Wood-burning stove nightmare

I had an appointment for a wood-burning stove to be installed on the 26th of September 2022. I paid 50% of the deposit for the full cost of the job. Two days before the appointed date I send several texts and tried calling Lee & Brook to confirm the time they were planning to arrive. They confirmed they will be with me at 9 am. The list of excuses and broken promises: 26/09/22 – The weather defeated them. However, it did not rain in my area the whole day. I sent satellite maps of the area at 6:45 am showing rain is not expected in my area. That day I had no rain in my area. I was promised they will be with me on 27/09/22. 27/06/22 – I called and texted. No show, this time the excuse was Brook is ill with a cough after getting back from holidays. 29/09/22 – I finally received a text. “I have some issues at home, and I am working in Norfolk. When they get to Norfolk they will message with new dates. They did not get back to me. 30/09/22 – Message Sorry late finish, Signals rubbish. New date was set for 04/10/22. 04/10/22 – 9am appointment. Showed up late. Not until after 11 am. Some work took place, the fireplace hearth was installed. Then Lee went up the ladder to install the flue pipe. Only to be told the chimney needs repairing before they can install the flue pipe. I asked why wasn’t that mentioned when they come to survey the job. The answer was 90% of chimneys do not need repairing. I was asked to arrange for scaffolding. Scaffolding was installed as requested for the chimney to be repaired on 01/11/22 by one of their work partners. 01/11/22 – Adrian Bennett (person responsible for repairing the chimney). Arrived late. Only to say he cannot repair the chimney because he needs a second person, and Lee and brook did not explain to him the amount of work needed to repair the chimney nor did they share the photos/video ot the chimney. I said to Adrian that should not be the case because the conversation I had with Lee and Brook on 04/10/22 explicitly mentioned the need for two workmen on 01/11/22 to repair the chimney (Note I was told by Lee & Brook they were not able to repair the chimney, its not something they did). Again, another promise to call me later that evening to arrange a date when they can repair the chimney and finish installing the wood-burning stove. I did not receive the call. I had to chase several times. They had no reply or call with the promised dates. I took on my own to find someone to repair the chimney via Nextdoor and Checkatrader, hoping they would finish installing the 07/11/22. I had several responses from Checkatrader (so many differing quotes from £500 to £1500) and Aaron Yeomans from Hawkinge via Nextdoor. Aaron came on 02/11/22 as arranged to repair the chimney despite the challenges we had. He promised to be back to finish the remaining pointing, I am now still waiting for him to do so. 07/11/22 - dates changed to 11/11/22. Today 11/11/22 Lee and Brook were meant to finish installing the wood-burning stove. I received a text from Lee to say he had bad news from his doctor yesterday so he will not be able to finish installing the wood-burning stove. He will get in touch on Monday If I need further correspondence talk to Brook. I now have the scaffolders chasing me the take the scaffolding down. If anyone is considering using Coeval Fires ltd (Lee Dunigan & Brook Elliott). Look elsewhere.

JnClaude Clifford - 11/11/2022 | report this review