Problem with skip company

[A1]

Hi Guys
Have had a number of skips from a company and was going well. Now the last skip they keep saying they will pick up but its been sitting there for 2 months. Company is still going so not gone bust.

They keep giving daft excuses when we phone them. Have paid them and got a copy of reciept. Whats the best course of action? get another company to take the skip and recoupe the costs from the original company via small claims?

Thanks

[Spudler]

They're using you as storage, they will pick it when it suits them. No way another skip company will touch it.
A polite call suggesting you'll go elsewhere for your next skip, very stiff competition amongst skip companys.

[A1]

LIke i said been couple of months and so far nothing. Phoned around 15 times. Done the polite thing and good talking to but nothing.

What would be the last resort for removing it?

[Jambob]

Empty it, fill it full of cement and scrap metal. They don't like that.

[Mojooo]

is it on your own property?

if it is you could hire another skip, empty it out and then take an angle grinder to their skip (giving them warning etc)


if its on the road you could tell the council?

[Spudler]

15 times! blimey, i was guessing 2 or 3.
In that case its got to be a recorded delivery letter stating you'll charge them for storage, you may have to do some homework as from when you can start charging.
They can be buggers at times so be firm in your letter.

[Kermit power]

I assume that a skip had scrap metal value?

I'd be inclined to send them a letter via recorded delivery telling them that they have 7 days to remove the skip, and if they fail to do so, you will take this to mean that they no longer require it, and are happy for you to dispose of it as you see fit. Then phone a scrap metal merchant and tell them it's all theirs so long as they remove it.

[A1]

Will try the letter thing and see what happens

The skip is on a council property which is a commercial warehouse. We have relocated and the lease runs out 30th april so need to sort it out by then

[poo at Paul's]

Ususally its the opposite problem, them wanting the damned things back before you have filled it!

[Spudler]

A1 said:

The skip is on a council property which is a commercial warehouse.

Thats probably the reason for lack of urgency.

[taldo]

as has been already said, if they are more or less refusing to collect, send them a letter with a warning then hire another skip get the nice skip man to tip the full skip into the empty and he will take the full one straight away then angle grind the offending skip up and weigh it in. legal or not this would probably be my course of action. if they wanted it back they'd have moved it by now.

[normalbloke]

Move it.You would be surprised how easy they are to move with a 4x4 and strap, unless you have filled it to the gunnels with rubble.Then you'll need a BFO 4x4.

[Orb the Impaler]

Tell them you need another. They'll shift it then.

You then have another skip, which I admit will be a problem, but at least it'll be empty.

In theory a few hours work with an angle grinder or gas axe could get it chopped up and it's gone. By way of extra dividend you get the scrap value.

[russ_a]

I had the same problem, so I ran up and said that I had contacted the council and they had agreed to dispose of the skip.

Someone collected it within the hour.

[T_Pot]

tell them if its not moved today, you will charge them £25 a day storage

[A1]

Wrote a letter today so see that goes.

Have thought about ringing the council so will try that.

These metal people that come rooud has offered to take it away, so thats another solution.

Thanks for the replies

[Soir]

tell them a metal scrapman is interested in taking it of your hands...

[Neil MG]

Just been through exactly the same thing! Kept ringing, getting names (who answers phone) and dates for collection. Took nearly two months, I think that's how they do their business! Too late now, but I will try and avoid any advance payment in future!

[BCA]

Ok guys, same problem... slightly smaller time scale. We cannot afford to have it blocking our drive any longer. Neighbours are getting irritated, we have several visits a day from people going through it and other people are adding crap to it. We just want the thing gone.

What is the best course of action?

[BCA]

A lex said:

Probably something similar to whats been mentioned here; phone company 2 and get them to empty company 1s skip into theirs immediately and then dispose of company 1s in any way you see fit.

Tell company 1 unless its gone by xx.xx on day xxx then this will happen and send a letter recorded mail to back it up. If that doesnt make them shift it nothing will.

The first option costs another skip hire effectively.

The second option could drag out for longer than ideal.

I have been given a date for collection as tomorrow morning, however for the past five calls I've been promised "today or tomorrow" - so perhaps there is progress?