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    <title>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</title>
    <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/list.php?4</link>
    <description><![CDATA[What is the indefinable quality about a Charles Church home that makes it so special, and makes so many aspire to owning one?

Good question, this is the place for your reviews, comments and experiences, good and bad.  Look out for the snagging list polls.]]></description>
    <language>EN</language>
    <pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:56:29 -0500</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:56:29 -0500</lastBuildDate>
    <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
    <generator>Phorum 5.1.16a</generator>
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    <item>
      <title>Latest comments?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,180,180#msg-180</link>
      <author>tom2606</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi

Has anyone dealt with Charles Church recently?  Any experience on quality / price / delivering on promises would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking at buying a house on a new development - but nothing has been finished yet.

Thanks

Tom]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,180,180#msg-180</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:56:29 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH PERSIMMON HOMES OR THE NHBC</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,105,177#msg-177</link>
      <author>paula173</author>
      <description><![CDATA[We have had our PERSIMMON HOME for approx 2.5yrs now and a roof tile has fallen off.

 The customer service staff do not want to know as they only have to deal with snagging for upto 2yrs. So I guess the tile fell over 6 months too late. The NHBC will only deal with it if the cost is over £1250. 

We are like most people and do not have spare cash hanging around. We innocently thought that if we had a 10yr NHBC we would be covered for any repairs that Persimmon wouldn't deal with, Hence reason for buying a new house.

Other problems we have had is large gaping hole on the stairs, Boiler constantly cutting out and pressure drop. horrendous  smell coming up from the sink due to not putting a cap on drain. Drains in street getting blocked and PERSIMMON blaming residents when it was found that there were bits of building rubble in the drainage system.


SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND ARE NOW MOVING AND AT A FINANCIAL LOSS.
We wish we could afford to do the same and I will never buy a new home again

IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ROOF TILES COULD YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,105,177#msg-177</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:16:08 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Law Society of Scotland - The Journal, 15 Mar. 2010, 'Consumer Code for Home Builders'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,169,169#msg-169</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/55-3/1007749.aspx]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,169,169#msg-169</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 03 Apr 2010 04:06:46 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Incomplete drive</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,149,150#msg-150</link>
      <author>UnhappyCustomer</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Our whole experience with Charles Church (owned by Persimmon Groups, part of Persimmon Homes) was an unhappy experience. We are still waiting for many faults to be fixed, including leaks, squeeky floors.

We are very dissatisfied with Charles Church, disgusted really, with the staff, the advertising (which we found to be dreamy blue sky claims that were the opposite of reality).

We watch Homes From Hell, Cowboy Builders, Rogue Traders, and can't - from watching and liasing with Charle Church staff - see how Charles Church staff differ from what the traders shown in those programs do against the public victim.

We are still fighting in 2009, years after we bought the house, to get them to even agree certain items are faults, let alone for them to send anyone to try to fix them.

What we don't understand is that when you knock on the doors of other Charles Church (and Persimmon Homes owners) - something we dearly wish we had done before buying - we heard nothing but unhappy customer after unhappy customer. Many are willing to criticise the customer service, but for fear of causing a problem with the value of the home or estate, they are generally very guarded about discussing the quality of the home. 

One of the biggest, and most common faults to have discovered, was a defective floor installation upstairs. How Charles Church or Persimmon Homes can claim highest specification, yet install the very lowest specification floor system I fail to comprehend. Then they refuse to honour the manufacturers warranty on the floor, again despite marketing claims to the contrary.

We bought other new homes from other builders with only the most minor snagging issues. But for Charles Church (Persimmon) we had the most serious construction related issues by far, and the concensus amonsgt those we talk to matches our experience - seems their are good builders and their are bad builders, it does not seem to be a case of a Friday house or getting a lemon, rather the norm.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,149,150#msg-150</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:11:45 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Incomplete drive</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,149,149#msg-149</link>
      <author>jillw</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Moved in 12th December after paying in full for everything only to be told that they (Persimmon/Charles Church) won't complete the drive with the top layer of tarmac until they have completed 4 or 5 more houses.

They haven't sold anything else on this estate (Staynor Hall, Selby) and in the current climate won't be doing so for a while and they won't give any kind of timescale for this very small job to be finished off.

They kept us waiting 18 months before completion (blaming the YEDL) so we incurred extra expense by having to rent somewhere to live and pay storage on our household goods.

They have no concept of customer care, the customer having to chase for every bit of information.

Not a good experience and I for one will not be advising anyone to purchase a Persimmon/Charles church home in the future.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,149,149#msg-149</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:53:22 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Your experiences- we'd like to hear about them</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,73,137#msg-137</link>
      <author>mrsf77</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Emily,

Do you still want to hear about peoples experiences with new builds? 

We haven't moved into a new build in fact Charles Church stopped building our house for 5 months because of the economic climate, we are currently trying to get the contract recinded as we have been advised that they have breached the contract. Is this something you would be intrested in?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheryl]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,73,137#msg-137</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:39:42 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>don't buy charles church rubbish</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,133,133#msg-133</link>
      <author>bob</author>
      <description><![CDATA[i complained about a loose brick. the idiot of s site manager replied &quot;if we point it it will just come loose again&quot; &quot;why&quot; i asked &quot;because it will&quot; he must think im as daft as him.
i had to get on to the nhbc. charles church didnt arrange access to my property, they must think it's ok to just barge in and try to put stuff right when you're at work.
and what a bloody mess they've made of it.
now ill have to get on the nhbc again.
i hate my house, it doesnt feel like home.
my old one did, but there wasnt a bird brain in charge of the site there.....]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,133,133#msg-133</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:27:51 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: i feel i have been mis-sold</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,110,111#msg-111</link>
      <author>duncan.martin1973@btinternet.com</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I have a persimmons property paid over 340k for. there were bricks on the outside of the house face the wrong way, meaning the back of the brick faced outward, there were 6 of these, the back of a brick isnt water proof. they changed 3 and now the site manager has decided that they not going to do the rest. apparently all remedial work has a big effect on the site managers bonus ! oh yeah i had 115 snags, still have 10 after 6 months, i have had all down stairs carpet lifted and floor recemented , i have had water coming from the ceiling light fittings and i am not the only person this has happened to...... and the sales staff are so rude...]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,110,111#msg-111</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 14:39:42 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>i feel i have been mis-sold</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,110,110#msg-110</link>
      <author>bob</author>
      <description><![CDATA[i bought my house in dec 06, after being conned into thinking charles church built quality homes. the liar of a salesman even told me the site manager was a perfectionist.

the day i got the keys, both sets of french doors were broken, so we had to go in the front. the salesman unlocked it then had to shoulder it open it was stuck so much.

we've had numerous problems with the heating (fitted by john n dunn) one day we had the entire middle floor of the house pulled up, then we had to wait a fortnight for our carpets to be refitted.

dry lining (by lawson &amp; carrol is just as bad - two of our internal walls had to come down then be rebuilt, and they are forever coming and going to touch bits up.

the problems just seem to go on and on, and our perfectionist site manager just doesnt seem to be bothered about getting the problems sorted out.

there is still a show house on site, and i think the time is overdue when i go and tell the prospective mugs what a mistake they're making]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,110,110#msg-110</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:26:03 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: rude sales staff in Navenby Lincoln</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,108#msg-108</link>
      <author>duncan.martin1973@btinternet.com</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi lisa ,

I HAVE BROUGHT PROPERTY ON THIS SITE, OH MY GOD WHAT A MISTAKE. I HAD 104 ITEMS ON MY SNAG LIST. I WAS FORCED TO MOVE IN 4 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE HOUSE HAD LEAKS, FILLER HANGING OUT THE CEILING, AND HAD NOT BEEN CLEANED. 4 MONTHS ON I STILL HAVE SNAG LIST ACTIVE. 

I to have been spoke to very rudely by sales assistant for disscussing costing and problems with a friend, sale lady then phoned friend at work and spoke to him in the same manner. DISGUSTING !

I know for a fact of 3 family that havent purchased properties on this site due to the way they were spoken to, and have sinced moved on the other developments.

I current have the corner of my house being take down and re built, along with the very top section of the property, then they are going to start changing the brick that are laid wrong , for example with the back facing forwards. MY WINDOW VENTS ARE NOT FITTED CORRECTLY AND ARE MISSING SEALS, SO THE WIND IS BLOWING THROUGHT THE HOUSE CONSTANTLY. REPORTED THIS 3 MONTHS AGO BUT NOTHING YET ?

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING, THINK AGAIN, OR MESSAGE ME AND WE CAN TALK. 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST HAD ALL MY FURNITURE FROM LOUNGE IN DINING ROOM BECAUSE FLOOR WASNT LEVEL, PERSIMMONS APPARENTLY KNEW THIS. AND HAD TO BE RE LAID. THEN WATER START POURING FROM THE DINING ROOM LIGHTS,,,,,, YES THE LIGHTS, NEXT DOOR HAD WATER COMING OUT THE TELEPHONE SOCKET IN THE KITCHEN.....

I KNOW THE ABOVE IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT ITS TRUE.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED...... VISIT SALE AND SEE THE RUDENESS FOR YOURSELF]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,108#msg-108</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:30:50 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: rude sales staff in Navenby Lincoln</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,107#msg-107</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[If you have been verbally assaulted then perhaps you should complain, if you can find somebody to complain to.

Not very easy to find any contacts as the Persimmon website has a form to fill in to contact customer services.  I assume that you will have been given contacts when you moved in and would be interested in hearing any outcome.

It is good to talk to your neighbours as often there may be common faults/snags, which may be dealt with differently by the builder, so keep talking!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,107#msg-107</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:50:14 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>rude sales staff in Navenby Lincoln</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,106#msg-106</link>
      <author>lisa white</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Has anybody experienced the rude staff persimmons employ ?
Has anybody ever been shouted at be sales lady for discussing their property with a neighbour. and told not to talk to neighbours about common faults.

ALL nicey nicey , then after purchase, rude and defensive.

STILL WELL CLEAR OF PERSIMMONS, NAVENBY,]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,106,106#msg-106</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:35:49 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH PERSIMMON HOMES OR THE NHBC</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,105,105#msg-105</link>
      <author>togo.bevan</author>
      <description><![CDATA[We bought a Persimmon Home just over two years ago.  

After producing a snagging list of over 180 items almost from day one (which Persiommon now refuse to rectify) we have discuvered that the house does not comply with Building Regs.

Persimmon will do nothing about this and the NHBC are protecting them.

Contacted the Construction Industry Council only to discover they are part of the &quot;Old Boys Network&quot; and will do nothing also.

Result is that we have a non compliant house that no one will do anything about.

This is in addition to the boundary dispute created by Persimmons site rep (we where told at time of reservation that we owned up to a fence line but it transpired our boundary is approx. three metres shorter)

If you want the advice of a Chartered Surveyor, unless you intend building your own house do not purchase a new one, definatly not from Perimmon, and do not trust the NHBC!!!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,105,105#msg-105</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:10:41 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hurray! Things are indeed progressing!!!!</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,104#msg-104</link>
      <author>togo.bevan</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Macob seem to think that mastic and silicon sealant solves everything.

We had a leaking tap so they used silicon sealant to seal the tap to the basin.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,104#msg-104</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:17:53 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hurray! Things are indeed progressing!!!!</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,103#msg-103</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Seems that Charles Church have now out sourced all the work to be completed to Macob - the chap came around today to sort all the nail pops, cracks and tape lines out. Good job too!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,103#msg-103</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:35:04 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update - Movement....</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,102#msg-102</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I have been contacted by the plumber to fit the shower pump, which is good news as at least we can have a decent shower now - lets hope that he turns up in the morning as arranged.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,102#msg-102</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:00:04 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Update - Movement....</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,101#msg-101</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Not a pretty site, looks as though the pipework has not been boxed in, so the carpenter has not finished!

Good luck and remember to keep accurate records, it is hard and labourious but may be of value in the future.  If you haven't done so already create your own snag list in a spreadsheet, with descriptions, date identified and when it was rectified.  It is very easy to loose track of these especially if you have a large number of snags.  From the snagging polls there seem to be a few with over 200.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,101#msg-101</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:27:39 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update - Movement....</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,100#msg-100</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Well, some of the jobs have been completed as far as the carpenter is concerned: -

The creaking stairs
dodgy bolts on the door
sticking doors

I have also contacted the painter myself to enable him to come and sort out all the deco jobs - Appointment on the 25th March so fingers crossed. Still no sign of my garage door and it has been raining so the garage is completely soaking again. I have been for a walk around the houses that they are still developing and would you belive it they are fitting these with duraspeed shower pumps ? so as you will see looking after the new customers and sod the existing ones...

I have just post another picture of the bad workmanship in our onsuite shower room that they were supposed to address before we moved in.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,100,100#msg-100</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:48:00 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hurray! Things are indeed progressing!!! NOT!</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,99#msg-99</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Looks like the new chap has been dismissed, probably beacuse he was doing a good job and being efficent. I had to go and pull the contracts manager and site manager off site to try and get things sorted - actually left a house key to try and ensure things get sorted before they leave site. 

By the looks of it the new member of staff will need to go through everything again....

oh, I managed to send an e-mail through to the managing director for Wales. I understand that he has got my e-mail but I have yet to have a response from him - just phoned to see if he will speak with me awaiting a phonecall - we will see.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,99#msg-99</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:13:22 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hurray! Things are indeed progressing!!!!</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,98#msg-98</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Today I have been at home and the 4 contractors promised have turned up and completed the work required.

Nail Pops and general cosmetic items
Garage Door Dent
Shower Pump - Just waiting for the electrian to connect.

The new guy on site has had a lot to pick up by the looks of it, however I must say that he has been very good ensuring that the contractors have completed the works required....this might be the turning point.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,98,98#msg-98</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:42:13 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Charles Church in Wales</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,86,86#msg-86</link>
      <author>gazathome</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Following moving into our new Charles Church home back last August we were looking forward to the Charles Church Experience - Very thing seemed fine in terms of our demo and things highlighted on this were supposed to be rectified before we moved in - WRONG the day we moved in we had to get the contractors on site ourselves and even then some elements were not completed. Therefore we decided to put these on the 1 month inspection report (2 pages worth) but alas we did not here anything dispite constant telephone calls and even speaking to the customer services manager at charles church. 

It transpires that the site manager has been sacked and with that they have no idea of the outstanding jobs so I had to provide the new contractors manager with my own copy! Things are moving along now but very slowly and I have no actual dates of completion - most jobs are fairly simplistic and I could do them myself - But hey! I just paid nearly quarter of a million for this house so why should I!!!!!!!

The things that have really annoyed us are the contractors that charles church use they are very unreliable and will turn up and say &quot;i dont have the part mate, so will need to come back&quot; and thats the last I see of them.

Some other areas of concern for us is our garage is leaking water when we get heavy rain - will post a photo up shortly. About 6 people have looked at it and said &quot;what do you expect its a single skin wall&quot; they now seem to think that the poor quality fitted door is the issue but someone came out 2-3 weeks ago and I have to constantly chase them all the time. Put it this way if I did that working in the NHS i would be subject to a displinary. The shower pressue is @#$%&amp; and its impossible to wash your hair having a shower most people on our development have 
now had a replacement power shower - but I am still waiting ...tick tock, tick tock. 

Oh I forgot during our demo a clumsy contractor walked in and marked the carpet with oil - I was advised at the time that this would be replaced however it was only cleaned. I have a letter saying that it will be replaced however I am still waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have mainly communicated via e-mail to ensure that I have a complete audit trial. I will shortly scan my 1 month inspection report and post it up on this forum along with other photos including my garage water feature.

My advice, if you are considering buying Charles Church make sure you get everything in writing and keep on their case otherwise nothing will get done!!!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,86,86#msg-86</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:06:59 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Charles Church - Observations on the standard of workmanship(td)</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,85#msg-85</link>
      <author>davidr7701</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Sorry to hear about your troubles, I think you must be on the same site as us. We have had a host of plumbing problems, when we moved in the water pressure in the shower was terrible, (I could piss harder). I had the site manager and the plumber out who insisted there was no problem. I am no plumber but I did know that this was not right, they have since been round and rectified this and is a lot better. The site manager is a really nice guy , but think he is in the wrong job. The plumber is definately in the wrong job!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,85#msg-85</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:46:43 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Charles Church - Observations on the standard of workmanship(td)</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,84#msg-84</link>
      <author>Lil_Me</author>
      <description><![CDATA[My partner and myself moved into our Charles Church built home on the 7th Dec and have had no end of troubles since and fully agree that the house seems to have been built by amatuers. 

The plumbing has been the main issue for us, including a washing machine that emptied onto the floor and a dishwasher that emptied into the washing machine, yes, they actually joined together the two drainage pipes! Our shower had two settings, hot hot or cold cold, the flush on the toilet was broken. The sink in the kitchen leaked and the one in the bathroom was chipped. You can still pull our cooker out of the unit as it has never been fitted properly and they managed to lay turf over our water meter.

On top of all this the site manager has been terrible. He even used the saying &quot;it isnt my problem&quot; with us. They &quot;found&quot; a key to our house a week after we moved in and then called us at work to ask if they could go in and do the tiling that they had forgotten to do, they then took another 4 days to actually do it and then gave us the key. 

My partner had taken the next day off work to wait for someone to fix the washing machine only to find out that the site manager had told them not to come as he didnt have a key to get in! He then implied that it was our fault for asking for our key back. He then told us that he had rearranged the visit for the following day, which I took off work, and they never turned up and the company insisted that they had never been booked. 

We've spent the time since we moved in trying to fix the major problems with the house and haven't even started on the smaller bad workmanship issues. It'll no doubt take them a few months to fix it all at the rate theyre going. At least we know charles church/persimmon will be on site for a few more years so we should be able to keep the pressure on for them to do things. 

I would also be interested to see which sites in particular have the most problems!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,84#msg-84</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:25:54 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Charles Church - Observations on the standard of workmanship(td)</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,82#msg-82</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I would be interested to know if what appears to be poor build quality and lack of supervision is particular just to Persimmon/Charles Church, or is it an industry wide problem, brought about by a lack of skilled personnel?  I have bought several new properties in the past and none of them had anything like the number of building errors / snags that I encountered in a purchase of a Charles Church house 3 years ago.  However, from what I have seen over the last 3 years I think Charles Church is beginning to get its' act together with regards Custommer Care, perhaps now the issue is construction supervision and the quality of their subcontractors. 

You should be grateful that at least you have Scots Law on your side, where you were at least due some compensation for delay in terms of the interest being paid.

Keep the pressure on and keep records of all your telephone conversations re the problems/snags, so you can quote these in the future if necessary.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,82#msg-82</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 05:43:21 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Charles Church - Observations on the standard of workmanship(td)</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,81#msg-81</link>
      <author>davidr7701</author>
      <description><![CDATA[My wife and I purchased a brand new Charles Church home in August. 
 
This is our second new home and did not realise you could get as much hassle and bullshit from a housebuilder.
 
The hassle started just after we signed the missives to our new home. We had negotiated a deal which included 1% of our stamp duty being paid. It was all written down for us and written and signed on Charles Church headed paper , (found out later it was not worth the paper it was written on).
 
We finally moved in late (charged interest) a bit annoyed about the misleading stamp duty deal, to find out our chimney had been built at least 700mm in the wrong place.
 
We have now been in for over 4 months and still no further forward. We have had some of our snagging done which included water coming through our ceiling on 2 different occasions.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,59,81#msg-81</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:46:45 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SNAG WITH WITHOUT REMORSE</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,78#msg-78</link>
      <author>moose</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Having been ripped of by one builder over 300 items needed correcting on the day we moved in. (we even had a hole in the lounge floor that had been carpeted over) I decided to learn how to snag a house.

The first thing I learnt is SNAG WITHOUT REMORSE. The site manager or rep is not my freind he or she is being paid to do as little as possible. 

I aquired a snagging guide via the internet (best £20 i have spent in years) and proceedede to understand what should be done and why. The devil is in the detail.

Builders will cover up all sorts of problems if they can. (they dug a hole in our garden , not a little hole a really big one , and then proceeded to dump the site rubbish in it. ) Caught them red handed. 

I would say to anyone purchasing . Regardless of the builder or their reputation good or bad. They are all basically going to do as little as possible.

Go through the house inside and out picking every tiny thing you dont like and add to the snagg list . Get you soli to threaten retentions or compensation. Play hard ball with a vengance and dont be nice. Be very precise. Always give them at least 10 copies of your snag list (for all the subbies etc) and get all their mobile numbers so you can harass them at  odd time , after work hours is great. 

Be brutal and you might end up with a home worth living in.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,78#msg-78</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:51:10 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: well done on the beginnings of  your new site</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,29,74#msg-74</link>
      <author>Louidenise</author>
      <description><![CDATA[HMMMMM,
NHBC, they are the ones that say your floor tiles are alloed to be up to 5mm different to the ones next to them! I think this is the most rediculous rule that they seem to have!
My kitchen floor tiles are VERY uneven - especially around the cooker and table - around the table is bad enough ( chairs fall over when caught on edge of raised tile) that the tiles are uneven - but in front of the cooker sounds like an accident waiting to happen, but bacause they just squeeze into the just under 5mm its tough luck from NHBC - they meet their rules! 
I am also going to try to post a pic of my ensuite window under 'photos'
I have been in my house 1 yr now and several issues including these still not sorted despite constant phone calls!]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,29,74#msg-74</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:15:58 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your experiences- we'd like to hear about them</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,73,73#msg-73</link>
      <author>Emily Lawson</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I am doing some general research into new build homes so please do get in touch as we’d like to hear about your experiences. E-mail- Emily.lawson@northonetv.com]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,73,73#msg-73</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:29:03 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Select Items</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,72,72#msg-72</link>
      <author>ApplePie</author>
      <description><![CDATA[We moved in recently and have problems with a number of our select items

Frost Free Fridge Freezer - not frost free, eventually replaced (about 8 weeks)Bedroom Carpet found to have been two pieces joined with tape !! (awaiting resolution)
Granite Worktop:  Not cut square and as a result range does not fit properly together with additional kitchen unit fitting errors (Symphony ?)
Limestone Fireplace marked and scratched - repiared on site but carpet edge damaged as a result

In addition we have a mystery vent in our Kitchen wall - Gas Regs we are told - no other similar house has it and the Corgi Regs dont require one ????

One dormer is poorly made and the others are showing signs of movement as the interior plaster is cracking.

etc etc etc.

We also have not received a welcome letter or 28 day letter from Customer Care (due to the circumstances - but we have not been told what they are) and still have the probverbial list as long as your arm.

Any one for any more it goes on.

ApplePie]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,72,72#msg-72</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:44:31 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: well done on the beginnings of  your new site</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,29,63#msg-63</link>
      <author>silent trade</author>
      <description><![CDATA[NHBC inspections are limited to say the least. Many problems pass NHBC only to fail independent inspection, and they do have double standards for owner v builder.

Compensation is the big issue always on the builders mind. We can't breath without considering if our action might expose fault on builders part. If they did things properly they could avoid many problems, but prefer to waste time trying to put it right rather than get it right in first place. Compensation is paid, but rarely.

Most owners are focussed maybe wrongly on the cosmetic, I suppose because they don't understand the bigger issues which they should be more concerned with. A scratch on a boilder is not important in the bigger picture if the boiler was installed wrongly not following manufacturer instructions.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,29,63#msg-63</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:05:36 -0500</pubDate>
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