Scaffolders won't take it down!

phil24_7

Write to them and tell them that due to the length of time it has been there, the amount of times you have contacted them and the fact they now seem to be ignoring you, you will give them 7 days to remove the scaffolding. If they do not remove it within that time frame then they will forfeit ownership of the trespassing scaffolding and you will dispose of it as you see fit.

A scrappy should pay you more than you will have to pay to take it down.

shaun_from_Africa

phil24_7 wrote: »

You have no written contract with them so you have no evidence that they have breached it.

As the company concerned have already removed some of the scaffolding and labelled it as unsafe, I would say that irrespective of their not being a written contract in place, they will have breached the terms under which they are allowed to operate and they will have broken the law by knowing allowing an unsafe structure to remain in place.

phil24_7

It is tagged as unsafe and no doubt has the ladders locked or removed. This is all they need to do comply with H&S. It is not unsafe to stand on it's own, just unsafe to be used, there is a difference. If it was dangerous, that would be different, and it would need to be made safe or taken down immediately.

docmatt

Scaffolders won't take it down.

I wonder why?

When it was erected I wanted to withhold 30% of the charge to pay when they took it down

He quoted you and you agreed. You can't just suddenly change the goalposts after it's been fitted. Unless you agreed this in writing then it's the norm: They erect you pay them.
You've been an awkward customer by deciding on holding money back so now he's being awkward to you.

I mean come on, you don't pee scaffolders off, they are the dumbest people on the planet and impossible to reason with.

Good luck.

RoNZ

phil24_7 wrote: »

You have no written contract with them so you have no evidence that they have breached it.

Actually I do. I have the request for what we wanted and the original quote in writing (text message). Just no formal contract.

RoNZ

docmatt wrote: »

Scaffolders won't take it down.

I wonder why?
He quoted you and you agreed. You can't just suddenly change the goalposts after it's been fitted. Unless you agreed this in writing then it's the norm: They erect you pay them.
You've been an awkward customer by deciding on holding money back so now he's being awkward to you.

No, that's not quite right. I wanted to withhold the money for taking it down because they took 10 days to erect it after saying it would be 2 days, so I was anxious about the de-rigging. But I didn't withhold the money when the owner was not agreeable to it. So I haven't been awkward at all. Unless hassling them to remove it after 6 months is awkward, in which case I own up!

docmatt wrote: »

I mean come on, you don't pee scaffolders off, they are the dumbest people on the planet and impossible to reason with.
Good luck.

So I'm finding. Even other tradies are finding the whole thing unbelievable. They've already lost at least one job because of the way they've behaved - and I didn't have anything to do with that!

RoNZ

phil24_7 wrote: »

It is tagged as unsafe and no doubt has the ladders locked or removed. This is all they need to do comply with H&S. It is not unsafe to stand on it's own, just unsafe to be used, there is a difference. If it was dangerous, that would be different, and it would need to be made safe or taken down immediately.

It's dangerous for us! It means we can't secure our back garden and we've had stuff stolen as a result. I've also caught a drunk student up on the scaff.

docmatt

RoNZ wrote: »

No, that's not quite right. I wanted to withhold the money for taking it down because they took 10 days to erect it after saying it would be 2 days, so I was anxious about the de-rigging. But I didn't withhold the money when the owner was not agreeable to it. So I haven't been awkward at all. Unless hassling them to remove it after 6 months is awkward, in which case I own up!
So I'm finding. Even other tradies are finding the whole thing unbelievable. They've already lost at least one job because of the way they've behaved - and I didn't have anything to do with that!

Ok. I understand now. Thanks for the clarification.

missile

RoNZ wrote: »

Conveniently, my son works in the events industry where they are regularly erecting and dismantling scaffolding. He and his mates are all qualified and have all the gear. He will be in charge of the dismantling for me and make sure it's done safely, but I will have to pay them to do it. I'm letting the firm know that they will be liable for this cost as they have breached their contract to remove the scaffolding in a timely way.

Good luck with that :j

phil24_7

RoNZ wrote: »

Actually I do. I have the request for what we wanted and the original quote in writing (text message). Just no formal contract.

So it states how long it will be erected for or how long after it is off hired before they remove it? If so then you could prove a breach, if not then I stand by my comment.