Money Moral Dilemma: Should we walk away from the window fitter who won't fit our windows? 18 October 2022 at 4:47PM edited 18 October 2022 at 4:48PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 41 replies 26.3K views

ginger_chocolate

I had a very similar situation to this with some fitted storage units. I suspect, sadly, that the original fitter was becoming quite unwell and didn't want to admit that he was no longer capable of doing the work. I did offer a few times to just buy the units off him and get someone else to do the fitting, but no clear response. In the end I gave up, got someone else in who did the job within three weeks. I've not heard from the original bloke since. I hope he's ok, but either way, I needed the work done, and he either wouldn't or couldn't do it, so ultimately asking someone else to do it was the best thing for everyone 

squirrel59

Seems most likely he never had them made. We had to pay half up front and the other half after delivery/fitting. Tell him 1 November or you're walking. If he's a no show you'll know your windows/doors were never made and he's completely unreliable.

primrose_penguin

I don't think he has had them made, if he had he would have fitted them by now as he would want paying. I agree with others and would write him a letter, keeping a copy of it and send it recorded delivery or special delivery which costs a bit more, making sure you retain the proof of posting. Explain in the letter that you have waited 12 months for the windows, which he says have been made, and unless he calls to fit them in the next 2 weeks (give the date) you are terminating the contract as it has not been fulfilled, and you will be ordering from another supplier. My neighbour had a similar problem with a kitchen he had ordered to be hand made, it dragged on for well over a year, unfortunately he had paid a large part of it upfront, big mistake, in the end he didn't get his kitchen or his money back, even though he went to the small claims court who ruled in his favour.  

annieshb

I had similar situation. CAB s ent me templates for 3 letters which I sent recorded delivery.
These we’re all ignored. I then submitted a claim at court using”Simple Procedure”
that did the trick.
suddenly doors had arrived and were fitted within a week.  I got reimbursed for costs of sending letters and lodging claim at court.

jonny7227

As others have said, send a letter by recorded delivery setting out your position and giving him a deadline to complete the work. Assuming he doesn’t respond, you are then free to go elsewhere. 

telsco

If he has a website or somewhere you can give an honest review of his business, write down the full list of his excuses that he's given over the past 12 months for not completing the work. (Only use the excuses you have received from him via texts or emails to prove you're not being libelous)
He may quickly come back and either tell you to shove it or apologize and make you a priority so you update your review.

Looby77

As above advice: Let’s face it he has probably lost the measurements by now. 

Bendy_House

annieshb said:

I had similar situation. CAB s ent me templates for 3 letters which I sent recorded delivery.
These we’re all ignored. I then submitted a claim at court using”Simple Procedure”
that did the trick.
suddenly doors had arrived and were fitted within a week.  I got reimbursed for costs of sending letters and lodging claim at court.

Gulp, 3 letters? I wonder if some can be by-passed due to the correspondence the OP has presumably already had with the fitter? 

But, yes, this needs doing properly, and with the correct requirement of a deadline - duration and warnings.

You follow CAB/legal guidelines for two reasons - the first is that, just because this twit is being lax, doesn't mean you should be. And the other is to 100% protect yourself from any claim, or even the aggro of having to counter a daft one.

Just visualise; after you've set in motion a new installer, this original guy turns up unannounced with a load of bespoke windows ready to fit; you are about to enter a complete 'mare, unless you have followed the correct guidelines. So DON'T consider just 'walking away'.

At the same time, get at least two other quotes for the work - get the ball rolling on this right away. It may even be that you already have a couple of alternatives - after all, you DID initially get THREE quotes, didn't you? (Be upfront - explain there was little to choose between the contractors a year ago, and it was essentially a lottery which one to go for. Of course, you now regret your arbitrary choice...)

Er, you don't have LP on your insurance, do you? If so, they will guide you correctly - it'll almost certainly include 'contractual' disputes.

And if you don't have LP, I hope you'll add it on renewal. I think everyone should.

prowla

Just cancel.

pollypenny

Note there's no mention of a deposit. What happens if the OP has paid a deposit.