Rights of consumer

Dewdrops1420

Hi,

We had a new L shaped patio laid down last week and within few days we understood that the water is clogging at various locations causing a water puddle  and we found that ACO drains were not set hence this issue. Also the colour of the new slabs are not matching the rest of the patio.We informed the landscaper during the work and he said the colour will change in the next few days and since it was raining continuously we couldn’t understand the clogging issue until yesterday. We sent an email to the landscaper asking for a fix or a refund but they totally ignored our issues and sent a general reply that they won’t refund and we informed them earlier about the work satisfaction which we never did verbally or in writing. We sent them again a follow up email detailing our issues and also photos and video but still no response.

Could someone please let us know how we can get the refund legally as we doubt if these people know how to fix this issue or willing to fix this?

Please see attached the pictures.



Thanks

oldernonethewiser

The slabs are indeed different colours.

What was in the original quote and spec for the work from them?

Was the drainage mentioned?

MikeJXE

Hi

1 the slabs are not the best at discharging surface water unless there is an good fall so it will lie there till the wind and sun dries it up 

2 where is the ACO drain ? 

3 are the slabs close to the house falling away from the building ? 

You have paid out and unless you are very nice to them you won't get it fixed 

Dewdrops1420

No it was not mentioned and we never had any idea about this draining system in patio work until we got another landscaper. We built a new conservatory so had to rebuild the patio area and trusted these people as they did our front garden some months back though it was just to take off the turf and plant few for trees.The amount we paid for patio work was 4080£ and the new landscaper said it was double the usual rate in this area.

MikeJXE

Dewdrops1420 said:

No it was not mentioned and we never had any idea about this draining system in patio work until we got another landscaper. We built a new conservatory so had to rebuild the patio area and trusted these people as they did our front garden some months back though it was just to take off the turf and plant few for trees.The amount we paid for patio work was 4080£ and the new landscaper said it was double the usual rate in this area.

£4080 you were robbed 

oldernonethewiser

No written information from the people that laid the patio?

If everything was verbally agreed I think you will struggle to get anything done.

People that advertise themselves as "landscapers" are often builders/handymen (no offence them) but they don't alway know what is involved.

Dewdrops1420

Can we get the money back by filing in small county court?
Is there any way to retrieve the money back from them?

eskbanker

Dewdrops1420 said:

The amount we paid for patio work was 4080£

How did you pay?  If by debit or credit card then this might (eventually) give you some options that you wouldn't have with cash or bank transfer payment....

oldernonethewiser

You might get money back but what did you ask the landscapers to do and what did they do that differed from that?

The difference in colour could be one thing but drainage, maybe not.

Dewdrops1420

We were chatting in fb messenger and when we asked for the breakdown they said they won’t give and will start the work only if we agree to the quote. We are foreign nationals with no idea about UK gardens and when they reduced from 5000£ to 4000£ we agreed. We had no other option as no landscapers were responding to our enquiry until few days back we got a new one.

We have fb messenger chats as proof.

oldernonethewiser

The FB chats will show what was agreed then.

Not providing a breakdown of what was going to be done is a warning sign.