Lousy Workmen.

[Bigbad]

I had a lot of work done on my house: The standard of workmanship and finish was extremely poor, and despite several attempts by the company, I am not satisfied with their attempts to rectify things. At what point am I entitled to say that I am getting someone else in to do the job properly, and claim the cost back from the original company?
And am I within my rights to see an itemised breakdown of all the costs for the original work?
Thanks.

[TonyV]

you need to make a "snagging list" of what you are not happy with, itemising all the things you are you are not happy with and go through it with the builder. 2 copies one for him one for you and third copy for his comments - if he agrees to rectify then let him do it.

Was it a fixed price contract?

[Bigbad]

I made a list right from the start (over a year ago), after months of 'fixes' that didn't work, and a lot of "mmm, I don't know what caused that/I don't know what to do about that" I gave him a week to get things sorted, which of course, they never were. A price was agreed at the start, but I did add a few other things as we went along. (Before I knew how rubbish they were).
Something I forgot to add to my original question - Did they have the right to take the old floor tiles which they removed to the reclamation yard without my knowledge? I assumed they were going in the skip, but it has now been suggested otherwise by one of their sub-contractors.
Thanks.

[boxtops]

One other question - have you paid them?

[Count-A-Strong]

You hVe very little legal recourse unless you entered into a specific contract, signed by both parties, agreeing that a percentage of the costs should be retained until you were 100% satisfied with the work. This retention money would then have allowed you to employ someone else to rectify the poor workmanship after giving the original builders a reasonable time to rectify.

[boxtops]

That was where I was heading, CAS - I must admit that I never pay up front, or in full until I am satisfied with a job.

[Bigbad]

I paid most of the money, but as per company policy, they don't want the final £1000 until I am satisfied with the work. Obviously, I'm not. and I think it's going to cost way more than that to bring things up to scratch.

[TonyV]

It,s a bit of a mute point about who owns the "rubbish" that is taken from site, and how it is disposed of, except that it needs to done legally.

As to completing the job to your satisfaction, I would write to them with the list of things you're not happy with, giving them a time limit to get it sorted, and advising that if it's not done, you will employ a different company and pursue them for any additional costs.