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Problems with burglar alarm installer

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Back in November I paid £400 to a local engineer to fit a basic alarm in my house, using the pre-installed wires. He appeared friendly and helpful however it took him a whole day to fit the system (control panel, 4 sensors and alarm box outside) and he still could not resolve a 'damper' error.
He came back the morning after, spent another half day to fix the error and left.
I wasn't satisfied with the alarm box outside as its deterrent red flashing light was extremely dim (compared to the same one he fitted to a neighbour a few months earlier).
He came back a week later and fitted a new box with exactly the same problem, and he also promised to come back and fit a dummy bell box at the back of the house.


When I realised that the new box had the same dim light I rang him and complained, he stated that it was a common problem and there was nothing he could do.

Booked a Friday afternoon to come and fit the dummy box but he never turned up, I rang him but he didn't answer; he eventually texted me saying that he was ill and he would come at another time to fit the box.
Never heard from him since.


I have now decided that I don't want him in my property anymore as he's useless and a waste of time. However I want to ask for a part refund which I would use to hire someone else to fit a new bell box.


Can someone please advise what rights I have, how to proceed and if I have to involve a solicitor?


Many thanks
david

Comments

  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Seems quite tenous to be honest, he's obviously decided you are a difficult client and it's going to be impossible to satisfy you and so he won't bother trying.


    Really you need to send him a formal request for him to finish the work within a timeframe. If he refuses then you can hire someone else.



    Pay someone to fit the dummy box, then ask the original fitter to refund you the £50 it will cost.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • He was talking about a "tamper" fault. This where the detectors, outside bell and control box all have switches to trigger a full alarm if the cover is removed.


    It's not 100% necessary to have tamper in a domestic property as you are not going to have people fiddling with the components when you have the system unset (ie at home).


    I'd probably leave the SAB (bell) tamper but not worry about the others. I also wouldn't worry about an LED brightness, it's the loud hooter that will scare off crims, not a flashing light.


    For £400, I think he's probably lost money now. I'd move on and get someone else to do it. Any handy person can put up an empty (dummy) box.


    Why anyone would even think of going legal for £400 beats me. Most solicitors charge that per hour.
    Signature on holiday for two weeks
  • lisso68
    lisso68 Posts: 17 Forumite
    I don't think I've been a difficult customer at all, in fact I have been patient and understanding. Why did you come to that conclusion?
    He provided an item that I am not satisfied with and did not try to remedy it. Additionally he didn't come back to finish the job (dummy bell box).
  • lisso68
    lisso68 Posts: 17 Forumite
    yes sorry, it was a 'tamper' fault of course. There are two switches in the bell box, one was hidden by the wires and brickwork or so he said. This was causing the fault.
    I prefer a brighter led so to deter eventual burglars, what is annoying is that the exact box fitted at the neighbours is brighter and yet he insisted that's how it is and there's nothing else he can do. I was going to have him install a CCTV system but obviously I'll go somewhere else, his loss!
    Regarding the solicitor, I hear what you say, I have an acquaintance lawyer that could send him a letter for £25.


    thanks
  • You will get false alarms, even with 'professional' installers. That said the well known names in the game aren't exactly very professional in my experience.

    When you say dim light, the bell box will have a much lower light when armed or in standby. They are just LEDs. It will only be flashing like a strobe when set off. Continue to strobe (even after the 20 mins sounder max) until someone resets it.
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    lisso68 wrote: »
    I don't think I've been a difficult customer at all, in fact I have been patient and understanding. Why did you come to that conclusion?
    He provided an item that I am not satisfied with and did not try to remedy it. Additionally he didn't come back to finish the job (dummy bell box).

    He did try to remedy it as per your opening post

    "He came back a week later and fitted a new box with exactly the same problem, and he also promised to come back and fit a dummy bell box at the back of the house."

    Get someone else, pay them to for an other box, expect the same. And pay them to drill a few holes and fit the dummy box.

    He has already lost money on your job?
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • It sounds as if he offered to fit the dummy bell box as a gesture for the original problems. That's how your description reads to me. Is that the case?

    The LED thing is nothing to worry about. I have a smart alarm and have turned off the blinking LEDs. They do nothing to deter a burglar and just drain the batteries.
  • There's a thread on a burglar alarm forum somewhere which reads "problems with awkward customer"

    Gone out of my way to help. Etc. Etc. Finds faults where there isn't any. Etc. Etc. Lost a fortune on job already. Etc. Can't afford to go back. Etc.
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