Absolutely FUMING at my local council - UNBELIEVABLY bad treatment

sarahlouise210

I would contact the local TV station and get them to run a story ..that should ge the ball rolling!

dangeroussports

WHy stop at the local tv station?

KittyKate

Hi all, thanks for your kind words (and iwanttosave - OMG! What do these councils think they are playing at) I have a bit of an update.

Well, my dad still has a broken cooker, but as I said, he can use the oven/grill and 3 of the rings, so food wise it's a lot better (I also had a wide slot toaster couriered to him so he can now have simple snacks like beans on toast, toasted teacakes etc) as the kitchen is still a bomb site (nothing has been done to it since a week last Friday!)

The bloody builders then needed access to the alcove behind my dad's TV (he couldn't move it as it's a huge CRT widescreen), there was more than enough room for a big bloke to stand in (and it was only to drill the wall) yet they tore out my dad's aerial cable from the back of his digital box so hard it broke (the cable) so we've had a right game explaining over the phone how to fix it (it's sorted now).

They initially refused to put his central heating in till his electrics were done, my dad made another complaint (as his next door neighbour had his ch done then his electrics) and the council admitted they were lying, and got someone out last Thurs to do the central heating and then the electrics on Friday. They left a pile of rubble in the centre of his lounge which he's had to sweep out himself (they are supposed to do this) and most of the wall sockets are broken or hanging off (I gave him a digital camera about 2 years ago and have advised him to take progress pics, I am also going over on Saturday and will take some then if needsbe)

Most awfully my dad said he was totally humiliated on Friday when 2 youngish lads (very early 20s at most) walked in on him getting changed in his bedroom and said 'oh it's ok we've seen it all before' and stayed in the room removing the old immersion tank whilst my dad got changed! They moved the wardrobe & drawers up against the wall & left them there all weekend meaning my dad couldn't access his underwear and most of his clothes (I am fuming about this). He says he went down to the bus stop and had a cig waiting for the pub to open where he sat on his own as it was so early, just to get out of the house. He hadn't had a wash or anything to eat. He can't do any laundry as it would just get covered in muck hanging out in the yard. He sounds really depressed (and who can blame him).

I know doing out a house comes with a bit of muck and your house full of builders, but they are treating him quite frankly like sh*t (and everyone else in the area too).

The Council is Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and I believe the building contractors is called Murphys (my dad's nephew works in the council and says that Murphys have done such a bad job they'll never get a contract with the council again).

They didn't even show my dad how to use the new boiler/central heating, it's a good thing it has been a warm weekend - here's hoping they don't break any more of his stuff this week.

All the photos and a strongly worded complaint to the council will follow. My dad won't involve local press yet as he says he knows others who've threatened to do that have recieved even worse service than him. I respect his wishes and will be sure to claim back what they have cost us so far - so much for a 'quick and clean installation' (marketing rubbish from the council!)

Poppy9

Here is the complaints officers email address: [EMAIL="complaints@wakefield.gov.uk"]complaints@wakefield.gov.uk[/EMAIL] Send them this thread.

Also copy the email to your local councillors - all othe them who cover your father's district.

And here is how to contact the Prime Minster

hollydays

If they havent left an instruction book for the central Heating,you can sometimes get these off the internet.

nickyhutch

Move him in with you - it's not his job to supervise these idiots, and it can't be doing him any good living there.

Write it all down and make all the complaints everyone here has mentioned, to all those places. But move him in with you - he's going to get ill, otherwise.

foreversomeday

So the other residents are letting the builders bully them into keeping quiet?? How awful! I think you should definitely inform them, ask them to withold name and address and don't mention it to the builders. Don't stand for it!

diesel9181

sorry to hear of all the hassle you are having. i was involved in these types of contracts with the council a couple of years back. we used to provide the tenants with a portable cooker (is this an option in the living room on a table?) its not right but if you shout the loudest the work will get done quicker. keep a note of everything, even a diary each day of the problems you have had. i was with the council and we had contractors do the work who really couldnt have given a !!!!!! and we spent half the time fixing their mistakes. can you get hold of the manager from the council office, or do you have a liason officer from the council who comes to visit? the problem we had was the contractors doing whatever they wanted and telling tenants teh opposite to what we were. we used to take 6 weeks for the work and the tenants were asked to be in to supervise the work (for insurance purposes). has a laundry facility been provided for your dad? there should be washing machines, tumble dryes and showers for him to use nearby. do keep a diary (and photos of any damage, such as the plants) and try to get somebody from the council out to visit the house and see how bad it is. as its the council i doubt you would get much in the way of compensation but a serious complaint might make it run more smoothly for the next batch of houses. i hope its finished soon.

Errata

KittyKate wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for your kind words (and iwanttosave - OMG! What do these councils think they are playing at) I have a bit of an update.

Well, my dad still has a broken cooker, but as I said, he can use the oven/grill and 3 of the rings, so food wise it's a lot better (I also had a wide slot toaster couriered to him so he can now have simple snacks like beans on toast, toasted teacakes etc) as the kitchen is still a bomb site (nothing has been done to it since a week last Friday!)

The bloody builders then needed access to the alcove behind my dad's TV (he couldn't move it as it's a huge CRT widescreen), there was more than enough room for a big bloke to stand in (and it was only to drill the wall) yet they tore out my dad's aerial cable from the back of his digital box so hard it broke (the cable) so we've had a right game explaining over the phone how to fix it (it's sorted now).

They initially refused to put his central heating in till his electrics were done, my dad made another complaint (as his next door neighbour had his ch done then his electrics) and the council admitted they were lying, and got someone out last Thurs to do the central heating and then the electrics on Friday. They left a pile of rubble in the centre of his lounge which he's had to sweep out himself (they are supposed to do this) and most of the wall sockets are broken or hanging off (I gave him a digital camera about 2 years ago and have advised him to take progress pics, I am also going over on Saturday and will take some then if needsbe)

Most awfully my dad said he was totally humiliated on Friday when 2 youngish lads (very early 20s at most) walked in on him getting changed in his bedroom and said 'oh it's ok we've seen it all before' and stayed in the room removing the old immersion tank whilst my dad got changed! They moved the wardrobe & drawers up against the wall & left them there all weekend meaning my dad couldn't access his underwear and most of his clothes (I am fuming about this). He says he went down to the bus stop and had a cig waiting for the pub to open where he sat on his own as it was so early, just to get out of the house. He hadn't had a wash or anything to eat. He can't do any laundry as it would just get covered in muck hanging out in the yard. He sounds really depressed (and who can blame him).

I know doing out a house comes with a bit of muck and your house full of builders, but they are treating him quite frankly like sh*t (and everyone else in the area too).

The Council is Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and I believe the building contractors is called Murphys (my dad's nephew works in the council and says that Murphys have done such a bad job they'll never get a contract with the council again).

They didn't even show my dad how to use the new boiler/central heating, it's a good thing it has been a warm weekend - here's hoping they don't break any more of his stuff this week.

All the photos and a strongly worded complaint to the council will follow. My dad won't involve local press yet as he says he knows others who've threatened to do that have recieved even worse service than him. I respect his wishes and will be sure to claim back what they have cost us so far - so much for a 'quick and clean installation' (marketing rubbish from the council!)

Why am I not suprised to hear it's Wakefield !
I'm assuming it's actually Wakefield District Housing Association, and what I would do is as I suggested in an earlier post - take as many photos as possible, write everything down in the form of a diary. Then DEMAND a meeting with Kevin Dodd, CX of WDH, ward councillors and the cabinet member responsible for housing (sorry, can't remember who it is), cabinet member for regeneration Denise Jeffrey, dad and yourself or someone who can support dad and act as his advocate if necessary.
The important thing is to gather as much evidence as possible, photos/written recollections/ to present at the meeting. I would also, given your dad's age, make a formal complaint of the verbal abuse made by the young blokes who did not treat your dad with the respect and dignity he's entitled to at his age.
Hope this helps.

dangeroussports

Wakefield.

What a ghastly blot on the Great British Landscape, this seat of Mars bar.