Simple living in the country - back to basics

savingholmes

Glad you are home safe. The rest will sort 

KajiKita

Good luck with the work thing. I was awake way earlier than the alarm this morning, worrying away at various work related things too ....

KK

Fortune_Smiles

I would start putting things in writing to the granite company now Cheery with a view to getting the outstanding work done by another tradesperson and claiming the costs back from them.  I would be taking it all the way to small claims if need be.  That's me though - it's the principle involved and I hate it when people don't do the right thing.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Fortune_Smiles said:

I would start putting things in writing to the granite company now Cheery with a view to getting the outstanding work done by another tradesperson and claiming the costs back from them.  I would be taking it all the way to small claims if need be.  That's me though - it's the principle involved and I hate it when people don't do the right thing.

Fortune x

Thanks Fortune. You are one of the people whose good sense I always aim to follow in such matters! I don't think I'm quite there yet, but I may well be if this guy doesn't respond well. 

I'm struggling to get out of the mindset that I'm just creating a fuss, and I've been part of the problem 🙄Ridiculous, I know.

They fitted granite mid Dec - kitchen fitters and granite guy did it while we were out. One of the pieces was seated slightly wonky - kitchen geezer came back and did that.

Joints filled in with silicone, and I don't know who did them, not that it matters! I told kitchen geezer we wanted them done in epoxy as silicone was already going bobbly and collecting dust. He agreed, got granite guy to ring me. They said they'd come on a particular day, I asked them to give me a time. They didn't, so I texted on the day at 1.30, giving them a 45 minute window they COULDN'T come because I was in a meeting and Mr Cheery had gone out - they replied that was the ONLY time they could come 🙄 (so why not tell me that and Mr Cheery could have stayed in??) so we'd have to leave it til the Monday.

Same happened on Monday. When I left a message at lunchtime I was told they wouldn't be able to come that day because they'd got caught up on another job 🙄 I said it was quite inconvenient to keep waiting in, and that I'd prefer them to arrange a time they could actually do. They didn't reply at all. That was a few days before Christmas and I was caught up with things so didn't chase.

Kitchen Geezer got in touch Christmas eve, assuming it had all been done. I told him to leave it til after new year, didn't want them messing about over Christmas. Then Mr Cheery's dad got taken into hospital and I didn't hear from them, so eventually chased kitchen geezers 15th Jan, they told me they'd get in touch with Head Granite Guy and arrange a day, hopefully Monday (today). Didn't hear from him, chased them, they've now given me his phone number.

Clearly you don't need to know all that 😂😂😂 but it helped to write it down. Yes I could have chased more quickly at various points, but before Christmas I felt like chasing people was a part time job and I was sick of them all 🙄

I'll ring head granite guy this morning and see if I can pin him down. A big part of the issue of course is that I've already paid - kitchen geezers requested granite money the day before he came and I stupidly paid up, and I had a conversation with them before I paid their final invoice about how they would have no incentive once I'd paid... and then did it anyway because I was just worn down with the whole thing and wanted them all to go away 🙄

My stupid fault, and something I won't be doing again! Only person who hasn't had their final money is the builder - I only owe him about £250 though and he said he'd do a final visit once everything was done and put inhibitor in the central heating tank (which someone else has done now anyway) - not heard from him for weeks, suspect he's staying out of my way in case I ask him to do anything else 🙄

Right, time to get dressed (both literally, and figuratively in my brave pants 😂) and give him a ring. And people wonder why I'd rather go down the DIY route than 'get a man in'!  😂

themadvix

While the idea of 'getting a man in' as Fortune manages to, usually to great effect and minimal hassle, appeals, I'm with you on just getting on and doing it ourselves (in reality, this is usually more Mr MV than me!). You don't need to beat yourself up for not chasing them sooner - you have had life to deal with and it should be on them to make right when it's their fault! I feel your frustration!

starnac

What a palaver Cheery! Sending you bravery for the phone call. Hope you get it sorted today. You are NOT making a fuss out of turn and it is not your fault!! Go Cheery!

Fortune_Smiles

Someone has finished an expensive granite work surface with silicone.  This is not correct or acceptable.  You did not expect or ask them to do this.  You have given them the opportunity to put things right.  It is reasonable to expect that this would be at a mutally convenient time.  You have not contributed to this problem.

Remember you are dealing with a business contract - behave the way you would if you were managing a failure of a business contract at work and remember your rights - satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, as described.  You are entitled to get the work re-done or to ask for a discount.  Here is a good refresher.

Did you contract with the granite company direct or through the builder.  If through the builder - he is responsible so you can withhold the £250 until the issue is resolved.  It will also be down to him to get it sorted.

If you think the matter might go to small claims it's good to read up about the requirements now so you don't inadvertently do something that might interfere with that.  Which has a good summary and a template letter to use when the time comes.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Thanks all, and thanks for that detailed post Fortune, you are excellent, as usual. Contracted through the kitchen fitters - they were recommended by and organised a bit by (but not subcontracted by) the builders. 

Generally I just have issue asking anyone for anything, even when I'm paying for it 🙄 My desire not to be an annoyance runs very, very deep...

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Thanks all, and thanks for that detailed post Fortune, you are excellent, as usual. Contracted through the kitchen fitters - they were recommended by and organised a bit by (but not subcontracted by) the builders. 

Generally I just have issue asking anyone for anything, even when I'm paying for it 🙄 My desire not to be an annoyance runs very, very deep...

I'd take the complaint to the kitchen fitters then as they are responsible and should deal with the granite company themselves.

If you're reasonable and polite (which I know you are) and your complaint is valid, no one would have any right to be annoyed with you.  Anyhow, being a little annoying occasionally is not the worst thing a person can be in this world 😁  What's the worst that could happen?

Fortune x

SusieT

It may also be worth giving a bad review online anywhere the granite people have a presence - thinking facebook, instagram, twitter, kitchen and general review sites. That often makes them sit up and take notice!