MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL trumpet house windows.

[loopinlouie]

Pointed out to them that I myself rather than deal with them fixing the small window, had bought the materials myself to fix it because couldnt deal with the hastle anymore.

 

Response, nowt.

 

Some people shouldnt be in customer response jobs, you know the ones who dont like speaking to people and acting in a manner they say they will. I just cant stand people who lie, whats the point you may as well be honest and say the cheque will take weeks and weeks but you will get it. Rather than in the post and over a month later still waiting, am I going mad or am I asking too much? Or should I expect less than care from the council?

[loopinlouie]

Well still no cheque. I am updating this thread because I have memory problems and not been well recently. I feel if I do this then I can keep a check on dates, thanks.

 

Now forgive me here, but the post around here when sent first class is very good. A letter sent before 5pm can easily be received the next day. Now they promised and even rang me thinking I had been chasing the cheque rather than point out loads of men outside my house:DYummy.

 

So where is it, I have made since this chasing at least another 10.00 in calls to them for the above.

[loopinlouie]

Just got off the phone to director of housing dept, actually based apparantly in the housing office on my estate and told I am speaking to the wrong dept. After listenening, she said she would email a person and pass my phone number.

 

I told them of the thread and I dont think they were interested in reading it as I couldnt get the title out, which I would have thought after they spend so much sending out little notes for opinions of work completed and what you think of the council, I would have thought they would want to read this. Feel like talking to a brick wall, although she did say to be fair she would email a person.

 

Now all I was asking for was 45-50.00pound and told not unreasonable. I since then have made countless phone calls to them as above and have had a tremendous ammount of stress with them not doing what they said they will. I dont need it.

 

I also dont now wish to repair the small window myself, they can do it.

 

I just feel it is not too much to ask them to read this thread and compensate me for their hastle as promised.8-)

[loopinlouie]

Well they said to me two days ago they would email the complaints and get them to respond and though that might not be yesterday, if that makes sence it would be this morning.

 

No call.

 

Rang again today and told again they will email the dept and get them to respond. I asked as they were director of housing I thought they would be interested in how long this has been going on and how they are treating me and told, 'they' are in a different office and they will email them. When I said will you take an interest in my complaint, was told we have another call comming in:mad:

 

I have said that arnt they supposed to be overseeing these depts, but get the feeling they just refer you to relevant dept and you deal with the same people who you are complaining about.

 

Was interested as to why no complaint shows on my file and told they have a certain time to act........how long.......I dont get a reply.

 

Apparantly the compensation is being paid by the original contractor who said works needed doing that didnt. The same ones who turned up on the 15/03 as the council had forgot to cancel the two vans of men.

 

Could that be why they have not dropped the cheque off as promised.

[loopinlouie]

Decided as I have no confidence in the council to call me back, to ring the repairs section again and pass message to contractors as apparantly they have the cheque.

 

Told the cheque is on its way today straight away by repairs.

 

Asked repairs why have I been treat like this, dont know, we dont have many complaints was the response.

 

Was told there is a freephone number, why I asked after all the calls and me getting distressed at cost of this, was I not told of the freeephone number, dont know. We try and pass it out.

 

Alright it wouldnt have helped with chasing complaints, but they seem happy for people like me to battle reporting repairs, to pay the bill and put up with them.

 

They said hardly any complaints, could that be because people give up or commit harry carry due to the distress, I wonder, sarcasm there wondering wether they have hardly any complaints because maybe they do their best to make sure they are not appearing on records.

 

I could be wrong but in my experience what would you think. You ring to chase a cheque and more than once told it will come today, we will see.

[loopinlouie]

Oh and I only think it fair at this point to mention it is MILTON KENES COUNCIL as another cagger suggested. I wouldnt want another council to be labelled with my thread. Seems to me to mean there are more complaints similar to mine than they would like to be known.

 

Repairs said to me they have to end the call as other calls comming in, fair enough, but did also throw in I could report to complaints if I am not happy living here:mad:

 

Now where have I said that. I have said I am grateful with my house, just gobsmacked how they make you run around to get things done.

 

Do I take the comment as a hint that if I dare to complain, as in it appearing on record, it means I am not happy living in my house.

 

Do I take that as a threat?

[MARTIN3030]

Thread title request change completed.

[loopinlouie]

Just received lovely call from woman to do with contractors. They are calling by today and dropping the cheque of. I have said to her to be fair considering how many repairs get done and have been probably done to my house, that I wouldnt have to complain about them its only this case that has upset me.

 

I pointed out this thread to maybe be read and the hope is that the liasing between council and contractor is better in the future for the 'maybe' rairer more complicated issues, such as what happened to me.

 

I am sure all people who visited my house said what needed to be done with good intentions.

 

But what they need to realise is that just because I am not a window expert, does not mean my thoughts on what needed doing does not count. I could see it was not a super major repair yet told originally not fit for purpose and really needed to come out but the issue would be the cost, that caused me a lot of distress thinking as I did the window was on a point of dropping out. Of course it wasnt going to.

 

I hope the council learn that to be very careful that only relevant information is told to a householder. When worried over something you are told is serious, you dont need information about another firm acting for the council, in order to make you feel that the original firm knows what they are doing. They only need to prove to me by doing the repair without hastle. I am a patient person. Its a fact that we tend to judge people on the issue at the time, especially when so distressing. I am sure the council will know after being with them for years on an estate people used to fear a while ago, that I am happy and my first post describing this house shows that I obviously would even if could buy a house, choose the one I am in. I am grateful for them housing me.

 

I just had concerns and I hope they are now resolved.

 

I have raised two other repairs one of electrical and another of yes you guessed it a window, the small frame falling off fascia.

 

I am sure they will sort it xxxx

Edited March 26, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

Just had lady call by from contractor and deliver cheque for £45.00 for damages and inconvinience caused while works were carried out.

 

Said any more problems get back in touch with them.

 

Problem solved, just hope the council learn to communicate, then people like me wont get migraines triggered whenever have to query a repair.

 

My windows are a lot better and thats what matters:D

 

xxxx

[loopinlouie]

What is it about contractors for this council. I was today to have a new radiator hung in a bedroom. The appointment was made weeks ago and I was told could not be time specific anotherwords 8am to 6pm.

 

Get a phone call today 0940 appointment cancelled, cant fit us in again till 12/4, fair enough I thought, but could they at least this time be time specific to am or pm as I have hospital appt near that date got to check out and poss change and told no. They can ring me 15 mins before time of arrival:(

 

Alright people go sick, but this is the appt that has took a year to get near completed. Remember the council telling me I have to nag to get it done. The radiator had to have a wall reinforced and the job dissapeared of their systems months ago even though not done.

 

I am sure this is what happened last year and due to illness I didnt have the energy to chase it over and over again. They had to come out to remove the radiator and when eventually came out to rehang it, said no, the wall needs redoing. Didnt tell me that at time of taking it off the wall. So weeks wasted and I gave up chasing the council when no repair was done. Recently new radiator ordered.

 

They later told me off, that is the repairs centre, when I explained months ago that it was still not done, telling me to keep chasing again, when I explained I dont always have the energy, it was like being put on the naughty step.

 

At least the electrician yesterday turned up and completed his repair:)

 

Just again feel joined at the hip to them, I only rent this house, I dont work for the council.

 

Small window fascia cant be repaired by them till may:shock: It invlolves sticking it back on the wall with glue. I did consider doing it myself and bought the bits, but after hearing they would hold me responsible for any faulty repair and the dragging out of my previous problem I thought s*d em they can do it. Middle of may, hecky thump

Edited March 30, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

At least we are getting somewhere, but very very very very very sllllloooooowwwwwwllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy:D

[ashmk]

You should start a blog

[loopinlouie]

You should start a blog

 

What got me about it all was I realised from director of housing dept that no complaint is officially listed at my address. I was told they have a time limit to deal with it so suppose untill that has run out no complaint exists officially. If mine ran on this long, it makes me wonder after the repairs section added we dont have many complaints, that either their time limit is infinity or most of the complainents die before its resolved:D:D:D:D:D

 

I feel there should be a paper trail on computer their end as soon as complaint made because it doesnt appear to director of housing when they looked.

 

Anyhow onwards and upwards 12/4:roll:

[loopinlouie]

I MUST HAVE MUG TATOOD ON MY HEAD:lol:

 

Because came out on monday and fitted new radiator. Fair enough:D Next thing is this morning daughter realises water comming through ceiling from upstairs:eek:

 

Call council as explains why electric blew last night and wet patch stain on front room ceiling expanding again. You see it stopped expanding last year when radiator took off and I had always assumed it was down to the shower tray leaking.

 

Now realise the radiator in sons room has been leaking water which runs down joist to front room and bedroom and that explains damage.

 

Anyhow:eek: Repair man comes out promptly and within seconds says he has sorted it. It was a as he described it, bit that needed tightenening, was tight, but needed to be tighter. My son had noticed the whatever you call it was asquew this morning and not straight, allowing water to come through. But then again he is only trainee at day release, so told him to give it a rest and we would see what repair man said.

 

Right heres the dodgy bit. Said all done and asked me to sign the form. Whats this? I ask,

 

'Draw system, Repair leaking pipework, refill vent and maintenance'

 

I said you only tightened a screw, this sounds a lot more invasive and time consuming, is that right?

 

All of a sudden he panics and asks to know where my water tank is, my boiler etc, and I ask him to leave after ringing his boss.

 

He stays and next thing I notice is the radiator is off the wall again and he has a pipe blow torch out.

 

I said why does it suddenly need this work and he asks where the form he filled out it, and I said I have removed it. I am not signing for porkies.

 

I now tell him to leave and ring his firm and ask for another person who will do what is needed, no more, no less and someone who I can trust who wont take the mick.

 

Fella leaves and I have to read out the form to the council manager who says they will send someone else.

 

 

What I suspect. It only needed tightenening and it 'may' be common practice for a little exageration to maybe get a breccky somewhere and time from their job. Maybe they have a lot of jobs to do in short space of time.

 

Council just rang me and pointed out what happened wouldnt have cost the council more money, more the liklihood to the contractor paying hours not worked.

 

Lovely fellow who rang me, but I said these repair men although individual companies, represent milton keynes council to me. I trust the council to act in the best interest of the house, no more no less.

 

When they ask me to sign for or approve works not needed doing, I shouldnt be put in that position, my trust starts to question wether I can let them in my house again. As in dont feel safe:-(

 

Council making sure contractor send another man to refit the rediator, the one that he panicked and once again took off the wall when I said I was keeping the form he asked me to sign. Was told the man probably will give a different story:eek: Wonder why?

 

Why ask to leave sign form and suddenly wants to pull the heating apart again, DODGY PLUMMER

 

VERY VERY DODGY PLUMMER etc..............................

[loopinlouie]

But hey, if he did the work mentioned on the form, why is the radiator back off the wall, caught him out........So whatever he says surely can be put down to bu** shi* If he was leaving after job done, why take it back off again................. got ya:D

 

Oh and as he left, I reminded him there are cameras in the house, so no porkies, please, I cant be bothered with it.

 

Now honestly I am a nice patient person. But there comes a point when you have to stand your ground. Say I could have just signed it and let it go, would it have harmed me, I dont know....But if they are putting work down on form, done, that needs doing, how do I know, wether needed doing and wether not.

 

So I just expect work listed as work done, like if I owned this house. Would I pay for total rewiring of a house, when the man just changes a light fitting, noooo:confused: I would plead.

 

Maybe this has not cost the council anything money wise, but morally what does it do for tenant confidence?

 

Diddly squat.

 

I seriously think I have mug tattood on my head. It started years ago when owned own house and paid a huge sum to hplan kitchens, they went bust the following week. Then bought computer from tiny computers, they went bust also:D oopps. Paid another firm to put some form of kitchen in my house and got a shell, the firm went you guessed it bust.

 

Now my point is you cant trust a smiling salesman or contractor. Because what you pay for often aint what you get....xxxxxx

[loopinlouie]

So back to planet earth and going to let new repair man the chance to sort it out and then let walls and ceiling dry and then ask the council repairs to repaint the one ceiling, as their is a dirty rusy mark spreading happily away again. So the contractor bodge it up job from monday has cost money, equivalent to a pot of paint I suppose, but wouldnt you think the council would want to kick them up the bum.

 

I was told there are over 12,000 houses they manage, fair enough. Probably most of the repairs are fine, but what about the poor tenants with mug tattood on their head, oh the hastle

 

To be honest I am laughing now xxxxxxxxxxxx You have to and whats the point in getting upset, it doesnt get you anywhere xxxx

[loopinlouie]

Just had contractor manager on phone to me, nice guy. Man said he was only trying to properly repair the leak. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha:D

 

Was asked what happened to the water from the radiator when took off the wall again and son was able to say tipped in the loo next door to room. Told him please just send reliable repair man to reput the radiator on the wall, check does system need bleeding and maintenance, if not ok with me and pointed out he is probably regulary doing this and they need to take issue with it, he said he would, fair enough xxxx

 

Still got to laugh though xxxxxxxxxx;)

[loopinlouie]

Youve heared the old song okey kokey in out, mine along with the prevous bodge the builder rant, is now, radiator on radiator off, on off, on off and shake it all about, do the bodgey wodgey and sign it all out xxxxxx

[loopinlouie]

Panic over, nice man came and did the job, that is just what needed doing, Rehang the radiator, made sure no leaks etc etc and that it was working, job done:D:D:D

 

When walls dried and ceiling dried will get it sorted. Now just waiting for small bedroom window to have fascia rehang in may;)

 

Youve gotta laugh, now how do you get a tattoo removed:lol::lol::lol:

[loopinlouie]

You know I said you have to laugh?

 

Just got frank marked letter dated 13/4 but inside dated 27/11/09 from council contractor about something or other, presume windows, saying part ordered and expected soon.

 

Rang them and told printed 27/11 and probably only posted and person did not realise an old letter. Nice to know they try to keep in contact even if takes 4half months, no wonder tenants feel as if doing all the chasing xxxx:D

 

But electrician told me electrics seem fine and box did what needed to do when water was picked up, good job and alls safe xx

[loopinlouie]

I wouldnt want to think that the contrator of the council are acting unfairly with me. Remember the time they turned up for massive repair and allowed one hour and then turned up with gang of men when work doen.

 

Well I received call from council giving appt for small window repair 12/5 and remember posting not being fixed till middle of may, as 12th nearly is. Well had almighty banging on door today and after last time wont let the men in when I am on my own. Anyhow get a call from contractor telling me the repair was for today and as I wont let them in they are closing the repair file.

 

Rang coucil and told them a mistake has been made and rather than close file they need to reschedule appt, told cant do so will have to re raise repair as new repair and I will have to wait for phone call again with date.

 

Now this isnt an urgent repair and its not as if I go out a lot, so no panic there, but what I cant understand is again a mistake has been made, not by me, I wrote the date down straight away and they indicated I must have got it wrong and the mistake on my part according to contractor.

 

Mistakes happen, but boy from reading this thread would you believe they dont make any?

 

and say I was mistaken, which I am not, but say anyhow, why coudnt they the contractor reschedule the appt, not as if it would be hard to do so. Seems a very one sided system when errors occur if had of been my mistake. Remember to do what another contractor did, they the original contractor scheduled one hour, hummm, humm, didnt work did it;)

 

So as I say I dont go out much and will await another call, lets guess middle of June, lets see:D

[loopinlouie]

The reason I say acting unfairly, is that they are aware I am not well, they are aware of the dance the contractors did over what was wrong with them and that I feel unfomfortable now dealing with such issues on my own otherwise I would have let them in despite their mistake of course. If my kids were here it would have been no problem, but as it is I couldnt, also still just woke up and in a nightie was not practical with no warning any how.

 

I honestly think they think I am being difficult, when I put it down to common sence of being careful.

[loopinlouie]

Rang complaints answer machine to say you would think after all the mess of my dealing with them that they would simply realise an error was made by appts and rebook it without the hastle of asking me to go through it again.

 

Not just that repairs asked me why I couldnt just let them in and I told them, they then (repairs that is) said 'what illness' and I said mental health and epilepsy and I cant trust them when on my own, hhhhmmm oh she said.

 

I think anyone who doesnt have what I have would have had a stress conditon after dealing with the contractor by now:-x

 

Me myself I may have a label but consider myself put down as responsible for date errors as well now as soon as type of illness told and anyhow what the hell has it got to do with me now not trusting them in on my own, I think anyone would be careful when they had made so many mistakes, suggested what was wrong which wasnt the case and then backtracked over what they said. Remember I have the recording of the conversation of the men, no need to tell porkies.

 

Contractor, you made a mistake, fair enough, but sort yourselves out, its beginning to appear as if laurel and hardy were comming to do it. Waiting a reply from complaints.

Edited May 6, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

Rang them today as not heared from them. Seem a little confused as woman kept mentioning the 10th.

 

Turns out the woman who re raised the repair, didnt:mad:

 

They have no record on their systems of me even calling:mad:

 

I said my phone bill can prove I called and at what time and told if not on the system still no record. Been given another appointment for comming monday pm so not having to wait long.

 

But when the windows used an alternative contractor to repair the other windows and later by a few days the council contrator turned up not being informed according to them by the council that the repair was completed, was told an error had happenend. I rang the council then to inform them.

 

Said today that they have to realise there is a problem in their system or representatives making errors. Number one, contractor turned up on the wrong day and I am finding they feel it is my error. NUmber two, called on day to say could you rearrange them as they have made an error. New repair issued and told will get a call, THEY DIDNT RING or even raise the repar.

 

Sickening.

 

I mean its not a major repair and the house wont fall down;) But hecky thump they make it hard work getting a repair done.

 

What have I learnt by this?

 

I am causing myself a lot of stress. Whereas the contractor wanted to do this or that, I should have let them, even though I knew it was not going to solve it. I would have then had to raise a new repair and they come out again and cost the council more money, but hey I wouldnt have had to go through what I did, in trying to point out their contractor was on this issue not fit for purpose, they didnt know their ar8e from thier elbow as far as my two main windows were concerned. Would have had less stress with a what the hell attitude, I am not paying for the repairs. Difference is I had the misfortune to care for my house and respect that a council needs assistance when errors are about to be made, MORE FOOL ME. My attitude needs to think of my blood pressure next time and not get involved with their errors.

 

Not worth the hastle. I have the right to live here and thought I was doing the council a favour in saving them money.

 

IN FUTURE I WOULDNT BOTHER

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

For the reference of the council:

 

Called by me 10.32, call lasted 7.5 minutes:rolleyes: OOOOH the council cant find it

 

Called by me 11.06 (complaints dept) left message on answer machine, it was also not replied to:? Get the feeling the council couldnt be bothered on that one

 

Now pardon me but what would I have been doing on the phone to them for 7.5 mins that they couldnt put on the computer as promised.

 

Phone bill never lies.

 

They have said today they are considering putting a method to tape calls on their side, I think thats a very good idea:D and am suprised they havnt got it already:-o little people like me do it:cool: I wonder why?

 

To protect ourselves, from bullies and companies acting remember in our best interest and there should be not issues, but comes in handly when someone lets you down, or lays the blame at the wrong door.

 

I dont need the stress for the incompetance of others, their and the contractors track of behaviour is on this thread as it happened to me, remember told you I have memory problems and started to record for that purpose and update blog for that purpose for record. I had noticed would you believe it in certain situations over the years people playing on my illness and we didint or you did and I would find myself struggling to remember and as already paranoid I was advised to record things for memory. Looks like it was good advice.

 

JUST AS WELL xx

 

My windows may be no longer far*ing, but the speil from others may as well be for all the good it does. Should have left the windows alone and made a lot of money from youve been framed.

 

Get it youve been FRAMED. Trying to get a laugh.....xxx

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie