Shoddy work done on insurance. Any redress?

[Appervine]

I've also posted this is legal as I wasn't sure where it should best go.

We had a tree on the street outside our house which was causing damage to our front garden wall. I contacted the council who inspected the problem, removed the tree and asked me to get two quotes for mending the wall. I had huge problems getting anyone to come and quote for a relatively small job and finally got a quote from someone who had done some work locally which looked good and then another from Rated People. Both tradesmen said that it would be cheaper to rebuild the wall completely. The Rated people guy’s quote came back cheaper and I was told that I had to use him despite wanting to use the man whose work I was familiar with.

Less than a year on, the wall has partially collapsed and is dangerous. I have also had to remove the gate so there is nothing to stop my children from running out into the road. My son leant on it the other day and a brick fell off. The council are saying that it’s nothing to do with them as the claim has already been settled. I feel annoyed because I started off with a damaged wall and now have one that is even worse. This is going to cost me several hundred pounds to put right. Is it really true that they have no responsibility to ensure that work is correctly carried out or is it really my fault?

[PeterParkerSays]

Any redress you have would be with the Rated People builder, not with the people who paid for him to do the work. Could the additional damage be caused by subsidence now the tree roots have gone?

Get back in touch with the builder who did the work and ask him to review it for you.

[Appervine]

I already got him back to sort out some issues with the gate that he hung. it took ages to get him to come over. He's not answering his phone to me now so I haven't been able to get hold of him.

No it's definitely not caused by subsidence.

[MooseBeTimeForSpring]

Hmm. Tricky. I'd get a quote for the work to be fixed (a pain, I know) then send a copy to the builder that did the work giving him a reasonable time to arrange the repair (28 days?), failing which you'll get the work done and pursue him through the small claims court for a refund.

[Appervine]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I will pursue the builder more and see whether he will come back. Sadly I don't have much faith in him doing the job properly. So frustrating. I really wish we had been allowed the use the builder we wanted...