Builder damage, what would you do?

[Raify]

We've (the missus and I) recently had a wooden floor restored at our flat, which involved clearing 2 rooms and leaving the floor people alone in the flat to sand and polish the floor.

I left my router, switched on and working, on a shelf and returned to find it not working, with a dirty great big dent and scratch on it.

It's fairly obvious that they've knocked it off the shelf / hit it with something and put it back on the shelf like nothing happened.

I'm fairly annoyed, as I've wasted 2 evenings on the phone to the ISP, before I was able to identify a problem with the router. I've also just had to spend £71 on a new one.

I'm almost decided on deducting £71 from their bill (crica £2k), and giving them a copy of the receipt of the router. They've done a great job otherwise, and were treated to endless tea + biscuits while they were our guests, so I'm surprised at this.

Does PH think that a deduction is reasonable?

[fallon]

I would speak to the firm first and give them a chance to offer a deduction.

[rich 36]

Or some additional jobs, that would equal or exceed the routers' replacement.
just knocking off pound notes, from the expected payment, might leave all of you nowhere to go

[greenlandy]

Any decent builder would have some sort of insurance cover for this sort of thing but as it's only £70 have a chat with him and I'm sure he'll reimburse you.

We're (Mrs Greenlandy and me) are having an extension built at the moment and we've had a few minor breakages that the builder doesn't mind paying for.

[alexkp]

I have had similar prpblems before - I'm afraid it's kind of a given hazard with workment in your house.

I would explain the situation very reasonably, and see if they offer a reduction.

However, I wouldn't fall out over £71 - just in case you ever need them back to snagg or use again.

[Raify]

Sounds fair enough, I'll give them a call and see what they say.

[Antwerpman]

there was me getting all excited thinking you were talking about your woodworking tools.....shows how far off the ball you can be sometimes!!

[mechsympathy]

Antwerpman said:

there was me getting all excited thinking you were talking about your woodworking tools.....shows how far off the ball you can be sometimes!!

Same here. I got as far as "Why would he call his ISP about a problem with his Black and Decker"

[Raify]

Yes, just to clarify, this was damaged:



Not one of these:



You actually have to specify "Router + woodwork" to get pictures of the tool (and not the gadget) in Google. The IT geeks are taking over!

[Raify]

update:

The girlfriend called them this morning. Builder #1 denies doing anything, but said he's speak to the other one...

So, for £70 and a bit of dishonesty, the builders have just guaranteed no good references from me!

[singlecoil]

Raify said:

update: The girlfriend called them this morning. Builder #1 denies doing anything, but said he's speak to the other one... So, for £70 and a bit of dishonesty, the builders have just guaranteed no good references from me!

It's a mindset that many people have, to immediately deny blame for anything no matter how incriminating the circumstances. As a toddler my sister was caught with her arm in the sugar jar up to the elbow, and promptly blamed me.
The problem with that kind of stuff is that positions become entrenched and if the conflict continues the culprit having denied it so many times, starts to believe that they actually didn't do it.

[parrot of doom]

Take it off their bill, and let them worry about it. If they've done the work, and you've not paid them, the ball is in their court.

[Raify]

I think it will be a deduction, I'm really fed up of paying for other people's fk ups.