Having arrived for our meeting with our Constructeur we imediately wanted to know why we had been sent a letter giving us a completion date that would mean a six month delay beyond the date which we had been given up to now. He looked very uncomfortable. Tried very hard not to talk about that part of our complaint but chose to tell us instead about the project insurance being the problem and the fact that their Macon had left the company. I feel the same when the children are caught doing something they know they shouldn't have done. Hands behind back, shuffling feet, not looking you in the eye and claims of "It wasn't me, I didn't do it". Anyway, we came away feeling that he had a good idea of how unhappy we were but perhap that he had got off lightly.
Just to be certain I put everything in writing to the company, telling them how impressed we had been up until this point but how unhappy we were with being deceived in this way. And having found out exactly what the process is in the project, it does look as though we were deceived. Having seen the quality of the houses they produce I am still certain of receiving a top knotch home and I have told them as much. Included in the letter was the diary of meetings and phone calls covering the things dicussed on those occassions. We sent the letter recorded delivery. A week later as we had heard nothing, we have contacted them via our Translator. She contacted our "salesman" and was told that the letter was with the company director and he didn't sound very happy about it. We decided to give them the opportunity to investigate our case but in the meantime I called Head Office and asked for the name of the Director/s of the company. When I gave my name they imediately asked if I wanted to speak to the Project Manager ( someone who had previously been impossible to get hold of). At that time I didn't think it was a good idea(feeling a bit too miffed to be polite).
However, the fact that he now seemed to be "available" when our translator had previously been unable to get hold of him or get him to call back, inspired her to try again. He agreed that some things had happened with our project that perhaps shouldn't have happened. He is away next week but we have a meeting for the following Monday by which time, weather permitting, the foundations should have been laid. I'm not holding my breath but we are still smiling.[:)]
Tips so far would be:
If your French (technical or otherwise) is not that good, invest in the services of a translator.
Ask for a project schedule (in writing) ie Contracts, Permis De Construire, Insurance, Utilities (connection and who is arranging it), start date, finish date. We were told: Sign contracts, allow two months for PDC, 10 months for the build. We were not told that the project can't be opened until they have arranged the Insurance, which they didn't until January. They then have two months in which to start work and if the build is then 10 months not allowing for unforseen circumstances, well.............................
Keep an accurate diary of all contact with the company ( meetings on site, off site, phone calls, E-mails) and all the things discussed at the time and who was present. Staple envelopes to letters when they arrive. Any promises made by the company you should ask to be put in writing.
If you have need to complain, send it in writing, recorded delivery.
February 2nd 2006
Have been contacted by SAUR to arrange a meeting at the site to discuss connecting the water. Strangely, this only occurred after we chased the building company to find out if they had sorted this out yet. Meeting went ok and they will be sending out their Devis in the next ten days - once this is approved it will take up to twenty five days for the work to be done.
Have finally arranged a meeting with the building company to discuss where this project is going - Ha Ha!
Having arranged this meeting and still being assured that our house will be ready by October 2006 we received a letter from our building company requesting the money (almost 20,000 Euros) to open the works. At the bottom of this letter it stated that they will not be able to complete our house until at least April 2007!!!!!
It's going to be an interesting meeting tomorrow..................................