Decorating dilemma... help!

[waitingfortonight]

I've had a decorator in to redo round a window frame and they've charged a lot. This was following essential mould/ insulation works.

End result: I'm not happy. The gaffer came round to agree it was not to standard, sent colleague back yesterday.

Again, it wasn't right. Today he sent the same guy back which made me a bit uncomfortable as we'd agreed another would come and sort. Instead, another of 'the team' arrived to concede the job 'looked way better before' and there was no issue.

I'm really not happy. There's also bloody dust in the window frame which they're denying (see pics).

In this situation, what would you do? The gaffer saying if I'm still not happy he will come and look himself, but I'm feeling a bit bullied?

Pic post fail , here's the second pic

When I say dust in window frame, I meant it's also in paint now which is obvious in pic. Sorry if not clearer, I'm spitting feathers

Are there also paint spatters along the black sealant?

Yeah it's like white dust @Palavah. That's infused into the damn grey paint and they're saying it's not an issue. I think it is?

I’d be fuming about the paint splatter on the grey window frame. Masking tape was invented for just this kind of thing....

Thanks @Hoppythehippo the problem is the paint was WET!!! As in the grey paint now has white bloody bumps through it.

They're effectively saying to me it's a much better job than it was.. well of course it was!

Am I being unreasonable to push back and say no way am I accepting this? I do not want bumps in my paint!

If that wasn't clear I mean the grey paint is now drying with tiny white specs infused through it... so not a nice finish at all.

So angry

Keep making them come back until you are happy. They can be so patronising and intimidating but they need to be told if you're not happy. I had a similar situation where the people who did our bathroom put the tap panel in crooked. They were so rude about it on the phone, implying that I had no clue what crooked meant and they would never do that. The boss came to have a look and insisted on checking with a spirit level even though you could see it wasn't straight. The he said " well we can't really do anything about it because we'd have to do it again" and as they'd taken so long and been a nightmare to have in the house I backed down abs I still regret it.

Thanks @ThisIsNotARealAvo I feel they're taking the total piss and I'm sorry that happened to you too.

It feels like bullying - like I should accept as they're 'experts'.

I just wanted to see if it was just me being a perfectionist... they're telling me it's an older property and that's the best finish they can get. Come on! In all seriousness, I fully believe I could have achieved a better result myself. I stupidly thought bringing in a decorator (with 5/5 reviews) would fix this.

When I challenged it I got loads of hassle and was told they work on properties way more expensive than mine (!) and the average job size is £40k not my measly £1k job. Felt very put down by that.

They're also from trusted trader and according to the guy, never had a complaint - that doesn't make mine any less valid though, right?

Also, it was Matt before and now it's gloss

You paid £1000 to do around a window frame?! That is a lot and I used to live in an old house and I've decorated it myself way better than that. They're taking the piss!

They are taking the piss.

It's hellish. They've painted an aluminium window frame in gloss and not Matt like it was.

I now need it put back and I'm panicking that it may not be possible

You paid 1k for one window frame?? I’ve just paid 850 for a big London job including mouldy window frame. Guy was from Trusted Trader. What I did learn from him is that he hires tradesman but then has to go and fix the mess they made.l as he can’t control what they do when he’s not there. The finish on your window is very poor and I would not accept that at all. There are tools to apply sealant smoothly. Bonkers that they didn’t wipe the area first.

I would call Trusted Trader. From what my decorator said, they are very strict about who’s on their site. Otherwise, German an independent decorator in to comment on it.

Not a professional job, it looks awful.

Tell the gaffer you want an experienced painter to rectify the job or you’ll get someone else to do the work then go through the Small Claims Court to reclaim the cost.

It needs to be sanded down and done again. I would ask for someone else to make good. Poor you that is so unacceptable. I’ve just had my window frames done and they look nothing like that.

To update, I raised the issues in an email today with the decorator to which they responded immediately with a phone call.

The gaffer proceeded to scream down phone at me (witnessed by DP) and say he's been down twice to look at issues (not my daily!) and then told me not to pay him as 'it's only a grand', never call him again and hung up on me. Wow, just wow.

As I found him via a trusted trader website run by the local council, I've asked them for a call. I'm quite stunned. This was never about the money (I'm still happy to pay for the bits that were completed to a high standard) .. I just wanted them to put back the mess.

Hope council colleagues are understanding. His review may be interesting from me!

• not my fault not daily 😂