time taken to complete double glazing.

[ilovemarkb]

What would be a reasonable amount of time to have double glazing fitted. (1 bay window, 1 bedroom window,and composite front door with arch of glass above it). Everything was done at beginning of november but the arch glass had a crack in it. They offered to replace it and put temporary cladding in but still havent put the glass in. When i rang last week they said they would come on friday but they never turned up (again). Personally i think windows should be done within a week....at the moment it is 12 weeks and they still not finished. To make matters worse they told us we could pay using credit cards...when we come to pay they told us that there card machine doesnt work so we,ve ended up paying more interest because we had to get the money from bank (using credit cards). We payed £2600 and held £200 back until job is complete.Am i overreacting?

[The-HouseHusband]

You are not over reacting at all, personally i would have withheld considerably more until they had completed the job. £200 is nothing to large companies so they will not have you on the priority list.

You need to get things in writing so that if it has to go further you have got proof of their non compliance, send them a letter/e-mail asking for a time frame for the fitting of the glass arch, if you do not hear back then send a second letter should be sent about a week later.

Keep copies yourself and if noting is heard I would suggest seeking the advice of some one like the Citizens Advice Bureau, they should be able to give you further advice on claiming compensation against the company.

[squarebear]

Yes, we had a full consevertory built and a window replaced in less than a week.

[The Builder]

They sound very amateurish to me. I think I would have waited until they had the card machine fixed. I shouldn't leap to conclusions, but that sounds like a right story cooked up to get you to pay in pound notes.......... usually a sign that the company is in trouble, probably overstretched overdraft.
I agree with what HouseHusband says completely.
Be prepared to have to write this one off, and use the £200 to get the remaining glazing from elsewhere.

[Clanad]

Along with the other good advice, the old "credit card machine doesn't work" is a regular ploy used by companies that are having financial difficulties... Why? They have to pay at least 3% of the sales (if not 5% or 6%) (at least here in the U.S.) to the credit card company so... if they can get you to pay by cash, they stand to make a lot more money.

[ilovemarkb]

yes did feel a bit frogmarched to the bank for the cash! really annoyed now. Thanks for all the good advice guys julie x

[TonyV]

As others have said before £200 is probably nothing for the company to have you hold back as they now have your cash. If you are satisfied with rest of installation I would just get a quote from some other companies to replace the defective panel. If its under £200 then give the original company notice of what you are doing and get it done.

BTW you would have had some protection if you had paid by credit card

[ilovemarkb]

we complained in november that we didnt have a reciept so the same day they popped one through the door that says


priced at £2600
payment recieved £2600
o/s £200

they obviously dont know what they are doing as the bill was £2800 arrhhhh!

[TonyV]

so the written quote that you received before windows were installed was for £2800? or £2600

[ilovemarkb]

we were quoted £2800 on a srappy piece of paper with sketchs of windows on it !!