Letter to complain to a trader about poor quality work
This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland, See advice for Wales
If you want to complain about work agreed before 1 October 2015
This letter applies to work that you gave the go-ahead for on or after 1 October 2015.
To complain about work agreed before 1 October, use our template letter for work agreed before 1 October 2015.
Use this template to write a letter to a trader if they've done poor quality building work, decorating or home improvement for you.
It should help the trader understand your point of view and their legal obligation to sort out the problem.
You can send the letter by post or copy the text into an email. If you’d prefer to talk to the trader on the phone or in person you could read it out to them.
Before you use this template, make sure you read our advice on problems with building work, decorating or home improvements.
Sam Hoolin
8 Park Avenue
Arlton
AL1 4CA
sam123@mail.com
01632 960001
Giltham Traders
24 Station Road
Giltham
GT16 3LP
22 December 2024
Reference number: 2015/23
To whom it may concern,
I have discovered the following problem with the work:
The brick paving on the driveway has been installed badly. The cement between slabs has not set or is missing and it is dangerous to drive on.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says that reasonable care and skill must be used while working. In my opinion, you did not use reasonable care and skill when you carried out this work and you have broken your contract with me.
I ask that you:
Reset the paving. As a good will gesture I also request a 5% discount on the price of the job for the inconvenience your poor quality of work has caused me as I haven’t been able to use my drive for a long time.
Please contact me as soon as possible, and no later than I would like a response within 5 days from the date on this letter, to agree a date by which this work will be put right.
If I do not hear back from you in the time suggested above, I will consider taking further action and seeking legal advice.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Sam Hoolin
Further help
Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 if you need more help - a trained adviser can give you advice over the phone. You can also use an online form.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, contact Consumerline.
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