Resolving/escalating issue with builder

bs0 on 26/02/2021 - 20:42

Hi all, I was hoping on some opinions on how to resolve an issue/escalate an issue that we have been having with our builder.

Summary:
- A less than 1 year old home had a sudden major underground water leak (flooded our neighbours' gardens and road) that was fixed under warranty by the builder
- It left us with a quarterly water bill of ~$1700 (previous bills max out at $400), which we have asked the builder to partially compensate
- We have questioned their calculations and reasoning, but the person we are corresponding with is stubborn, crap at basic maths, and doesn't answer our questions

Escalations
- This negotiation started in Nov 2020, but most of the correspondence has been this year
- We have requested their work phone / mobile to perhaps discuss in more detail and have been ignored
- We have requested to talk to someone else given the above and have been denied

  • We are asking for ~$700 (Approx $1700 leak bill - $400 highest regular bill - $700 goodwill from SYDwater).
  • They have made a final offer of $400 (and said, any further challenges and they will refuse to refund or discuss anymore)
  • This was after they proposed many different convoluted methods of calculating the cost, resulting in offers of $200, $300, and finally $400.
  • But the their calculations are still full of simple mathematical errors like 12months / 4 = 4 months and a few other things and double subtracting service fees

We are wondering where to go from here?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • deme on 26/02/2021 - 20:48

    Which state?

    • stewy on 27/02/2021 - 03:31
      +7

      How many states have Sydney Water supplying water to them?

      • brendanm on 27/02/2021 - 14:55
        +3

        How long of a hose have you got?

  • bloom on 26/02/2021 - 21:01
    +9

    $400 builder + $700 Sydney water = $1,100 compensation, is it seriously worth arguing for the $200 discrepancy?

    • bs0 on 26/02/2021 - 21:09

      We are considering just taking it and moving on, just wanted some thoughts on if anyone would do anything different.

      • bloom on 26/02/2021 - 21:10

        I’m surprised the builder is willing to compensate at all, I’m sure the contract will say he’s not liable for consequential losses. Take it and move on

      • popsiee on 26/02/2021 - 21:30

        Ring a lawyer as they need more business nowadays and you can donate a few K to them :)
        For the amount you are talking about you must be in the elite 1% er TA club on here .

        • bs0 on 27/02/2021 - 01:19

          Considering the top deals on ozbargain can be saving cents or dollars, are hardly think so :)

  • NuclearWessels on 26/02/2021 - 21:01
    +6

    So the leak cost you $1300 (max), SYDwater is giving you $700 and the builder has offered $400. So you're $200 out.

    I mean unless there's other stuff going on I'd probably just wear the $200 cost and count it the expense of not having the stress of small claims + further negotiations in my life.

  • JimmyF on 26/02/2021 - 21:21

    Take the money, move on. The extra money isn't worth the hassle.

  • PensionerXXL on 26/02/2021 - 21:59
    +3

    consider going to his work and addressing it face to face?
    you can add that to the incident report :/ :/

    • Jackson on 27/02/2021 - 01:03

      Plussed for the joke…

      …in case the sarcasm was lost on OP: do not do this

  • SF3 on 26/02/2021 - 22:34
    +3

    full of simple mathematical errors

    Wouldn’t have made it to university.

    However, highly likely makes more money than people with a degree.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 26/02/2021 - 22:40

      Sadly this is true, however people that get Arts degrees knew what they were getting into….

  • The-Kremlin on 26/02/2021 - 23:43
    +2

    I'd be more worried about what else they'd shortchanged you on regarding the structure/quality of the build for a major issue like this to occur after just 1 year.

    Accept the $200, then once it hits your bank account, get an experienced building inspector to go through the whole place inside out, tell them you want to find every fault however minor it might be and get the builder to fix all under warranty.

    • bs0 on 27/02/2021 - 01:18
      +1

      We've had a few issues with the building site supervisor and the quality of the build. Which is why we feel if we settle on this issue it is yet another issue we've let side and let them bully us a bit

  • dizzle on 27/02/2021 - 00:09

    We are asking for ~$700 (Approx $1700 leak bill - $400 highest regular bill - $700 goodwill from SYDwater)

    Looks like the builders not the only one that has trouble with maths.

    Seriously though, as others have said, for the small difference between what you asked for and what they are offering, it's best to move on (presuming there are no other issues you're experiencing)

  • bcarp on 27/02/2021 - 00:10
    +1

    I agree with the above comments that $200 on the price of the whole build isn't worth arguing about. However, I'm more intrigued as to how you managed to build the entire house without having a work or mobile phone number of this builder! You had a whole house built on email correspondence & not a single phone call?

    • Jackson on 27/02/2021 - 01:04

      Let alone his builders license no.

    • bs0 on 27/02/2021 - 01:15

      We have ph numbers for most people, just not this particular customer service rep. Wasn't previously involved with this member since he is now 'post settlement care etc'.

  • mreddie on 27/02/2021 - 07:51

    Just take the money offered and move on

  • Sum-Ting Wong on 27/02/2021 - 08:50
    +1

    A Current Affair

  • Candour on 27/02/2021 - 15:02

    ring consumer affairs, get their advice. then decide

  • [Deactivated] on 27/02/2021 - 18:29

    $400 a quarter wtf, we have a 40 square home with 3 bathrooms and a pool, just got water bill for $135.

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