my trying to close the door. I finally got him to leave by saying 'fine, whatever, send someone round' and thought no more about it. As I was shutting the door I caught something about saturday at 1000. The doorbell duly rang a few days later on saturday which I ignored assuming (rightly) that it was the 'inspector'. About ten minutes later or so, I opened the front bedroom curtains.

Biiiig mistake! The doorbell rang again. And again. And again. The door was banged. Someone starting shouting "We know you're in there. Stop wasting our time. Open the door. You're contractually obliged to let us inspect your property and if you don't we'll sue you for breach of contract". The phone started ringing (God knows how they got my number). I ignored it and let it go to the answerphone. They left a message. It was 'head office' phoning advising me to let the 'inspector' in 'or else'. I was repeatedly phoned over the next hour or so, plus the continued banging on the doorbell and shouting.

It was alarming to say the least. These cowboys are nothing short of criminals.

2 words:- saucepan & water. :rotfl:

fluffnutter

dave454 wrote: »

Well, I had a job done by Lifecote back in 1998 and the same gentlemen you name was running the company then!

Its funny because if you look at yell.com they have over 100 adverts (enter Lifecote no location) and 70 websites. Search Lifecote on Google they appear to be massive, must be a better risk than a man and a van.

Maybe their competitors are using this page, or someone has an axe to grind, as the comments dont seem real, I actually went to their Greenford branch so I know their offices are real.

Anyway Id recommend them.:T maybe get two or three quotes and compare, could be the right direction rather than to post untruths guys!

'Untruths' huh? They genuinely frightened me. I was threatened with 'breach of contract', 'court orders', 'we're not going away' whilst being effectively held under siege in my house. I couldn't possibly comment on their products but their sales tactics are appalling. Worse than appalling; they're criminal.