Still awaiting new windows after six months!

phoebe1989seb

Hi all,

More than a year ago we began gathering quotes for three new double glazed timber windows for the front elevation of our 400 year old, non-listed cottage.

We obtained a mix of quotes from local joinery companies and larger, nationwide firms, but from the outset DH said he'd prefer to give our business to a local company.

In September 2019 we decided to go with a local joiner who we met in person, saw examples of his work and felt understood our requirements. He asked for a deposit of £3500 up front (total price just over £4500) and assured us the windows would be ready by early December 2019. He explained that he was busy, but that this was achievable.

All went quiet, but we were busy with other stuff on the house (a project  ) and work etc. Christmas came and went with no sign of the windows. At the beginning of January we began chasing him, but he was hard to pin down and rarely responded to texts/calls.

When he did reply - by text - it was to say he had a backlog but would be starting our job in early February.

Last week DH called him for an update. No reply. Nor to our texts. So yesterday, as he was working nearby (the workshop is about 15 miles from us), DH decided to pop in unannounced.

Long story short, the windows are not started, the timber hasn't been purchased/ordered and the joiner is still working on the other job.

He said he'd be ready to start ours in three weeks and that they would take a month to build. He was extremely embarrassed, according to DH.

Neither of us are very happy with this and feel like asking for our deposit back and going elsewhere. There is nothing about the deposit being non-refundable in the contract we signed but we're not sure where we stand.....

Are we being unreasonable in thinking like this?

Can anyone advise please? Thanks in advance 

pinkteapot

I'd be asking for a refund too. If he's not even ordered the materials then he's probably not incurred any costs yet. And you asking for the deposit back might make him pull his finger out...

Doozergirl

Sounds like a local joinery.  We use a lovely guy but wow, we have to chase him and chase him sometimes.  A few times he's been the last person on site when I've called him in right at the start.  

Of course you can ask for your money back.  

phoebe1989seb

Thanks both 

babyblade41

I am in a similar position with trades atm, although no deposits paid as we know them.

They are very good but boy do we have to wait , I have resigned myself to just having to wait and maybe I'll have my downstairs complete before the end of the year .. sometimes it's a waiting game for tradesman that are very good ...but timekeeping is not their strong point

phoebe1989seb

Update -

Well, unfortunately by the time we contacted the joiner again a couple of weeks later lockdown had begun. As it happens (we were not aware previously), his landlady and her her OH are both in the vulnerable category. This is the place where he both lives (as a lodger) and has his workshop. So landlady and her OH were/are shielding.

Anyway, he told DH that he had now purchased the timber and was about to start on the windows and that they'd be completed by mid-late April. "Hurrah!", we thought. DH asked for a regular update and when we'd heard nothing by the end of the first week of May, he contacted the joiner by text, having got no response to several phone calls.

Eventually the joiner texted back saying they were almost done but because of lockdown he couldn't get the glass. Also he was unsure how he'd get them to us because of his landlady's shielding situation.

DH was so excited at the news that they were virtually done that he wasn't too worried about when we'd receive them - but he did respond requesting some pics of the progress. Not too much to ask for we thought, bearing in mind it was now almost 8 months since we'd paid our £3500 deposit......

That was nearly two weeks ago and we've heard nothing more. Both of us have tried contacting him (by phone, text, email, his website message service and Facebook messaging). 

No response, zero, nada - he's completely blanking us. We are now beginning to doubt whether he was being 100% honest when he told DH they were almost finished.

Obviously DH can no longer go there because of Covid-19.

Although of course we are aware that he might have the virus so is unable to reply......

However this leaves us in a situation where we have completely rotten and badly leaking windows (just grateful for the better weather, as when it's wet water gushes in) and £3500 out of pocket. We don't know where we stand - we keep asking ourselves do our windows exist or not? Should we be looking to order elsewhere and attempt to reclaim our money....through moneyclaim online if need be.....?

I'm not expecting anyone to be able to give a definitive answer, I'm really just having a rant as the thought of losing £3500 is giving me sleepless nights.