Rogue contractors

Question

Svella Connect are contract partners to Virgin Media.
Without any permission whatsoever, Svella marked out our private driveway with paint so they could excavate it to lay internet cable on behalf of Virgin Media. Fortunately, we were able to stop them in time before they caused untold damage. Never had an apology from them, they failed to remove the paint, and the depot manager also failed to show as promised. They were also in breach of statutory legislation in that they failed to have the necessary consents in place before carrying out any work. Complained to Svella on the day of the incident, but it was 2 weeks later before heard anything back from either Svella or Virgin Media. During that 2 week period I was kept completely in the dark, and suffered much distress with the threat and worry of contractors returning to dig up our driveway, which was only resurfaced a few years ago at great cost to myself and other residents. Been fighting for compensation for a long time, but both Svella and Virgin Media refuse to take responsibility for the distress, damage, and trespass, so now I am having to pursue them through the small Claims Court. I am now in my 80s and should not have to put up with this, but as a matter of principal I am determined to see pursue this until the end. Absolutely disgusting behaviour from both companies. Be warned...do not allow them anywhere near your property.

Tudor · Answer

Just to note, the paint used is water soluble and should eventually go. If you have a pressure washer it should be easy to remove.&nbsp;

goslow · Answer

Aside from the spray paint, what other damage did VM/Svella cause?

jpeg1 · Answer

Depends what sort of damage you mean.&nbsp;This elderly person is clearly distressed by the thought that a contractor might return to dig up the drive when they are not watching. They have received no assurance that this won't happen.I'd call that damaging.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Darthvadar · Answer

I have some knowledge of this. She is an elderly lady in her 80s and not in a particularly good state of health. On the day when it happened, she was absolutely hysterical about what Svella had done, and for the following two weeks she was distraught with stress and worry that the contractors would suddenly turn up again to rip up the driveway, part of which is on her land. The Svella workmen told her that some other workmen would be doing the actual excavation work. She had no assurance that this would not happen either from Svella or VM. Neither Svella nor VM had any permission to carry out any work to the drive. They had no right to do what they did at all. The drive is heavily textured so the paint did not simply wash off, it had to be scrubbed off over several days using a brush and a proprietary cleaner, the lady was very concerned that leaving it as it was would show contractors where to excavate. Personally I think both Svella and VM should be thoroughly ashamed after what they put this woman through.

goslow · Answer

I don't doubt it was very distressing indeed. I would find it very stressful and distressing too.I was thinking more along the lines that if she was going through small claims for some kind of compensation it may well be easier to put forward evidence of physical damage and possibly with a more reliable outcome of some kind of successThe advice herehttps://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/small-claims/deciding-whether-to-make-a-small-claim/seems to infer it is harder to claim (or quantify the claim) for things like inconvenience, distress etc.

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Rogue contractors

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