Business issue
Discussion
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?
I don’t have insurance and I don’t normally do this type of work. The school is state run. The job was done by me and I did turn a profit. This wouldn’t of been an issue had we not had this falling out. She is trying to claim compensation to put right the damage of broken wiring and the fact the wires according to her should of been in metal conduit. When I installed the system I did explain to her verbally that ideally the metal towers the cameras were on should be replaced with the wiring going inside them but she said money was tight so not to do it. But I guess she isn’t claiming off the alarm company for the fact the alarm went off or the double glazing company for the window breaking when a brick went through it.
papa3 said:
Copy of the letter with details removed?
Did you provide an invoice with T's and C's?
How much does she want from you?
Letter below. The clipping of cables to walls - it was done then removed when she had painters in. Did you provide an invoice with T's and C's?
How much does she want from you?
The clipping of cables to columns- i mentioned, verbally , at the time that the columns ideally needed replacing but she had no money so we agreed to put on outside.
No I didnt put any T&C on invoice.
She has not requested an amount - I dare say it will end up being the amount the local company charge to put anything right from the burglary.
The last line of the letter is the dig at me and the personal situation. Previous to this I was very good friends - met up at Christmas / birthdays etc. She is the sort of woman who once something annoys takes it very personally. Id always thought I wouldnt want to get on the wrong side of her!
There is no mention below of secret camera, but a staff member did email me about it last week bizarrely saying she couldn't get it to work. Im now thinking are they trying to get an angle on it's faulty but haven't mentioned it due to it probably illegal?
Also the letter states Potential Intruders - so did they actually get broken in to or has she just been on the roof and ripped the system apart to spite me?
Letter as below
As Headteacher acting for the Governors for XXX School, I am contacting you regarding the camera system installed August 2015.
Due to the inadequacies in installing it, it allowed potential intruders to rip out wires and defy what it is meant to do - catch them on camera.
We have had to contact insurers and arrange quotes for repairs. It is apparent from the reports back from all of them that the installation was not correct, and the following has been identified
A report has been made from a local CCTV firm. It is as follows:
I found that the plastic weatherproof electrical box had been vandalized. This would have contained a low voltage power supply is now missing.
Camera inside the entrance – cable has is loose and not properly cable clipped to ceiling.
Wires at the back of the DVR are loose and heavy these should be clipped to wall
I noticed the video cables were fed on the outside of the column to the cameras and not ran internally which could compromise the system and does not meet British Standards.
As a Headteacher it is my responsibility for safety at the school and its pupils and accountable to my Governers for what I spend. I have paid a considerable sum of money from a reduced budget for a system which was not installed to a correct level.
I will be awaiting your response back to what compensation you will be offering in view of the above failings.
I think your actions in lots of areas need accessing.
Breadvan72 said:
Your contract is not with the head teacher but with the Governing body or (if an academy) the academy trust that rums the school. It would be very unusual for a state school to contract without a degree of formality, including a tender process in many cases, and a written agreement in most. Are you suggesting that this was all done on the basis of a chat with the head teacher?
Yes all this was done via face to face chat. I told her the price she said ok go ahead. It is now an academy but wasn't couple of years ago.Breadvan72 said:
Most irregular, but that probably won't preclude a claim against you for doing a substandard job. Negotiate a settlement. Maybe offer to make good the damage to the system and set it up with proper standards of cabling and so on. That may be cheapest.
EDIT: Or take a stand on a he said she said contest about whether you advised internal cabling and the head rejected it.
Next time, document the deal.
I know she wont want me to come back after the personal issues but shouldnt I be able to offer to put anything she finds at fault right before she engages in paying someone else to fix it. Im thinking down the small claims route and that you should allow the person to put a fault right.EDIT: Or take a stand on a he said she said contest about whether you advised internal cabling and the head rejected it.
Next time, document the deal.
Edited by Breadvan72 on Tuesday 24th October 15:07
Breadvan thank you for your reply, very much appreciated. I should add the school is in a 'co-operative trust' not an Academy. I thought they were in an Academy but looking on their website they are in a Co-operative trust. They were going for Academy status but the head wanted to steer them in the direction of a Co-operative. Would this make any difference at all?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
They have repaired the cctv and want me to pay £1400 as well as previous compensation for the faults before.
Also said the hidden camera wasnt working properly. Im surprised they mentioned that as im sure it must be illegal. Didnt say the word hidden as such just the 'staff' camera.
Also said the hidden camera wasnt working properly. Im surprised they mentioned that as im sure it must be illegal. Didnt say the word hidden as such just the 'staff' camera.
Edited by wjwren on Friday 3rd November 23:15
Thank you to the above posters. Breadvan - thank you again.
The cost was 4k so I'm unsure how putting some cables in conduit came to £1400 unless there is other work done and they want me to pay for it all. I'm guessing they want me to pay for this £1400 bill AND have some compensation off the original bill. Ridiculous.
The cost was 4k so I'm unsure how putting some cables in conduit came to £1400 unless there is other work done and they want me to pay for it all. I'm guessing they want me to pay for this £1400 bill AND have some compensation off the original bill. Ridiculous.
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