Hi folks,
I was quoted £250 + VAT for coving to be fitted in my dining room. The decorator is part of the 'Buy With Confidence' (Trading Standards approved) scheme.
They arrived today and started work. I doled out the tea and biscuits then left them to it.
Two hours in, I went to have a look. I wasn't happy because they'd used 127mm Gyproc instead of 100mm. The room now doesn't match the rest of the house.
When I pointed it out, the guys first started talking about how people wouldn't notice (etc). I wasn't happy and kept pressing them - it's important to me that the rooms match.
They said "How were (they) supposed to know what size I wanted, when they'd not seen the other rooms?" This wasn't true, because I'd shown him the living room coving the week before!
Then they said that Gyproc *don't make* 100mm coving. I told them the rest of the house was Gyproc 100mm, and showed them (on my smartphone) that the coving was widely available on Wickes / B&Q etc.
Then they said I'd never made it clear I wanted a "non-standard size." So I showed them my original quote request email, which asked for Gyproc 100mm.
Then they said they'd stated "127mm" on the quote, and it was my fault for not flagging it up. However, they never stated a size in the quote, and I displayed it on my smartphone, to prove it. The decorators claimed there was a problem with my phone! Obviously there wasn't - I've seen the quote on a PC too!
Then they said it was too late - they couldn't remove the coving because we'd need to replaster, so there wasn't much we could do. They finished and left.
They also left behind a whole unopened box of 127mm coving, which I'm guessing I'll be charged for.
To be fair, they were really nice guys and think it was just a genuine mistake. Also, they've done a brilliiant job - the coving looks great.
However, the coving isn't what I asked for. It doesn't match the other rooms and it'll drive me crazy. I haven't paid yet. I asked him to send me an invoice. There was also talk of using the leftover (wrong-sized) coving to replace the 100mm in the living room (so at least they'd match).
Ideally, I'd like them to take down the new 127mm coving, replaster if necessary, and then put up the 100mm as originally requested. Preferably without causing any unpleasantness.
What's my best strategy? I know it sounds like a small thing, but it's really quite upsetting and stressful! This is the latest in a long string of tradesmen problems, and I thought that by paying a fair amount of money for a 'Buy With Confidence' member, I'd save myself some hassle
Julia xxxx
I was quoted £250 + VAT for coving to be fitted in my dining room. The decorator is part of the 'Buy With Confidence' (Trading Standards approved) scheme.
They arrived today and started work. I doled out the tea and biscuits then left them to it.
Two hours in, I went to have a look. I wasn't happy because they'd used 127mm Gyproc instead of 100mm. The room now doesn't match the rest of the house.
When I pointed it out, the guys first started talking about how people wouldn't notice (etc). I wasn't happy and kept pressing them - it's important to me that the rooms match.
They said "How were (they) supposed to know what size I wanted, when they'd not seen the other rooms?" This wasn't true, because I'd shown him the living room coving the week before!
Then they said that Gyproc *don't make* 100mm coving. I told them the rest of the house was Gyproc 100mm, and showed them (on my smartphone) that the coving was widely available on Wickes / B&Q etc.
Then they said I'd never made it clear I wanted a "non-standard size." So I showed them my original quote request email, which asked for Gyproc 100mm.
Then they said they'd stated "127mm" on the quote, and it was my fault for not flagging it up. However, they never stated a size in the quote, and I displayed it on my smartphone, to prove it. The decorators claimed there was a problem with my phone! Obviously there wasn't - I've seen the quote on a PC too!
Then they said it was too late - they couldn't remove the coving because we'd need to replaster, so there wasn't much we could do. They finished and left.
They also left behind a whole unopened box of 127mm coving, which I'm guessing I'll be charged for.
To be fair, they were really nice guys and think it was just a genuine mistake. Also, they've done a brilliiant job - the coving looks great.
However, the coving isn't what I asked for. It doesn't match the other rooms and it'll drive me crazy. I haven't paid yet. I asked him to send me an invoice. There was also talk of using the leftover (wrong-sized) coving to replace the 100mm in the living room (so at least they'd match).
Ideally, I'd like them to take down the new 127mm coving, replaster if necessary, and then put up the 100mm as originally requested. Preferably without causing any unpleasantness.
What's my best strategy? I know it sounds like a small thing, but it's really quite upsetting and stressful! This is the latest in a long string of tradesmen problems, and I thought that by paying a fair amount of money for a 'Buy With Confidence' member, I'd save myself some hassle
Julia xxxx