Redress for faulty double glazing?

hogweed

A year or so ago, I had someone I’d known for years fit some new windows for me, and thought it was a great job. I was certain I could trust him, as I thought of him as a friend – he runs a double glazing firm which has been in business for decades.

It was only a couple of weeks later I noticed that the one of the plastic frames was warped, so that the mullions bowed inwards to the room (we’re not often in that room, so hadn’t spotted it). I chased him and chased him, but he kept giving me excuses why he couldn’t come and look at it.

Unfortunately, I developed a couple of on-going health problems, had an operation etc, so didn’t feel up to dealing with it during the year. However, a week or so ago, the window started leaking at the bottom. He won’t answer the phone to me, so I texted him – no reply of course.

I suffer from depression, so this feels like it might kill me, but I’m unwilling (and can’t afford) to write it off.

I’m assuming that my only recourse now will be the Small Claims Court, but I’ve never used it before. I’m going to read up on it anyway, but I’m assuming I need to send a letter to him, saying that I need him to come and inspect the windows, and tell me what he’s going to do to put them right, by a certain date, or I’ll use the court?

I have now, of course, zero confidence in him and his firm anyway – do I have to allow them to fix it/fit a new window or whatever, or (if I win) can I get the court to award me costs of getting somebody else to do it?

Also, I expect the court will want evidence – how would I go about getting somebody qualified to write a report?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Aylesbury_Duck

I think you have to give his company a chance to correct it, so your suggestion of the letter is a good one.  Give him 14 days to come and inspect and confirm a remedy and timescales.

Assuming he doesn't reply or comply, get a couple of local glazing firms out to diagnose the fault and quote for a repair.  Then use the lower of those two quotes as the sum you'll claim in court.

born_again

Was this done via the company he runs or as a off the books job?

Did you get the FENSA & other certificates after fitting?

hogweed

born_again said:

Was this done via the company he runs or as a off the books job?

Did you get the FENSA & other certificates after fitting?

Thanks both

Well, I do have proper company receipts from them.

I'm in N Ireland, and unfortunately, FENSA doesn't operate here.

Green_hopeful

We had problems before and rather than a double glazing firm we got a double glazing repair person out. For not much money they came and fixed a couple of problems. We needed new seals on a front door and he looked at a handle. He seemed quite pragmatic and did the seals but said we would need a new handle. He said because the handle still worked but was damaged it didn’t need doing. Another time we got some hinges replaced at another property and we got a different repair man and he was also great. Both times under £100.