Business issue
Discussion
Considering the install was 3 years ago, it's fair to consider the possibility things have been tinkered with/moved by others in the intervening period.
If it were me I'd ask for the opportunity to conduct a site visit and inspect the installation with a view to making good if and where there was any failure on my behalf (FOC, obviously).
If it were me I'd ask for the opportunity to conduct a site visit and inspect the installation with a view to making good if and where there was any failure on my behalf (FOC, obviously).
SantaBarbara said:
wjwren said:
I installed a cctv system for a friends mom 3 years ago, she is a head teacher at a school and had limited budget so needed it cheap. All has been well and its worked fine but the school got broken in to last week and she blames my poor workmanship that the thieves could cut the wires. She now wants compensation from me. This has only come about as my co worker has split up from her daughter - nasty breakup. Before this we were all on very good terms. She also had me install a hidden cam in the staff room though didnt mention this in the snotty letter - im not sure this is even legal?
Has she put her request in writing on official school stationary?Pica-Pica said:
The letter from the Head Teacher sounds very flaky.
a) if she had approval for installation from Governors, then why are the Governors nor pursuing this? I imagine she had no such approval, hence is by passing them
If you do reply, send it to the chair of Governors (copy also to one of the Parent Governors who may not know the CCTV existed nor its terms of operation). Say you acknowledge receipt, and that is all. How long ago was the installation?
I'd definitely second this. a) if she had approval for installation from Governors, then why are the Governors nor pursuing this? I imagine she had no such approval, hence is by passing them
If you do reply, send it to the chair of Governors (copy also to one of the Parent Governors who may not know the CCTV existed nor its terms of operation). Say you acknowledge receipt, and that is all. How long ago was the installation?
If you offer to put it right, any Court will be mightily cheesed off that the school has then pursued you via Court proceedings to...er....pay someone to put it right.
If she refuses, you're in a good position if she does sue.
If she says you can do the work, it'll probably be considerably cheaper than having to pay someone else to do it.
Breadvan72 said:
If you like you can run your draft letter by me before you send it. I don't normally do freebies for businesses, but as you may be a small business and not some slick corporate whizz I don't mind having a shuftie.
That’s a very generous offer.You should take it up op.
Breadvan72 said:
If you like you can run your draft letter by me before you send it. I don't normally do freebies for businesses, but as you may be a small business and not some slick corporate whizz I don't mind having a shuftie.
That’s a very generous offer.You should take it up op.
Breadvan72 said:
If you like you can run your draft letter by me before you send it. I don't normally do freebies for businesses, but as you may be a small business and not some slick corporate whizz I don't mind having a shuftie.
That’s a very generous offer.You should take it up op.
Pica-Pica said:
wjwren said:
Ive looked on their website and she is on the board of Governors, though their is a main principle Governor, so will copy him in.
But she would only be elected as a staff governor by other staff.The headteacher is a member of the governing body by virtue of their office, though they can resign.
Cheers - it actually isn't me, it's just a rather rubbish bot. Contracts made by the predecessor entity ought to be novated to the Academy Trust. No doubt that did not happen here as the whole thing was done in an informal manner. The point might be worth taking, but would probably be defeated by the predecessor entity assigning its claim against the OP to the Academy Trust.
I add that arguing that the head teacher contracted without authority or in breach of internal or external rules would not avail the OP. In that eventuality, the OP would still be on the hook for negligence if the work was not done to the reasonable standard to be expected of an average trader in the CCTV field.
Business lesson: don't do cheap back of the envelope (or no envelope) deals. If you want to offer discounted prices to public sector schools (that would be a laudable thing to do), that is cool, but do the deal properly and do the work to the ordinary standard.
Business lesson: don't do cheap back of the envelope (or no envelope) deals. If you want to offer discounted prices to public sector schools (that would be a laudable thing to do), that is cool, but do the deal properly and do the work to the ordinary standard.
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