I would appreciate some advice on the following matter, I am in dispute with a glazing company X that fitted my extension bifolding doors at incorrect floor level, end of last year. The doors come from a reputable factory and are of high quality. The cost of the job was not at all small and the balance was paid in full before the issue became apparent. Certificates and guarantees have been provided. When their surveyor turned up to measure, the screed had not been laid down yet in the extension. He argued that the finished floor level had to be provided and requested a sign off as a condition of the contract. This was liaised with the building contractor who provided the final floor level datum with a laser cross level, based on the existing house floors. I have learnt this is not something uncommon in construction due to the stages of work. It is important to note that the company did not refuse to undertake the work, it only set a condition as it was clearly requested the weather track had to be flush with the floors. Company X put everything on email, including heights of the weather track, screed and floor thickness etc providing four digit millimetre precision measurements for signing. Everything was noted with reference to the fixed support lintel of the opening. After double checking this with the building contractor it was signed off in good faith. Eventually the screed and tiles got in place and it became apparent the weather track was offset higher by about 14mm from the agreed floor level. Thus a 4 meter opening is now showing a nearly 20mm lip sticking out from the last tile. I revisited all measurements with high precision from multiple points of reference against the information provided on the order. Company X provided no plans or drawings for the system itself. There is absolutely no doubt from my end that the doors have been fitted higher by at least 14mm against the agreed floor levels on contract. It is also possible the doors were designed shorter. To make the really long story short, I contacted Company X several times and requested they come out to survey their work. They argued everything was fitted as agreed and blamed the builder. Emails and calls were never returned for weeks. I asked them to provide all the measurements for the door system but it was completely ignored. That was about 3 months ago. I expected they would at least come out to check the work, but that never happened which raised a lot of suspicions. To my understanding this is breach of contract, something they in fact requested to sign off. I decided to give the situation a last chance, submitting the case to the GGF of which they are members. I wrote to their conciliation scheme and sent a all the communications with the company, contract details etc. Company X replied in the same tone at first, "we don't understand why you went to the GGF, everything was done right, there was no screed" etc. The GGF allowed their member 21 days to respond, which the company ignored. Once the deadline passed, I complained that no consideration or reply was provided. The member was given a 14 day notice as part of the scheme, that I could not justify. On the last day of the extended period there was a three line response at about 6pm. Again, pointing out that heights were provided to them, there was no screed etc. They even attached the same contract that I had already forwarded to the GGF. On the last line they add they are willing to come out on site and "if the doors can be lowered" they will do this as "good will". All the building damages to be covered on my end! Full of empty words, they are covering up a cock up with a "good will" proposition while suggesting leaving me cover serious damages to a new building. I wrote back asking that the member submits the door plans requested 3 months ago. The GGF, that merely facilitates the communication and not examining the merits of the case replied, "Please be advised that our Member is simply required to satisfy your contract with them as agreed and signed for" This is not acceptable, although we are prepared to consider compensation we cannot accept this as "resolution". The company failed to inspect the work against the agreed heights and I cannot accept additional damages as a result of their negligence. Patience is running thin, the GGF have an arbitration scheme as a next step but I am not confident of their impartiality. I am also not going to let this company walk away, they acted really unprofessionally, they were given the opportunity to check their work and chose to repeatedly ignore it until I had to escalate the matter. I am now considering a two step proposal, a. they either take full responsibility for the work and damages to the building or, b. compensation reflecting the cost of bringing the work to the standard it should be as in the contract or taking to small claims to recover the cost. This will require a surveyor/expert witness involved which will obviously incur costs. Apologies for the long post Any thoughts are welcome!

Dear all, I've just discovered that the sub-floor and joists that were replaced only 6 years ago in my Victorian house have rotted again, I'm told by an independent building contractor, due to inadequate damp protection. A master carpenter/joiner replaced joists/sub-floor and oak flooring only SIX years ago, due to the originals rotting. My question is can I reasonably expect the carpenter to contribute to the cost of this new work, which will essentially be to rip up what he did 6 years ago, beef up any existing damp protection and then rebuild the floor from the ground up? I feel he bears the responsibility for not highlighting the need for adequate damp protection in the first instance. Many thanks.

What next I wonder. Do you think the Ocean should be left alone? At first I checked the date of these articles thinking it was just an April Fools article.This spread across the world. World’s first seabed gold, copper, silver mine to begin production in 2019 http://www.mining.com/worlds-first-seabed-mine-to-begin-production-in-2019/ The terrifying robots set to mine the seabed: Machines to search for gold and other precious metals on the ocean floor The deep-sea robots will mine mineral deposits in Papua New Guinea in 2019 Land-based mineral stores are becoming depleted so the ocean will be mined The ocean floor contains minerals used to make useful devices and electronics Some of the minerals are used to make renewable energy tech like solar cells Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4269206/The-terrifying-robots-set-seabed.html#ixzz4dALc8hnJ Countries poised to roll out deep sea mining in new 'gold rush' https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/countries-poised-to-roll-out-deep-sea-mining-in-new-gold-rush/2500509.article

My house was flooded last week as the ball cock broke off in the tank in the loft. Loss adjustors have been appointed and drying company and electricians have been out and set up a separate power supply to start the drying process. I am in a hotel staying that the insurers have arranged. Loss adjustor came on friday and had a good look around took photos and asked me some questions. One of the questions was did I have any criminal convictions or CCJ'S. I said not to convictions and that I had a CCJ about 9 years. I think it was paid but really cant remember as I was in a very bad period in my life at that point. A lot of my paperwork from then has been thrown away ( in error ). I believe that CCJ information disappears after 6 years so I dont think I can check. I have looked through my paperwork for the insurance policy that covers the damage and the question about CCJ'S does not appear only questions about convictions and being bankrupt. Both of these I answered no to as that was the case. I just wondered why the loss adjustor asked and would he be referring to CCJ's from the last 6 years ( of which I have none ). I looked at my sisters insurance papers at hers today and her insurers NFU ask about CCJ'S aswell as IVA's and Bankruptcy. But they then say they are only interested in CCJ' whether unsatisfied or satisfied from the last 5 years. I dont want this to be a reason why they dont pay out and I did correctly answer the questions when I took out the insurance. Am I worrying for nothing?

Hi, I live with my husband, we are both self employed, I had a baby in September and receive Maternity allowance. I was also receiving Working Tax Credits and Child Tax credits, around £80 per week. My husband is currently quiet with work so we asked the council for rent help, they told us they can no longer help and we need to apply for universal credit. We did this (horrendous application system!) and in the meantime our working and child tax credits stopped, we were never informed this would happen, i wish i had just left it as it was. We were relying on that money and now it has just stopped! We both had a job centre interview yesterday which is part of this ridiculous process and my husband has to go back yet again with business details. He only earns around £5000 per year , they basically want to see if it is worth him running his business, if he earns enough, if not they will make him look for other part time work - how on earth can he do that around a self employed business that is on demand (ie it depends when his customers want him!). This is all if we want to claim universal credit. So, i assume they will say he does not earn enough and will have to find other work....we do not want to do this so my question is, if he says no to looking for other work, will we just get no help....even with a new baby. Am i correct in thinking that £5000 per year approx will not meet their requirements? Just wanted a little bit of advice before we see them again. The whole new system is ridiculous, i have worked and paid tax all my life yet when we need a bit of help we have to fight for it, yet people who dont want to get a job, try their hardest NOT to get one, receive all the help there is out there!!! Any advice appreciated

Hi there after several advice please I parked to do a job in Plymouth on 10/03/2016 purchased ticket and placed on my dash shut door off I went came back to find ticket on my window and realised my ticket had fallen on the floor. The gentleman who issued ticket was still in car park do asked if he could cancel it told me I would have to appeal and this and they would cancel it no doubt as mistakes happen. I contacted them sent photos of my ticket and explained what happened. But they said I have to pay £70 by 18/04/2016 or £100 by 2/05/2016 Do I have to pay this i have a family to look after and I can't afford this sort of fine Any help much appreciated Ashley

Hi all, I have had a torrid couple of months with a floor restoration company who are now taking me to court to reclaim money they feel they are owed. I have recieved the claim and returned the response pack with a robust defense. Yesterday I received a letter of notification to the small claims track and a request that I fill in the Small Claims Directions Questionnaire. I am quite stressed about the whole thing and nervous about court...not because I don't think I have a defence just because that's how the act of going to court makes me feel. So any advice you can give me is very much appreciated. Here are the relevant bits: I have a standard 3 bed 1930s semi detached. The wall had been knocked through between the dining room and the kitchen. The next job was to sort the floor out. Here's a picture of the floor : The job was to lift the boards from the lounge to make the necessary repair work in the kitchen/diner and replacing the boards from the lounge with chipboard (as this was going to be under a carpet). The floor guy came to quote the job up and said it would take two days for £850 + materials of around £120. When he was at the house he saw the screed where the old fireplace was however there was still laminate flooring covering the old kitchen floor. He went on a cruise in the caribbean and sent 3 young lads round. The young lads were surprised to find that the original floorboards didn't extend into the small, flat roof kitchen extension. There was chipboard here instead. The whole area measured around one square metre: On day two he phoned me up from the cruise ship asking for anther £480 for another days work to complete the job. He said this was due to the delays caused by the chipboard in the kitchen, that he had assumed the original floorboards were under the laminate flooring when he came to quote. I wanted the job done as I could not use the entire downstairs of my house and there was a big hole in my lounge floor. I offered to meet him half way and pay and extra £240. He got very angry and shouty and later that day sent me a text saying he'd take me to court if I didn't pay up and that he'd instructed his team to leave the job. I sent him a few emails explaining my side but he didn't reply claiming that he couldn't get emails on the cruise ship. I waited a month and then got another company in to finish the job. They charged me £600 to not only finish the job but re-fit the floorboards over the old fireplace which had been screwed in using 6 inch screws and were loose. I paid the original company £980 - £600. Now we're going to court. If anyone can assuage my fears about going to court to defend this please do Thank you.

The company are forcing me/work colleagues to use a 'makeshift' rest area consisting of a couple of tables pushed together and 4 chairs on the factory floor where we work as they say it takes to long to go to the proper canteen upstairs. The environment is noisy with machines running/radio on etc. I've challenged this stating the fact I can't remove my PPE in this 'rest area' as it's still on the factory floor as per HSE ,'facilities for rest and eat meals' as I'm on my feet most of the day and I like to take my boots off when I get the chance as my feet ache etc. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.pdf As a side note,The tables and chairs partially block the route to the fire exit. It also states I'm not allowed to bring food onto the factory floor but they're willing to 'over look' this as they say we can bring snacks in! Am I right in challenging this or should I consider myself lucky to get a break? Thanks for reading,any advice much appreciated

A couple of months back, mother slipped on fluid in an Asda's store at the tills. She didn't get contact details of any witnesses but the one's who did see it were shouting at staff to do something as they all seemed a bit gormless, so it wasn't exactly something that went on unnoticed. She filled an accident form out and has been receiving physio since, she's also been in contact with solicitors. Received letters from Asda's but only confirming my mums complaint. She's documented in a time-line the steps she took after that which included talking on the phone (she didn't record) and Asda's saying everything was being documented and sent to the complaints department. They also took photos of my mother and the floor. They said she'll receive a letter within 28 days which she never received. She has time/dates of letter sent and phone calls made. Now here's the reason for the thread. There's now no recollection of any slip recorded by Asdas. It will be on CCTV if they haven't destroyed the footage but other than that, mother has doctors notes and times/dates of the slip. They have no recollection of accident forms either. So all she has to go on is the injury she's dealing with and the hope of CCTV I guess. Any advice please? Chris.

Hi everyone, my girlfriend has recently received a ticket on her windscreen from UKPC. She parks in a privately owned car park every day for work which she pays for monthly and has a little card with her reg on to display on he dashboard. When she saw the ticked she has realised that her card had blown off the dash onto the floor. All advise will be much appreciated. Kind regards