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Hi is there an inspector for work that's been done for an insurance job?

Anonymous user 01/03/2024 - 2.42 PM

We live in a mobile/static home. We've had an insurance job done in our bathroom. Found a rotten hole at the edge of the bath and bath wall due failed bath sealant, They've replaced half of the bathroom floor, and replaced the lino. We've taken pictures prior to them coming out on the friday 21/10/11. 1) Bathroom sink leaking 2) white silicone around the lino edge, very messy not a neat finish. Not even sealed along the bath panel skirting board! 3) lino cut around the back of the toliet, very messy finish 4) apparently a block of wood missing from between the sink taps pipes 5) bath hightened which makes the plastic edging on the bath panel short top & bottom 6) orginal bath panel replaced back on, but dirty mark along where it looks like the old glue? 7) bathroom floor creaks when you walk over the floor So cancelled/stopped the cheque later that day 18/10/11 which cost £10. One of the workmen and the manager? came back to us on friday 21/10/11 to resolve the issues. Unfortunatley this situation hasn't been resolved. 1) they advised us to go to a diy shop and get trapment fittings to stop the leaks to the basin and bath (which now say they leaked before thats what caused the problem in the first place). 2) they said basin plug pipe fitment has been pulled downwards and that is what has caused the leak, when they visited to have a look! 3) they also said to get a longer piece of plastic edging to fit on the bath panel corner. 4) they said we would have to replace the lino as the gentleman present ripped/pulled the lino up at the back of the toilet pan when showing them their finished work. 5) they assured me th bathroom floor is strong, even though it creaks when anyone works over the floor. Received a letter from them requesting payment and refusing to complete the work due the argueing ontheir visit by the gentleman present on friday 21/10/11. They have reduced the invoice by £50. Since their visit 1) bathroom basin sink trapments have been removed & inserted properly (rubber seal was not fitted properly - this was actually found pushed up inside the pipe) 2) bath side panel has been removed and this has also been water damaged along the edge, and found chunks/holes along The end panels (screw holes)? Also a watermark along the edges. 3) bath trapment was also leaking!(again not fitted properly). 4) let the floor dry to make sure there's no more leaks.Photo's on my mobile and downloaded on my pc. Couldn't understand why they carried on with the work knowing what caused the problem in the first place. So in theory would have same results/problems in time! Received final reminder letter from them today 10/11/11 but dated 7/11/11 asking for payment by the 14/11/11. Failure to pay by this date will result in debt being referred to debt collectors.

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3 Answers

ADR Property Maintenance

Rating: 5 out of 5

Boston

the work should have been assesd by a loss adjuster for the insurance company, to asattain exactly what was requred, you should have gotten at least two quotes, or the loss adjuster may have used there own people,if this is the case the insurance should be paying the contractor direct after there loss adjuster makes sure everything that was required has been completed. cannot understand why you are paying them cannot understand why a list of work required has not been drawn up, cannot understand why a project manager has not been appointed by ur insurance company. did one of these mobile homes about 3.5 years ago re-bult it it took me six months and a further 4mth to get payment of the insurance after the loss adjuster had oked the work

Answered11 November 2011

Anonymous user

Tell him you will counter claim, for all works to be put right. He cant instruct debt collectors until he has been through the court process. I would start the ball rolling, you can do this via internet, through the small claims court. Get a surveyor or good builder in to assess the problems, damage done, and cost to put right, take it from there.

Answered11 November 2011

G&H Building Services (UK)

Rating: 5 out of 5

St Leonards On Sea

Hi Tinks 315, I assume by what you have said that you have cash settled the claim and got your own builders in to carry out the repairs. Had you used the insurance companies approved contractors they would manage the works and claim and you would have redress back to the insurer who would then have been responsible for ensuring the works were completed to a satisfactory standard - unfortuneately as you have cash settled your insurer or the ombudsmen will not be able to help or assist. Sadly many insurers are trying to get customers to cash settle rather than fulfilment (insurers approved contractors) so as to get the claim off thier books. Effectively this is a private job and as it seems small in nature would not normally require a surveyor or project manager, a good reputable contractor would mange the works and complete to a satisfactory standard. I always recommend that private customers get three quotes and preferably FMB or such approved. Nonetheless you have full rights not to pay your builder until such time as the works have been completed to your fuill satisfaction. They would need to get a small claims court action agaianst you before debt collectors and if you have all information and photographs of defective works then you can counter claim, so this is an idle threat to scare you to pay - DON'T FALL FOR IT. It would be best to respond to the letter sent to you stating that you will be prepared to settle the account once all defects are attended to and list the defects. It would not be unreasonable to withold a further retention for 6 months after the defects are completed just in case anything else happens. If possible appoint a surveyor to view the qorks and issue a report of the defective works and what is required to put this right, the cost however could be £300 plus, but it will then be independant for you to send to the builder / court if it goes that far. Sadly your builder does not sound reputable but IF he is a memeber of for Instance the Federation of Master Builders you can contact them for assistance too. Good luck and hope you get it sorted.

Answered14 November 2011