Should I complain about a door handle?

cepheus

In the autumn I had new DG windows and door fitted. Overall the quality of the product was good, however one thing bugged me. The handle on the door stuck out so much it prevented it opening as fully as the original. It also prevented the adjacent door opening fully in the downstairs toilet. I have placed some rubber strips over the plaster in the door and wooden door to prevent the handle sticking in and damaging either. A floor stop would prevent it opening even more.

This is my only external door, which isn't wide, and even the orginal had prevented the movement of furniture. The handle would have to be removed for large items.

At first I treated this as a minor issue and just asked the company if the door handle could be replaced with a smaller handle or if a small reduction could be made to allow me to fix the problem myself.

The reaction of the company was to come up to my house examine it and insist on the full payment immediately, however they offered to look into obtaining another handle, on condition I would have to pay extra. I wrote out the cheque for the full amount.

Of course they didn't reply, so I called again. The Managers general response was evasive but agreed that he would get someone to look for further door handles. After a further period after no response I called them up again. The excuse then became I never gave them a specification. However, they made it clear at this stage that no aternative handle was available (since it is part of a larger mechanism for that door). I asked if fixing the handle myself such as by filing it away would invalidate the guarantee, they said yes.

It seems an awful lot of trouble for such a little thing, however their attitude has annoyed me. They are a member of checkatrade so I gave them an unsatisfied tick. This merely prompts checkatrade to send out a form with boxes which I have with me now. They have a very high rating from other people, although only the firm would have to be approached again to contribute to this score, I guess many people with problems just don't bother!

Am I being too fussy here, what would you do?

Crisp_£_note

Autumn?! If there is a genuine reason you require the toilet door to be fully opend (eg for the door wheelchair or walking aid access, for the window its a fire escape in an emergency) then yes. Otherwise can you look at attatching the door to the opposite side of the frame so it opens the other way?

If its worth complaining about then do it, why back down now you have the forms from check a trade?!

If the company said it would void the guarantee then what else can you do other than get the company to fix appropriate handles? However I would be asking if the company affix new handles would this invalidate the guarantee as well as they were not the intended handles for that particular door installed?

Is the guarantee worth the paper its written on?

If its just a personal annoyance bug then its not worth complaining about but from what I read youve come thus far so why are you back tracking now your obviously wanting it sorted.

fluffnutter

I'd butcher the handle myself and risk invalidating the warranty. They've confirmed that no smaller handles exist, sure they didn't exactly rush to give you this information, but you have it now, plus you're not out of pocket. You've provided your feedback. I'd leave it there.

cepheus

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

Autumn?! If there is a genuine reason you require the toilet door to be fully opend (eg for the door wheelchair or walking aid access, for the window its a fire escape in an emergency) then yes. Otherwise can you look at weitching the door to the opposite side of the frame so it opens the other way?

Unfortunately it wouldn't work at all the other way round.

I can manage, but a disabled person would find it difficult, impossible with wheelchair, if I sold. The house was lived in by old person before I bought it. Nowadays these are are all BTL and less likely to be used that way.

I will probably fill in the form, but wouldn't like to try and claim on the gaurantee if something goes wrong. So more of a duty than self interest. I may take a file to it.

It makes me wonder how effective these Internet assessments are, since these might be biased by being filled in by the contented. Perhaps people are too easily pleased nowadays? I have questioned glowing Amazon reviews from electrical sellers before to the intense annoyance of MSErs who accused me of being one of the sods who provide low ratings (I never had)!

Crisp_£_note

With indirect but personal experience of Check-A-Trade the customer questionaires are often given to friends, family and regular repeat customers and those customers who appreciate the job done hence as you say their often biased in my personal opinion from experience Any complaints are followed up with C A T but its more of an indirect way to complain for the customers and business to settle the disgruntled customer without the uncomfortableness. Then again I am talking from early years of C A T service.