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Original poster

Builder took my vacuum cleaner

23 replies

user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 09:56

Need a bit of advice. I live in a converted Victorian townhouse and have had a lot of work done (still ongoing). Was meant to be complete by end of Jan, but the tiler was very slow (although good). Anyway, it know
knocked the schedule and they've clearly moved onto other jobs and are just finishing mine in their free time. I've moved out and haven't made a fuss about pushing it until about a month ago.

However around mid February I noticed my vacuum cleaner was gone. They said they'd borrowed it as theirs is broken. I've asked a number of times for it back but they haven't bothered yet. The communal hall is coated in dust, 4 months after starting and I'm so embarrassed about it. I'd do it myself except they have my Hoover! Problem is, I'm now concerned what the hell they've been hoovering up. It was a £450 dyson, and it must have been put through the mill. What should I do? I again asked for it back today but I'm not sure if it's now at a stage where they should just replace it he use they've had out it?

Also flow though bathroom taps is awful. Kitchen tap is fine so it's clearly something they've done. All pipes tiled over so difficult to fix. What should I do about that?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 09:57

*replace it due to the use they've had out it

OP posts:
elephantscansing · 03/05/2017 09:59

They sound like a right bunch of shysters!

Write to them clearly stating what you want.

  1. I would like £450 to buy a new hoover, like for like, as you have had mine for 4 months.
  2. I would like you to come back and check the flow in the taps, free of charge.

The tiles - why did you get all the pipes tiled over??

wowfudge · 03/05/2017 10:05

Have you paid them? I bet they broke yours and thought they could get it fixed and back to you, but haven't done it. Give them a deadline to return it to you in full working order then report them for theft if they don't.

wowfudge · 03/05/2017 10:06

Oh and the first rule of having any building work done is to hide your hoover! And anything else you don't want tradespeople to use.

Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 10:08

They've done a good job, but I think it got a bit out of hand. I am really pissed off about the hoover. During the first week I noticed they had it out in the communal hallway and one of them happened to say look someone found a dyson! I looked at him and said, I noticed that, its mine. I don't think hey should even have been using it at all as they'll have gone over nails and stuff, it must be damaging surely?

Think I will just ask for the cash, thanks for that..

Well for a tiled floor and walls, it's inevitable the pipes go behind them, isn't it? Or would you not tile a bathroom?

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Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 10:10

Paid about half, but still a whack outstanding. They're defo out of pocket at the mo for all the materials and labour.

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DidyouseeEthel · 03/05/2017 10:13

Knock £450 off their final bill?

crazycatgal · 03/05/2017 10:22

I agree, knock the price of the dyson off their bill

LozzaChops101 · 03/05/2017 10:24

Thirded - take the £450 off the bill, but get those taps sorted first!!!

Grainfail · 03/05/2017 10:26

Don't take your hoover back at all - insist on a new one!
We loaned ours to friends who were having work done and when they returned it, it was dusty and dirty and when we used it, the smell of building dust filled our house and we had to replace the filter, brush head etc. and was never the same after that.

Yokohamajojo · 03/05/2017 10:38

Our Dyson died when we used it to hoover DIY stuff! definitely ask them to replace it

Hereward1332 · 03/05/2017 10:46

Kitchen tap will come straight from rising main, so flow should be at mains pressure. If you've got a gravity fed system, pressure to bathroom taps is likely to be worse. Shouldn't be worse than it was before though.

They do need to replace your hoover though. It will be knackered hoovering up plaster, nails etc.

Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 12:01

Hmm I agree there is no way I should be taking back a hoover used on an unknown number of building sites. How could anyone think that would was acceptable?

The bathroom used to be fed off the tank, but it's been replumbed to the mains. So it should be same as kitchen. I suspect they've put in the wrong sized pipe which is restricting the flow. But to replace it would involve tearing up the tiles 😕

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PigletJohn · 03/05/2017 12:07

I always say, hide your hoover, and hide the tools somewhere else (e.g. in the boot of your car) to keep builders off it.

you have unfortunately found some builders that are even worse than usual.

send a short letter (not a text, not a phone call) to the boss saying they have taken your vac so you be buying a new one and deducting the cost from your final payment. Don't say more. He will kick up a fuss. Get your position ready and keep repeating it; which is that they took it without permission; they didn't return it when asked; and it is now ruined.

Bambinho · 03/05/2017 12:15

Maybe I'm being cynical but I wouldn't mention about deducting the cost of a new one if there's still extra work that they'll be billing you for, gives them the opportunity to work that amount into the bill.

Just wait for the final bill and knock off the cost of a new one.

Jayfee · 03/05/2017 12:24

my husband is a builder and has a special heavy weight hoover for site use. my dyson goes in for final carpet hoover

FizzyGreenWater · 03/05/2017 12:38

Absolutely - do NOT send a letter re the vac now, wait for the final bill and then knock the money off - or they will make sure they overcharge you!

You've asked for it back. They clearly think they can ignore you. Let them for now, then bill them for a new one at the end - even if they send it back.

I think I might ask for a second opinion on the tap flow issue and given the shysters they are, I wonder if it's worth thinking about a new builder and paying them for what they've done (less £450!) and getting rid?

WellErrr · 03/05/2017 12:48

Those cheeky fuckers!!

Say nothing, buy a new dyson - then AFTER they give you the final bill knock £500 off. £450 for the Dyson and £50 for the inconvenience - trips to buy new hoover etc.
And save all the messages about the dyson.

If they give you your (now knackered) one back and threaten to take you to small claims - just say 'go for it pal.' They'd never win.

Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 14:14

Some helpful advice here, thank you. I really am stunned anyone would do that and hunk it's okay! All the other work is pretty decent, apart from the flow issue. But I saved up for that hoover and bought it for my 30th birthday present to me. Words some times fail me, but you're all right, drop the bombshell on them at the end.

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Original poster
user1493035447 · 03/05/2017 14:15

*and think it's okay

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ButDoYouAvocado · 04/05/2017 09:37

It says in the instructions that plaster dust wtf should only be hoovered up in small amounts. They've probably killed It!

Original poster
user1493035447 · 04/05/2017 09:40

Omg thanks for pointing that out. That's why theirs probably break all the time, so they just took mine! Fucking idiots.

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Miniwookie · 04/05/2017 10:12

DO NOT take the Dyson back if it reappears. It will be knackered. They cannot cope with builders dust at all. The need to reimburse you for a new one.

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