Rogue builder help

is_data

Conservatory built in Dec 2017 - paid in full upon completion. Trader had been somewhat difficult to deal with at that stage itself although the actual worksmen building it were quite good chaps. Upon chasing the guarantee paperwork, I was told that the conservatory building job has been registered with IWG (Insured Window Guarantees) who issue the insurance backed guarantee policy. The trader also said it takes about 28 days from completion to be delivered directly to me. No guarantee received to date. I called IWG to chase this and was told that the trader is no longer registered with them and I have to get the guarantee from the trader's new insurance provider.

Does someone have any expertise/guidance to offer in this situation please? Since finishing the job the trader obviously has made off with the money and doesnt seem to care about the aftersales service or return my call/email.

Aylesbury_Duck

Have you got nothing to go on? Phone numbers, facebook, old web page? There must be something to enable you to track him down, even if you have to ring from a different number and pose as someone else!

Unfortunately, you're yet another on the receiving end of what is an unlicensed and unregulated industry. There's another post running at the moment from someone with conservatory problems. There simply isn't the regulation in place that there is for proper buildings and extensions so you have about as much protection as you would expect if you'd paid someone to lean a greenhouse against your house.

is_data

Hello Aylesbury Duck - thank you for the prompt response!

I do have the company name/number and also website details. I have chased up but the phone lines just end up in a voicemail. Upon further looking up, the director has a history of liquidating companies he has been operating through the last 15 odd years.

Wondering whether there is an option to approach some sort of trading standards body as I have proof of payment made against which there has been no proper paperwork ever received to date (although not sure if this is an option based on what you replied).

The website, although, does mention the insurance provider IWG which I later found out isnt registered with the builder anymore few weeks after finishing work at my home.

Furts

If you paid by credit card then you have protection here. If not then you are on your own, and what can trading standards do to help? They are not going to issue a guarantee. The answer is to sit back, cross your fingers and hope matters may turn out OK.


Then do a reality check - conservatories are unregulated work, bodges and problems abound but, and it is a significant but, not all conservatories give problems. Yours may be one of the problem free ones. If it is then you have no need for a guarantee, so again, sit back and trust everything will be fine.

is_data

Hi Furts, thanks for the info.
I am going to try and chase up the guy once more by writing to him via registered post.
Although the turnaround time for a response, if any, could be uncertain or indefinite I will put an update on this thread here.

Frank99

I have sympathy for your situation, it is a bit of a minefield with these Companies, if you used a credit card you might have your section 75 protection with the consumer credit act, if not you are forced to look at the insurance backed guarantee in the contract.
Although not as good as a credit card a debit card can be used for chargeback to help get you money back.
If it's cash you might have a problem but remember these buildings generally have guarantees for 10 years, so after that time it's not covered by them anyway from what i understand.
According to the fact they failed to send you your guarantee i would seek legal advice from CAB or a Solicitor and also send Trading Standards an email explaining if you haven't already done so.

Furts

Frank99 wrote: »

.
If it's cash you might have a problem but remember these buildings generally have guarantees for 10 years, so after that time it's not covered by them anyway from what i understand.

Remember conservatories are unregulated work and the chances of getting a ten year guarantee that is valid, and honoured, is as likely as me jetting off to the moon.


Come on Frank, get real here!

Frank99

Furts wrote: »

Remember conservatories are unregulated work and the chances of getting a ten year guarantee that is valid, and honoured, is as likely as me jetting off to the moon.


Come on Frank, get real here!

I'm not saying they will honour it Furts, but most reputable Companies will give an Insurance backed Guarantee on paper.
You can complain through Certass/Fensa or Stroma depending on who they are registered with.
I'm only saying use all of these to fight back with!

Furts

Frank99 wrote: »

I'm not saying they will honour it Furts, but most reputable Companies will give an Insurance backed Guarantee on paper.
You can complain through Certass/Fensa or Stroma depending on who they are registered with.
I'm only saying use all of these to fight back with!

OK, but this is all shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. At no time have you said have a proper survey, have a proper design, have a Specification, have proper construction, manage and inspect the works, do a final inspection, and finally sign off the works. It is because consumers pay little, or attention, to all these aspects that problems arise! Then the consumer is fightiing a needless battle waving pieces of paper and claiming they are "protected" .

Frank99

Furts wrote: »

OK, but this is all shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. At no time have you said have a proper survey, have a proper design, have a Specification, have proper construction, manage and inspect the works, do a final inspection, and finally sign off the works. It is because consumers pay little, or attention, to all these aspects that problems arise! Then the consumer is fightiing a needless battle waving pieces of paper and claiming they are "protected" .

I haven't mentioned having a proper survey or design because we are past this point, these things should be done before any work starts surely.
Is-Data has already had the work finished from what i understand so we are now at the waving pieces of paper stage.
With the work completed, i would be waving every receipt or piece of paper i had as that is my evidence, i think every option should be exhausted at this stage.

Furts

Frank99 wrote: »

I haven't mentioned having a proper survey or design because we are past this point, these things should be done before any work starts surely.
Is-Data has already had the work finished from what i understand so we are now at the waving pieces of paper stage.
With the work completed, i would be waving every receipt or piece of paper i had as that is my evidence, i think every option should be exhausted at this stage.

They are almost never done properly. Consumers do not commission a measured survey, nor an Architect, nor do they get detailed drawings, nor a Specification. Typically they just say to the cheapest contractor, or flashiest sales person, "get me a conservatory" When things go wrong all these omissions tend to get overlooked.


OK, the conservatory industry are also guilty over all this. But be realistic, it is all an unregulated industry and turkies do not vote for Christmas. Likewise conservatory companies do not want to be dealing with savvy and informed consumers.