Unreliable builders
Discussion
I'm having the bathroom changed, and after much deliberation, went for MFI, as it was reasonable, and seemed reliable, and I really only wanted to update it, as I hope to move out and rent the place.
Anyhow, the contractor, assigned by MFI seems to be really unreliable. For a start, when he was supposed to come round to measure up and check the bathroom, he didn't turn up, and had to be chased by MFI to come. Now he's started work, in fact he started yesterday, removed all the tiles from the wall and floor, and that's it.
He didn't turn up today, and he didn't call. I called him at 11am and he gave me a story about his kid being unwell at school, and he was waiting for someone to come and look after the kid, before he would come round. He never turned up all day. I called him, his phone was off.
I wonder how other chaps here would handle this situation.
Anyhow, the contractor, assigned by MFI seems to be really unreliable. For a start, when he was supposed to come round to measure up and check the bathroom, he didn't turn up, and had to be chased by MFI to come. Now he's started work, in fact he started yesterday, removed all the tiles from the wall and floor, and that's it.
He didn't turn up today, and he didn't call. I called him at 11am and he gave me a story about his kid being unwell at school, and he was waiting for someone to come and look after the kid, before he would come round. He never turned up all day. I called him, his phone was off.
I wonder how other chaps here would handle this situation.
My neigbour got an out-of-court settlement from MFI after they botched a shower pump fitting and he had water running down his interior walls...
I'd probably go for the horribly reasonable approach with the monkey, and the 'I'm a Managing Director and I don't suffer fools gladly' approach with MFI.
MFI are weird. Some years ago I was looking at stuff in their showroom and asked the dept manager why things didn't have prices on. She said it was because they might get them wrong and then they'd have to sell the products at the wrong price. WTF???
Hmm, I know a bloke who had a 'disagreement' with the monkey doing his tiling... a few days later there were big long scratches all down his car...
>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 6th December 18:57
I'd probably go for the horribly reasonable approach with the monkey, and the 'I'm a Managing Director and I don't suffer fools gladly' approach with MFI.
MFI are weird. Some years ago I was looking at stuff in their showroom and asked the dept manager why things didn't have prices on. She said it was because they might get them wrong and then they'd have to sell the products at the wrong price. WTF???
mybrainhurts said:
Hmm, I know a bloke who had a 'disagreement' with the monkey doing his tiling... a few days later there were big long scratches all down his car...
>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 6th December 18:57
968 - this is standard practice for builders IME, they have three jobs on the go at once, turning up just enough to keep the job, then going to another one the next day etc.
Simple answer is to sack him as said above. Be firm and tell him he's taking the pith, don't bother coming back and don't bother invoicing either...
Had a plumber in recently and had similar dealings, bath leaked twice, sink leaked, tiles put up badly and to top it off the bath overflow cover fell off, he'd not made the pipe fit through the gap enough so the cover wouldn't screw on, so he'd siliconed it into place and not even bothered to mention his bodge.
Lazy c***s the lot of 'em
Simple answer is to sack him as said above. Be firm and tell him he's taking the pith, don't bother coming back and don't bother invoicing either...
Had a plumber in recently and had similar dealings, bath leaked twice, sink leaked, tiles put up badly and to top it off the bath overflow cover fell off, he'd not made the pipe fit through the gap enough so the cover wouldn't screw on, so he'd siliconed it into place and not even bothered to mention his bodge.
Lazy c***s the lot of 'em
Deal direct with MFI - tell them to get another contractor/ tiler as you won't put up with substandard service.
....but if you haven't paid up front I'd be inclined to cancel the contract if at all possible , source your own loo, bath etc. and employ a personally recommended plumber and tiler directly - less risky.
....but if you haven't paid up front I'd be inclined to cancel the contract if at all possible , source your own loo, bath etc. and employ a personally recommended plumber and tiler directly - less risky.
Rather than give the sob story, I will keep it brief. It is in my direct experience that builders are among some of the biggest rip-off merchants this country has ever seen. Forget Nigerial 411 scammers. Forget Western Union eBay sellers. Its flippin' builders who will steal from your house, leave it structualy unsound and then screw every penny out of you - before moving on to the next sap. Show inexperience and they will take you to the cleaners..... Car mechanics have nothing on them as far as I am concerned.
Lets just say that I am still, and will be, paying the price for an extension to my old house which was completed over 3 years ago. So much so, it will take me another 3-4 years before I am out of the debt-hole that those fleecing gits left me in....
So, in your case - ditch them, get some personal recommendations from good friends (not relatives) and watch them like a hawk. Always be around, even if it means taking time off work, and nail them to the floor with what you expect them to do - even taping the conversations if necessary.... keeping a percentage back is also a good tactic. They want the money, the do the job. They jump ship, you have spare money to pay someone else to do it...... not everyone likes it, but it bloody works....
Lets just say that I am still, and will be, paying the price for an extension to my old house which was completed over 3 years ago. So much so, it will take me another 3-4 years before I am out of the debt-hole that those fleecing gits left me in....
So, in your case - ditch them, get some personal recommendations from good friends (not relatives) and watch them like a hawk. Always be around, even if it means taking time off work, and nail them to the floor with what you expect them to do - even taping the conversations if necessary.... keeping a percentage back is also a good tactic. They want the money, the do the job. They jump ship, you have spare money to pay someone else to do it...... not everyone likes it, but it bloody works....
leftie said:
I recall MFI wil pay take a way for every day a kitchen is out of order beyod the planned time. No bathroom sounds like a hotel to me?
do you mean, take pay away?
I called the arse, he said he'd be here tomorrow morning at 8am. I will give him this last chance, if he mucks me around again, he's the 'k out........
968 said:
I'm having the bathroom changed, and after much deliberation, went for MFI, as it was reasonable, and seemed reliable, and I really only wanted to update it, as I hope to move out and rent the place.
Anyhow, the contractor, assigned by MFI seems to be really unreliable. For a start, when he was supposed to come round to measure up and check the bathroom, he didn't turn up, and had to be chased by MFI to come. Now he's started work, in fact he started yesterday, removed all the tiles from the wall and floor, and that's it.
He didn't turn up today, and he didn't call. I called him at 11am and he gave me a story about his kid being unwell at school, and he was waiting for someone to come and look after the kid, before he would come round. He never turned up all day. I called him, his phone was off.
I wonder how other chaps here would handle this situation.
Some years ago we had exactly the same experience with a kitchen from them. It should have taken three and a half days to fit (their figures), in the end it took a month because they were rarely ever there, and at one point they left us without ameneties (water and cooking) for about four days.
They want you to pay everything, including fitting up front. I didn't. I kept a third back and then refused to pay it when it was finally completed. I had documented the whole debacle and taken pictures.
They then had the cheek to send a manager round to try and cajole the remaining money out of me. I told him to get off my property and to take me to court for it. Needless to say they didn't.
They were an utter nightmare and a total shower of shite. I have never set foot in an MFI since.
As you've realised MFI get the work through their showroom and sub out the fitting to a local bathroom fitter. The bathroom fitter will have his own jobs on the go as well as doing yours through MFI. Remember, you are not his customer. MFI is.
Have you paid any money up front to MFI? I would deal direct with them. If the fitter doesn't shape up they will take him of their list and withold payment to him. MFI have their own supervisors and inspectors so they will sort him out.
Good luck. I bet they said they would be finished by Xmas.
pp
Have you paid any money up front to MFI? I would deal direct with them. If the fitter doesn't shape up they will take him of their list and withold payment to him. MFI have their own supervisors and inspectors so they will sort him out.
Good luck. I bet they said they would be finished by Xmas.
pp
Pickled Piper said:
MFI have their own supervisors and inspectors so they will sort him out.
pp
You have to be kidding. Their managers, inspectors and supervisors were worse than useless despite clear and concise evidence and complaints from us. All they were interested in was getting the money.
MFI are quite the worst company in terms of customer service and general ineptitude I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.
Reality is any really intelligent builder would be a developer in his own right(ie if he has a business brain on him or her then they know they may as well make the money themselves rather than to make others rich through their work). This leaves the disorgnaised, thick ones who have no concept of the havoc they reek...hence they try and do 4 jobs at once, when in reality they havent got the brain power to run one job, never mind 4!
The number of times I see various trades that work on their own and yet an average householder doesnt just need a plumber or an electrician, they will need a tiler and a plasterer as well-all who are co-ordinated and get on well together-so you then go to a building services company-who charge a massive margin becuase they have to organise a bunch of repribates who simply walk off jobs and moan and complain alot.. its a no win..
The number of times I see various trades that work on their own and yet an average householder doesnt just need a plumber or an electrician, they will need a tiler and a plasterer as well-all who are co-ordinated and get on well together-so you then go to a building services company-who charge a massive margin becuase they have to organise a bunch of repribates who simply walk off jobs and moan and complain alot.. its a no win..
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