Window scratched by window cleaner

Jeepers_Creepers

Depending on size, I dunno - around £100 for the unit itself?

I'd approach the original installer - hopefully they'll be considerate since I'm sure you've given them a few £k already Or else perhaps look for a local 'Mr Misty' type outfit who specialise in replacing 'blown' units.

From what Grumpy says above, it does look most likely now that it was the window cleaner. Tsk - that's pretty poor.

Doozergirl

Greatgimp said:

Any idea how much a new unit is, regardless of blame?

It really depends on the size, but even 1 metre by 1 metre would be less than £100. 

If the internal bead is visible, it very easy to measure and change it yourself.  If I can do it, anyone can.  The thing to be careful to get right is the glass and spacer distances. It might be on the original order, otherwise you measure the depth of the unit.  

Grumpy_chap

Greatgimp said:

Any idea how much a new unit is, regardless of blame?

We went back to the original installer as we wanted to be sure of securing warranty and the same specification (we originally chose a very high thermal efficiency glass with a solar treatment).
The supply and fit was £250.

sevenhills

doningtonphil said:

When I window cleaned I had a metal scraper for removing stubborn marks - bird muck and the like.  Of course you would use the entire flat edge of the blade to ensure no scratches.  This looks like he has used a corner of his blade to remove a mark

Did you ever use the corner of the scraper and scratch the window? Why would this window cleaner do that, unless it was his first day at the job?

coffeehound

Weird.  There must be ~100 scratches there.  I've seen somewhat similar when someone has used a green scratchy scourer on a window, though you'd hope a WC would know better.

Any other trades around recently like satellite dish / aerial installers?  Gutter emptying, roofers, etc?

Arnisdale

I very much doubt this is a an insurable loss.

Grumpy_chap

Arnisdale said:

I very much doubt this is a an insurable loss.

Any loss is insurable, but this is is unlikely to actually be insured against.

At the first instance, this would be insurable under the window cleaner's liability insurance, either public liability or accidental damage trade insurance.  Trouble is, most one-man-band window cleaners just don't actually carry any such insurance.

The second option is for the OP to claim on household insurance, especially if it includes accidental damage cover.  The excess and hassle of a claim probably make it pointless to claim.

The OP will more-than-likely just have to take this as a financial hit.

Mistral001

doningtonphil said:

When I window cleaned I had a metal scraper for removing stubborn marks - bird muck and the like.  Of course you would use the entire flat edge of the blade to ensure no scratches.  This looks like he has used a corner of his blade to remove a mark

Regarding insurance, in Scotland Window Cleaners have to be licensed by the council and have to have Public Liability insurance.  In the rest of the county I am sure that ther are plenty of window cleaners that choose to take out insurance.

I am not sure if Public Liability insurance would cover this.  

ytfcmad

That mark wasn't done by the window cleaner.
It was done in transit glass on glass, I've seen it 100's of times when I worked for one of the worlds biggest glass manufacturers. It's a Christmas tree, the DGU stacked against it has rubbed against it, probably from the manufacturer to the retailer, you can see where it started at the point (tree top) and has moved in transit. 
Sometimes you dont notice things at certain times of the year due to the sun height in the sky etc then suddenly they appear. 

Carrot007

This happened to me, however I used one of the big chains.

They just use poles and water. It did not clean. I complained. They sent the guy back (he get's no money for this visit).

He obviously used keys to remove bird poo off a window. It scratched the window.

They were insured, however unless he admits it they decide it did not occur without video proof.

Not worth doing anything for under £70 of window. (and TBH the whole thing could do with a change at some point).

Scratch still there currently. To be fair you don't notice it after a while. (and there are worse things around the state of the windows from the previous owners!)