Crusader OAP’s shower dreams ruined
FAR from having the bathroom of her dreams, after an 80-year-old widow paid £1,780 for a new shower unit she found herself both strapped for space and contending with leaks and scarily slippery surfaces.
Marjorie approached Crusader convinced that she had not seen fair value for her money and wanting to know where she stood about redress and getting what she had wanted.
Her concerns typify many of the home improvement complaints we receive, and the complications that stem from clients’ understandable reluctance to have the same person back to do work after they feel their job has been bodged.
But if Marjorie’s position when stepping out of her shower was now precarious, it proved even more so in regard to her legal rights.
These hinged on how she bought her unit, who was responsible for the supply of the products and for the installation.
Prompted by a desire to support her local traders in St Helens Merseyside, last July she called at Sherdley Bathrooms, a business offering products from “the leading luxury bathroom suppliers at heavily discounted prices”.
She pointed to the kind of walk-in shower unit she wanted, a salesman listed the items needed and she paid £920 by card.
She says she was told: “We have three teams who can do your fitting, whichever you get they’re excellent.”
“It seemed common sense to go with that,” she remembers. “All I knew was a Dave was coming.”
That Dave turned out to be David Robinson, owner of installation firm DWR Kitchens & Bathrooms. After measuring up, Majorie recalls he said, “You’ve paid for the products and my charge will be £800.”
But what she hadn’t realised, as both purchase and fitting seemed connected, was her agreements were with two separate businesses.
During the course of the work and afterwards Marjorie had misgivings. “They were aware of my age and my mobility, yet the shower unit is now so close to the toilet it’s especially hard to get out,” she explains. “The floor is like ice. I thought I’d get a non-slip shower tray but have had to settle for a mat. Two leaks happened during the work. The skirting boards were stuck with tape and fell off.” We put her complaints to Sherdley’s owner Antony Watson. But he made it plain he’d supplied products fit for purpose, adding: “We’d then contact local contract fitters we know. Dave Robinson was available.
“We gave him five different shower heads to try but she wasn’t happy with the flow. We got another valve to try but she didn’t want him back on the job. We have every sympathy but we can’t take responsibility for the work. We have now removed him from the list of local contractors.”
David Robinson said: “The bathroom is spot on. She’s lots of space. The cracking sealant was because she pulled it off before it was dry.”
Marjorie regrets being unaware of a sub-contractor’s agreement. She said “I wanted just one business to deal with. I’d have gone elsewhere had I known. I think they might have explained and checked who they recommended. My trust wasn’t repaid.”
Marjorie is now looking for a fairly priced, ace plumbing company to get her out of her jam. If you are one, contact us via the details below.
DEAL tips
WHEN you buy a bathroom or kitchen, be clear about who your contract is with, if you want just one firm for products and installation, specify before purchase.
Get clear, itemised receipts, so if you need to replace items you know what you have. (Marjorie had mere scraps of paper.)
Decide if you want non-slip surfaces, too – legally it is your responsibility to specify needs.