I have a baaaad feeling about this. I spent £2500 on some damp-proofing last year. The damp has all come through again. I have a 30 year guarantee certificate, which I meticulously placed with the deeds of the house. When I tried to contact the company every number had been disconnected. They have obviously ceased trading. Do I have any way at all of tracing the people who owned the company? Do they now have no responsibility for any work they did?
Very upset at the moment. I haven't got another £2500.
There are 2 types of guarantee: company backed and insurance backed. Company backed guarantees die with the company but insurance backed guarantees live on. Check your guarantee cert to be sure, but... ...I have to say that a 30 year guarantee is likely to be flimflam and not worth the paper it is written on. A marketing tool only, sorry.
Do I have any way at all of tracing the people who owned the company? Do they now have no responsibility for any work they did?
If it was a limited company, then you can look it up on the Companies House website to see if it's still trading. It will also tell you who the directors are - unfortunately they won't be personally liable, as that's the whole point of a limited comany.
Companies House will send you company details for £1, I think, over the net. You can find out if it's still trading - even if it isn't I would say report them to your local Trading Standards. They can't do anything if it's a limited company but may keep a note for future reference. Dodgy companies frequently close and reopen under other names - it takes a long time for the law to catch up with them (if ever).
Thank you for all the helpful (if not cheering) information. I have spoken to the local Comsumer Direct group who have said they will make some enquiries too. They did make the very helpful suggestion that in future I should always pay by credit card, as this gives me an extra level of protection.
I haven't got another £2500.
