HI

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
mike wrote:
I've just discovered that my mother has been robbed --- sorry, I mean
had her windows replaced --- by those bottom-feeding scum at Anglian.

In the gable end of her 1960's bungalow is a twelve foot long by six
foot high picture window. The replacement window (like the one it's
replaced) is in 3x four foot wide sections.

Since it was replaced a fortnight ago, a triangle of brickwork 12 foot
across by ten courses high has detached itself from the rest of the
wall along the mortar lines. At its widest, the gap that's opened up
is 6 to 7mm wide.

I imagine that, when confronted, they'll say that it just needs
repointing. Apart from looking crap if the mortar lines vary by up to
7mm, it seems to me that it needs a lintel installing and rebuilding
properly, and that they shouldn't have let this happen.

The original wooden window was replaced with UPVC by a local company
about 20 years ago and there was never any problem with moving
brickwork.

Also, if you rap lightly on the pane at one end, the pane at the other
wobbles visibly back and forth, suggesting the whole thing is as
flimsy as ****.

Am I worrying unnecessarily about this or does it need major building
work to correct?

Is it their responsibility?

Is it worth contacting the BCO?


Get a firm of structural engineers in and pay for a report.

Then engage a solicitor, and demand that they do the job properly under
the aegis of the engineer, or pay you for all expenses and the cost of
rectification.

Anglian did exactly the sae thing to my late parents' cerarwood bungalow
down in Cornwall (probably about 10 years ago). They ripped out an 18ft
long section of stout Mahogany window frames and fitted some dreadfully
thin UPVC Patio doors. The roof-line sagged by up to 4 inches - which
jammed the doors up solid.

It took over 9 months to get things sorted - with the local office of
Anglian (which seemed to be no more than one man and a dog) pointing
fingers at Head Office - and both of them trying to pass the blame off
onto the other.

In the end, after a report from a qualified Structural Engineer, they
came back and stuck an enormous metal 'I-beam' through the end of the
bungalow, and tied the roof back up to it.

Complete nightmare from start to finish. Anglian's own 'surveyors' are
simply salesmen - and don't have the first idea about anything to do
with structural integrity....

Registered letter to Anglian Head Office - enclosing photographs,
ideally with a big banner clearly visible from the road which says
'Anglian Windows wrecked this house!'

Don't start ot 'play friendly' with them - it'll only delay things.
Start a website - mention Anglian Windows and their shoddy practices on
every web-based forum you can find - generally make a noise.

Fensa are a complete waste of time - and have no interest in policing
their own industry...

Sorry if all this sound a bit impassioned - but I'd hate for your Mum to
have to go through the 9 months of grief and aggravation that my Mum &
Dad suffered....

Good luck with sorting it out
Adrian