We renovated a Chateau South of Toulouse in 2016 after having a terrible experience with a local Handyman and Cleaner and subsequent burglary we sought a local company to maintain our gardens and pool.We have a written agreement stating that 4 days a month for 8 months and 1 day a month for the remaining months were required at a cost of 10k Euros.
Over the year the work was being completed but having monitored our security cameras we discovered that the days weren’t being done but the work was completed potentially in half the time stated.Last winter we also noted that some areas of our wood and been felled and wood taken without our permission ( by the truck load) when questioned they said it was given to the elderly !!
We have written to them and asked for a break down of attendance at the house but after 6 months have received no response. We are awaiting the next large invoice knowing that despite the work being done they have not attended our property for the arranged times.eg 4 days a month(potentially less than 2)
We would really appreciate your advice on this and if there are legal implications.
I won’t comment on legality as there are more knowledgeable on SF but from a facilities point of view have you interviewed for a replacement team, that would be my first step.
Agree, time for a new contract. But also, are there ways you can protect yourselves? How often are you there? Would occasional unexpected visits be a possibility? Do you have any friends who could pop by?
The time v task issue is a challenging. If the work is being done, but in half the time then there may be room for discussion, but also, they may take the view that you have asked for certain tasks to be performed and if they are being done to your satisfaction then how long it takes them to do it is up to them.
I wonder how they feel about being monitored by security cameras?
Hi Yes we do have a neighbour popping in each week. However our French friend does advise them when we are coming so they only come when we are not there but still not the specified amount.
Although we did say what was needed to be done they have produced the timeframes advising us how long they would take to achieve them so rather thinking we have been misled !!
They do know we have cameras and bizarrely walk past them pretending to look at plants but I haven’t used that information in discussions as haven’t had the courage to tackle them as yet.Perhaps I should stick to my original plan and ask them again for there attendance records or am I being unreasonable?
This is however such a large sum of money potentially 50% over and above what is required in terms of hours.
It’s about where do you put your energy and what kind of a relationship do you want with your maintenance company. OK, hassle them for their attendance records, but why bother? You’re unlikely to have a good relationship if you keep them on. Find someone else, take up references, compare the number of hours they expect to work for you against what this current lot claimed to need and finished up working. You’ve got a fair amount of info on which to base your future decision making.
But you were happy with the price that you agreed at outset and the work you wanted has been done to your satisfaction? OH wondered if they had more people working than they originally thought and so got the work done in less time.
Four days, if you are not there to oversee, is a licence for cross words. Much better that you contract for a schedule of work.
I have a large area (I will not lie and call it grass) to mow in the growing months, bushes to trim and forest undergrowth to deal with. I contract with the local USSAP organisation for this. Sometimes they send a team of six for a day and a half, other times there are a dozen of them for less than a day. Either way the work is done to the contract and for nigh on nine years - nothing but good words between us.
To answer your question re legality: no answer! What are the details? You cannot expect someone from an armchair to say anything categoric without seeing the contract. Was it four days to do a bit here and there? Was it four days to do a specified job? Re the wood, was wood clearing in the contract and if so, what were the disposal instructions?
Oh, and do leave off the camera bit. Not at all good.
This may not be relevant but this story reminded me of when I was laid up with my right leg in plaster and my other half contacted a chap to mow the lawn, front and back. It usually took me around about 2hours. £42 was the quote which, at the time, I thought was top end, but he was using his own machine and fuel.
As I was in bed and my OH at work, a neighbour was asked to check if he arrived on time and how long he stayed. On the first day, the message came back “his van arrived at 11am and was gone by 11.15am.” On checking further, the work had been done as requested. It turned out he had arrived with his three sons, three mowers and a strimmer and blitzed the work.
So I would advice getting several quotes against a very specify job description and ask for a quote based on man hours and an hourly rate.
Back of a fag pkt calculation
4 days work for 8 months
1 days work for 4 months
= 36 days priced 10k€ so just under 200€ per day. This looks very reasonable to me, If your’re happy with the work.
As other have wrote is this for 1 person or more? If not stipulated the company will view this as 1 person 8hrs 2 people 4hrs. From a facilities management point of view it would be the latter & based on the quality of the result & customer satisfaction of the result.
As for the wood, I’d write a formal letter to the company (if you have proof) that legal proceedings with be forth coming if any theft or any other shenanigans where to happen in the future!
Thank you and yes of course not mentioning the cameras had to put them in after the burglary but that’s another story!
From the outset we did supply a list of requirements however the 4 days a month etc were advised by them at the outset with the costs its only after the wood disappearance we began to question things.We are charged quarterly and after the March invoice which I paid (despite knowing they hadn’t attended for 3 months)I asked for a more detailed invoice with dates of attendance.They haven’t replied.
As with other comments it’s nice to hear everyone’s views and advice as with such previous bad experiences in France I wanted to put everything behind us. It would be really helpful to know if USSAP is available in our area and if so how to contact them.
Sadly, on a squint in Google, I think the nearest to you is Castelnaudary. But they do travel, so worth a call maybe. If you can get them, totally reliable, pleasant, not expensive expensive, and importantly you are supporting a good cause.