Poor workmanship by council on dropped kerb

EachPenny

Happytosave wrote: »

I don't know if I made it clear but we have not had our dropped kerb done yet. It is only the council's one contractor who will do it. He did my neighbours' one and was a rude, grumpy man who said he will be doing mine once I get my hard standing done.

My question is, in anticipation of this, can I say something to the council that I do not expect that level of poor workmanship to take place outside my place for £2k?

If you already have the quote and the work has been agreed then there is unlikely to be any harm in pointing out to the Council officer supervising the work that you have concerns about the durability of the work done on the neighbour's crossover and you hope to see a higher standard of works in your case.

Letting the Council officer know that you have the potential to be a grumpier man/woman than the contractor might prompt them to take a bit more interest in making sure the job is done properly. Being rude though will usually have the opposite effect.

If you don't already have the quote and agreement for the work to go ahead in writing then say nothing until you do. A potentially grumpy customer might necesitate an increase in supervision costs and the need for repeated rectification work until your high standards are met

Once on site, offering the contractor and the workers tea/coffee might be classed as bribery, but is likely to lead to a better outcome for you as well.

cyclonebri1

You have missed the boat if you wish to complain about agreed prices.

It's your responsibility to ensure you get value for money and that the contractors do their part.
The bit you have no control over is local council charges.

I enquired a year or 2 back, I have a double drive but with a single drop.
Had I lived in Northumbria, it would have cost 400 SQUIDS, her in rural Derbs, it £1200. I find it cheaper to bump the kerb.