Remedial Work: Fri 10-Oct-08 ... AAGGGHHHHH

1. End panel on the wall units has finally got replaced satisfactorily.

This was what it looked like when it was replaced the first time - Fitters4 said they just never noticed...

2. Fridge/Freezer fitting

Then Himself asked Fitters4 what they were going to do about the inverted 'V' on the f/f fitting. (Bear in mind this is the one I'd discussed with them on previous occasions, and they'd said they'd not got the wood to do it, fair enough, but they'd get hold of it and put the wall end right.)

The first guy flatly replies that he didn't know about it and has never discussed it! Yeah right, the words "Pants on Fire" spring to mind.

So I go into the kitchen & look the guy squarely in the face (maybe he didn't realise I was in the house) and ask the same question. He cannot look me in eye as he replies that yes, maybe it was mentioned* but he doesn't recall all that well.

* [see post: Remedial Work 03-Sep-08]

After a subsequent protracted investigation, Fitters4 found that ...

(a) Fitters1 had fitted a worktop which was ever so slightly warped; they should have checked it with the spirit level before fitting so that it could have been replaced at the time.

(b) Fitters1 had also seemingly lost the use of their spirit level when fitting the left side of the cabinet. It is not vertical, and Fitters4 went on to determine that in fact the whole cabinet is not fitted correctly; consequently both fridge and freezer are out of kilter. It is impossible to get them right as a result because you're always going to have a 'V' gap somewhere along the line. And because of the worktop you're always going to have the top not right.

Solution?

Well, technically that's not our problem is it, because these people are supposed to be the fitters, the ones with the Solution.

Apart from, in reality, it is very much our problem because we're the ones stuck with it - and they couldn't give a fetid rat's kidney.

Ideally, what should happen is this:

MFI take responsibility for Fitter1 being incompetent, and replace the WHOLE corner - worktop and cabinet structure, and refit the appliances correctly.

Bets are currently being taken for what MFI actually propose.

Surprisingly (not) the installations manager's mobile phone rang out to voicemail this morning. Hmm.

We await a call back.

- - -

At the top of this blog is a fair assessment of how we hoped this would go - they messed up, we gave them the opportunity to put it right. And we hoped, and believed, that they WOULD put it right, and that this blog would be a TESTAMENT to that resolution. They still could.

We have given them ...

TIME

OPPORTUNITY

UNDERSTANDING

... even though we have had to put up with FIVE MONTHS now of remedial work and personal stress, and as a result the house has not been ready to receive guests.

Remedial Work: Wed 3 Sep 08 - still not right

Fitters4 were just as floored as I was to find that the wall end panel which had been delivered a day early was, in fact, the Wrong Panel.

Fitters4 did all that could possibly be done, or at least all that could be done with at least a modicum of effort (at the Very Least), to rectify the light switch which looked like it had been plastered in by Shrek on acid. They also put sealant round the back of the sink (hurrah! the sink finally looks like a half decent job!) and half-heartedly drilled the floating junction box back ONTO the wall (wait till I post THAT pic). Note how I say ONTO. Not "into". No. It's still very much a separate entity from the wall. It's just attached to it now, rather than adrift from.

They agreed about the invert-V shaped gap next to the freezer.

So they'll have to come back again when the correct end panel arrives, and bring another new piece to tailor between the freezer & back wall.


Meanwhile...
I mentioned to a colleague at work that we were approaching the 4 month anniversary of remedial work. She replied that they'd had exactly the same problems - wrong deliveries, stuff not fitted right, getting fitters back to redo stuff, and in the end they'd given up and decided to Put Up With It. I wonder if Customer Putting Up With It is one of the key remedial strategies on MFI's customer satisfaction charter?

Remedial Work : Fri 15-Aug-08

Dawn breaks over the silver birch, a lonesome magpie surveys a silent field from a high branch. Not me, I was fast asleep. Thank feck.

Fitters4 came back without any alternative sink clips. As far as we can see they've fitted just two of the ones they gave up on last time - one at each end of the sink. And that shallot.


The sealant round the sink looks GREAT ! ! ... Pity it's only on 3 sides. Yup, they've not done the back. FFS.


Here's the best bit. Fitting the shelf in the sink base unit. Tell this story to your children at night for endless fun and amusement.
And this is the reason that YOU NEED TO WATCH OVER THEM...

Fitter4 holds shelf at an angle in the base unit, weighs up where the randomly placed filter cartridge bracket comes to on said shelf (roughly) and puts a dodgy pencil line on the shelf.
He then hands shelf to his apprentice with the instruction to cut a square into it so it will go onto the brackets.
I enquire, just out of interest, with Fitter4 whether the filter cartridge bracket could have just been moved 2 inches to the left - thus negating the need to saw a square out of the shelf.
Fitter4 does a good impression of sucking on a lemon.
In the background the sound of manic sawing fills the air outside.
Fitter4 smugly remarks that it's too late now anyway.
I helpfully remind Fitter4 that the piece of wood his apprentice has is not the only spare shelving in the house. There is a full size piece, for example, under the stairs out of which he could have not 1 but 2 more bites at the apple.
Fitter4 gives an encore performance of the fruit impression.
In a fit of pique, he takes his cordless drill and unscrews the filter cartridge bracket (one small screw so no biggie), totally fails to measure 2 inches, shoves it back in again at a 30 degree angle using a combination of unprofessionalism and random guesswork and then finds the shelf still won't go in because the new location is still too close.
He then repeats above step another inch to the left.
Shelf then fits in perfectly with no need to hack it to pieces.

I guess that now makes me a qualified fitter.
What say you.


The sink base units are still misaligned. The end wall panel still needs replacing. There's an inverted 'V' gap on the endfill next to the freezer now that those appliances have been moved around. Rods in the drawers are adrift. The electrics are still not done.

Etc Etc. It just goes on and on. Plus we now have an additional 2 wrong holes in the back of our sink unit.

After the fitters leave, I open the sink base cupboard to find a steady leak is slowly creating a little froggy paddling pool.

By the way, kind regards to all my new readers.
:-P ;-)
Love and hugs, guys.

TeleCommunications

On Monday this week, the IM rang about our list of concerns following Friday's work which I duly went through. We traded gritted teeth comments about the sink fitting; she said that moving the sink an inch to the right wasn't on the original list. Of course it wasn't - (a) it was a Solution that Fitters 2 & 3 came up with, and (b) it's common sense that you work out how much room you need for the plumbing tackle you're going to use and then ensure that you put the sink in at the appropriate place for it!!! Jees. And I'm only in the next room for feck's sake, is it really that much effort for them to ask.


Anyway, 2 things were missing at the end of last Friday's session
- the Franke connector kit, and
- the Duropal sealant tube.

The IM said that Fitters4 had probably taken the connector kit to match up with an appropriate fitting to replace what they'd used.

As for the sealant...
...I told her that if the reason for it missing was that they'd used it all up then I'd have to know asap because it would mean ordering another tube for them to do the sink edging. She said she'd ask them.
...I now have a voice message from her today to "confirm that the sealant is not required". What? Eh? Of course they need it! To do the sink! - and does that mean they did use it all or not? !

FFS.

She didn't mention the Franke kit on the voice message, so I'm taking that to mean that her original answer stands on that one.


Footnote
That makes a running total of 4 things going for a walk now: the kit, the tube, the bag of bits, and the Gorgeous Blue Mug.

Remedial work: Friday 8 August 2008

NEW SNAGS!
Fitters4 have discovered the following additions to the original snag list:
24. Isolator valves were not fitted to the sink feed pipes. They've now done that.
25. Seals were not fitted to the bases of the plinths. They've identified what the spare plastic thing is.

Remedial work done on Fri 8-Aug-08:-

a) End panel reinstated on wall unit, now fitted close to wall eliminating gap. Door handle sorted.
SNAG: The bottom corner of the end panel is dented and looks rounded instead of right angled as it should be.

b) Base unit incorporating new Franke sink, door handle and replacement counter end worktop reinstated; pipework under sink tidied up. Edging seal fitted at other (cooker) end of worktop.
SNAGS:
1. U-BEND MISFIT: Fitters4 found that the U-bend does not fit to the outlet properly; so they've forced it hard up against the side of the unit to get it to meet the plug outlet, so it's slightly angled as a result. They said that was causing a leak, so they've left a bowl to catch the drips and say they will obtain a more suitable telescopic U-bend. They should've come & told me that they would not be using the Franke connecting and waste kits supplied.They should've measured up for their solution, too. The sink should've been at least another inch to the right to make their solution fit (moving the sink to the right was one of the original solutions discussed with Fitters 2 & 3 in any case).
2. LEAK: We have found that it is NOT just the U-bend that is slightly leaking. The joint/seal of the filter tap is leaking worse.
3. MISSING FRANKE CONNECTOR KIT: This was supplied with the sink and should've been left in the box (with the opened Franke waste kit) but was nowhere to be seen at the end of the day.
4. POOR CUTOUTs: The cutouts for the sink are mismatched to a very visible extent.
5. SINK SEALANT: Gap under edges of new sink, requires more sealant to eliminate dirt trap. Fitters4 also took the remaining Duropal sealant with them.
6. NO SINK CLIPS: They were unable to get the clips to fit & are sourcing alternatives.
7. LOOSE water TAP: The taps themselves are ok, but the central water spout is very loose.
8. Hot tap has a flexible feed; cold tap does not.
9. MISALIGNED UNITS: each unit is slightly off kilter to the one next to it, leaving a step effect where the worktop sits, and the bottom shelf inside each misaligned to the frame.
10. WORKTOP JOINT still standing proud.
10. WORKTOP: Edging seal tape to be fitted at cooker end of remaining worktop.
11. WORKTOP: Refit edging brackets either side of cooker so they don't protrude out.

c) Footings fitted on floor to ceiling unit.
SNAG: OMG they look awful. Truly awful. They're a totally different colour (and I mean TOTALLY!) and should have at least had some beading or wooden seal across the join to mask it. One is slightly misaligned too, so it has a more noticeable gap where it meets the main panel. Plus they should've pulled the vinyl flooring away.

Still to do:-
1. Realign fridge & freezer (fridge door slight misfit).
2. Lower cooker height.
3. Fit shelf in sink base unit.

OTHER ISSUES
a) Socket covers that were unscrewed by the plasterer do not screw back onto their casings due to the plastering. One of the sockets hisses when the cover comes back close.
(nb. The plastering curves outwards as it reaches the worktop. This is going to make tiling difficult.)
b) Extractor fan joint box is lying loose on top of the wall cupboard. The box and its wires should have been fitted back into the wall.
c) 2 months warranty has been lost on the appliances by MFI submitting registration too early and without asking. We want those 2 months back.
d) The fact still remains that we were missold on this kitchen right at the outset, because it does not meet the brief: ie. wall units which, when fitted at the correct standard height relative to the worktop, meet the ceiling.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE...the tap doesn't spit madly out like an irate customer.

Arrangements for the base units

IM rang Friday to let us know that Fitters4 will be back this Friday. They're bringing the handle with them and should finish the wall units.

We have not been given their contact number.

6 Reasons why the Wall Units are Still Not Right

1. Fuse box hanging out (pic in previous post)
2. Gap at back of unit (pic in previous post)
3. Big gap between units as shown below - you can also see how the wall sockets were left in this pic. The cornices also have slight gaps. There is a plastic seal left unused from the cornice boxing.

4. Door does not close properly

5. Handle on ill-fitting door is loose; this is down to a faulty product and Fitters4 have said they have added the item to the reorder list.
6. Internally, the units are slightly misaligned to the frames so the bottom shelf looks out of skew.

Sitrep
Email: IM is waiting on delivery info for panel, then we will get dates for Fitters4 to come back.
No mention of delivery of replacement handle.
It's now 2 and a half months since the kitchen install began.

Reinstatement of wall units

The wall units were put back up on Thursday. They look smart but then again the wall itself is a better backdrop now anyway.

BUT...

when I climbed up to see on top of the cupboard, I found that the fuse switchbox for the extractor, although now out of sight, was just left lying on top of the cupboard with about 10 inches of wiring trailing out of the wall like the entrails of a ritual sacrifice. And the wiring for the extractor which now has a decent socket on it behind the extractor, had been fastened to the fusebox wire with a bit of yellow tape. I'm not a leccy but that just doesn't look right.

The Fire Officer who did the home safety inspection today (Monday) basically said that if the electrics had been left like that in his home he'd play merry hell. Natch.

There is also a gap between the back of the end wall unit and the wall - I can fit my fingers in behind it. The wall just isn't flat. Fitter4 said they'd order in a wider end panel and tailor it so it does give a smooth finish... They wouldn't have said anything if I'd not mentioned it. This is my point. None of these fitters has been proactive in resolving snags before we've mentioned them. That could be down to either laziness/apathy, policy or pressured adherence to work schedules, who knows. The plasterer who last week assured me that the wall was now flat is himself an ex- MFI fitter's apprentice (Fitter3 to be precise) who had decided to specialise in plastering rather than fitting.

We are waiting to find out when the fitters will return to put right the base units. If indeed they ever will. I suspect they may have changed their minds: they expressed concern last week at how exactly they are going to do the worktop jointing. This is a good example of the gap in MFI between design and capability. If it is not possible to effectively joint a worktop where a sink has been designed in, then the designers should not be designing plans that have sinks at integral joints.

As the customer, we were promised a sink in that corner and that is what we expect. With a professionally finished joint. We have, after all, already been missold on the wall units which do not meet our brief.

That Sinking Feeling

Blacksheep rang to tell me that the sink had been delivered but it was the wrong colour. AAGGHHH!!! they'd been sent a black one, not champagne. I'd started to get nervous about it yesterday as I'd been expecting a call on Tuesday to confirm delivery.

I asked them to do me a favour and drop me an email so I could send it on to MFI. Otherwise the IM will probably think that I never placed the order and am now stalling. They said they would, and took my email address, but no email arrived.

I rang Fitter3 and told him about the sink. He said that he would come back next Thursday then, instead of tomorrow, to start on the base units.

On a separate note, the plasterer did not come back today. He did say (plenty times) on Tuesday that he'd nip back to finish the corner today so we could paint by weekend.

I texted Fitter3 (didn't want to overdo the Hassle By Phone) to find out when the plasterer was actually going to come back and finish the corner, but there was no response.

That's it then. Sit back and wait for the sink whilst trying to manage a household using a kitchen that is mostly packed away in cardboard boxes or spread across 3 rooms.

The remaining installed worktop that is not to be replaced has been covered in plaster to the extent that it could take months to get all the bits out of the textured grain finish. Why didn't they cover it, or at least come and ask me if I wanted to cover it myself. Took me ages yesterday to clean the f*g kitchen floor, too. I could've put newspaper on it in no time if they'd said. And the windows and remaining units are all covered in f*g plaster splashes and, even worse, huge swathes of whitewash effect where they wet-wiped the splashes into the grain.

PHOTO: I should've taken more pics before I cleaned up; basically the place looked like the opening titles of Saving Private Ryan. Like the high tide had come in through the hall, washed over the kitchen and swept out down the drive again leaving a trail of debris reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina.

Personal reflection
A day of tears. If it were not for being a mother, I would have got on a train to god knows where to make it all just go away. I am so sick & tired of half-a-job harrys doing every little f*g job wrong and having to do it all over again or get it put right somehow with little or no chance of it ever being put right in any f*g case. And it's not just this kitchen. It's every f*g thing I ask any tradespeople to do. The house roof. The decorating. The wardrobes. The cleaners. The conservatory roof. The carpet fitters. The builder who moved the downstairs door. The idiot who did the chimney. I'm not bossy, maybe I'm not assertive enough. I thought that being polite and respectful to people was right and proper. Seemingly not so, because it obviously gives them carte blanche to write 'doormat' in huge invisible letters across your forehead.
Jeez I'm so fed up. I don't sleep at night because I'm too wound up. I don't perform well the following day because I have no f*g motivation left in me. I'm getting migraines, mood swings the like of which could start an international incident, and barely feel like eating anything until at least midday. Just walking into the f*g kitchen is enough to put me off food.
I'm frightened that if this misery continues, there is nothing to ground my thoughts and rein my depression in. I am just grateful that I at least have a sense of humour, and the sense to remain reticent, and that I can exorcise my mind here!!! :-P ;-D

The Walls are Done.

Emptied the wall cupboards last night and cleared the kitchen ready for the fitter today. Strange feeling of deja vu.

Fitter3 turned up this morning - with his apprentice, the plasterer (who was actually Fitter3's previous apprentice), and the plaster's apprentice. I didn't realise it was a block party. The kitchen is no bigger than a small caravan. And here's me with only one mug between the 4 of them. ;0)

By the end of the day my house once again resembles a re-enactment of The Somme, inside and down the drive. Even my black car has not escaped being dowsed in splashes of plaster. But, bless them, they did try to clean up a bit - even asked for a mop! which unfortunately I had tidied away to some forgotten remote recess a long while back. So they did their best at wiping down with an old wet tea towel. My new car did not escape the wiping and has some scary streaky effects down the side now.

The wall is looking good. Very good. If walls got invited on chat shows, this one would be on Parkinson. Impressed so far!

Later on, I noticed the partially plastered-over electrical joint on the newly plastered wall was hissing intermittently, after they'd all gone. Thought "that can't be right" and rang the IM to get Fitter3's mobile number. IM was on voicemail. Coincidentally Fitter3 rang up anyway to see how the plastering was looking; by then the hissing had subsided and he said it had probably just been a bit of water off the plastering that had got in there.

They'll be back on Friday he says; the plasterer will finish a bit round the pipe boxing so we can decorate over the weekend, and Fitter3 will do the base units.


Somewhere in a Regional Office far far away...
Plasterer spoke a little bit about an internal shake-up within MFI to expel the bad fitters. He spoke of a new regional manager overseeing the shedding. He didn't say whether the guy walked around in a brown hooded cloak and carried a luminous wand which hummed when he waved it.

Agenda Morphing.

I got an email from the IM last week asking whether Fitter3 had contacted me with dates for this week. I answered No, and said I needed to know. I need to plan around it accordingly. Ok, leave it with her.

Then in some bizarre turnaround, she rings me Friday asking if I've got the sink and when I say no, it'll be Tuesday, she says he's not coming until the sink's here. WTF???
He doesn't need the sink here to come and take the blasted units off the sodding wall and smooth it over.
Allowing the plaster to dry before it's even ready for an undercoat will take at least 3 days!!!

How dare MFI back us into a corner and hold us to ransom against him starting on the wall. In fact, he could have done that already by now, sink or no pigging sink! It's been TWO MONTHS, FFS!

Can you sense a distinct edge to my tone at this point. :-P

Anyway, Fitter3 rang last night (yes, Sunday evening 8pm) to say he'd come Tuesday for the wall, then return probably Thursday to start the base units.

I should jolly well think so.

"How very dare you" ! ! ! pmsl