Brighter Home Improvements Ltd (not to be confused with companies of a similar name) is a Middlesbrough based company that provide pattern imprinted concrete driveways as one of their products.
The registered director for the company is Paul Farley, and on his first visit to give us a quote he was very keen to impress that there were lots of 'bad tradesmen' out there but his company was not one of them. That's not what some of his unhappy customers have been telling us. One of them is Felicity Seddons from Rotherham.
Felicity told us that she wanted a new driveway and got Paul Farley's company in to do the work. She opted for pattern imprinted concrete but was disappointed with the results of the subcontractors work. Not only had the workmen damaged the gate, they had left footprint marks in the pattern, concreted over an air brick, installed a drain in the wrong place and built a useless step which was far too low. Felicity decided the job was not good enough and only paid Brighter Home Improvements Ltd £2000, less than half the total amount. Felicity has told us that following her complaint Paul Farley paid her a visit and insisted that the driveway was fine, and in fact, better than her neighbours. Something her local trading standards disagreed with, calling it the worst driveway they have seen in 25 years.
Felicity decided to get the courts involved and it was only then that Paul Farley visited again. This time he had definitely changed his tune. Agreeing that it was a terrible job he said he would get his team to put it right, and this time it would be done by a different contractor Lee Boutell, a Golden Trowel award winner.
As it turned out Paul Farley's man Lee was the one who had already been out to do the driveway we had requested in Doncaster. We had invited BHI to install a pattern imprinted concrete drive at a house we had rigged with cameras. We had our requisite actress posing as an elderly homeowner and watched Paul Farley's team get to work. Whilst the finished drive looks okay on the surface, it's a botch job underneath.
Despite all of the original promises made by Paul Farley to our actress during the quote, his team managed to break some of them. Our cameras recorded the whole of the installation and it's a good thing they did. They captured all sorts of failings beneath the exterior. No CAT scan was carried out to check for services while digging out our existing drive. No compacting of the sub-base took place (something that was promised by Paul Farley during the quote and on his website) and our drive didn't see so much as a rake to smooth it out before the concrete was poured. Inadequate drainage was installed and as a result water can now seep into the garage when it rains. There were also many health and safety failings with local children playing on site, a worker smoking whilst using petrol powered tools and concrete piled onto the pavement. Concrete slurry was also poured down a mains drain during the installation which can result in blockages and contamination. On top of the poor workmanship, Paul's men used the side of the property as a lavatory and Golden Trowel winner Lee was smoking illegal substances on the job.
Upon viewing our footage expert chartered surveyor Barry Cross was shocked at the poor workmanship during the installation. He was surprised that the driveway ended up not looking too bad but is unsure how long it will last.
Lee Response:
Lee's since told us he'll never work with Paul Farley again. Whilst he stood by the quality of his work, he's also offered us a full refund or new drive out of his own pocket. He says Farley didn't provide him with the proper tools for OUR driveway, or provide a trough drain in his instructions.
Lee's also promised not to smoke dope on future jobs - AND to use the inside loo. He's apologised - and he says he's learned from the experience!
Brighter Home Improvements Ltd Response:
Paul Farley completely refutes that he is dishonest and a Rogue Trader. He says he has numerous satisfied customers, but has failed to provide us with their contact details. With regards to complaints he recognises that on a small number of jobs there have been issues beyond his immediate control. He blames suppliers and subcontractors for this. He is committed to resolving these issues at his own expense and has already made offers to that effect.
Regarding our Doncaster job he accepts some of the subcontractors working practices were unacceptable but maintains the end product is fine and the concrete supplied was suitable.
As for not overseeing the work, he does not have the time or the resources. He also adds that he sends subcontractors to deal with customers face to face and if appropriate, carry out remedial work.
Rogue Traders: Brighter Home Improvements Ltd
The registered director for the company is Paul Farley, and on his first visit to give us a quote he was very keen to impress that there were lots of 'bad tradesmen' out there but his company was not one of them. That's not what some of his unhappy customers have been telling us. One of them is Felicity Seddons from Rotherham.
Felicity told us that she wanted a new driveway and got Paul Farley's company in to do the work. She opted for pattern imprinted concrete but was disappointed with the results of the subcontractors work. Not only had the workmen damaged the gate, they had left footprint marks in the pattern, concreted over an air brick, installed a drain in the wrong place and built a useless step which was far too low. Felicity decided the job was not good enough and only paid Brighter Home Improvements Ltd £2000, less than half the total amount. Felicity has told us that following her complaint Paul Farley paid her a visit and insisted that the driveway was fine, and in fact, better than her neighbours. Something her local trading standards disagreed with, calling it the worst driveway they have seen in 25 years.
Felicity decided to get the courts involved and it was only then that Paul Farley visited again. This time he had definitely changed his tune. Agreeing that it was a terrible job he said he would get his team to put it right, and this time it would be done by a different contractor Lee Boutell, a Golden Trowel award winner.
As it turned out Paul Farley's man Lee was the one who had already been out to do the driveway we had requested in Doncaster. We had invited BHI to install a pattern imprinted concrete drive at a house we had rigged with cameras. We had our requisite actress posing as an elderly homeowner and watched Paul Farley's team get to work. Whilst the finished drive looks okay on the surface, it's a botch job underneath.
Despite all of the original promises made by Paul Farley to our actress during the quote, his team managed to break some of them. Our cameras recorded the whole of the installation and it's a good thing they did. They captured all sorts of failings beneath the exterior. No CAT scan was carried out to check for services while digging out our existing drive. No compacting of the sub-base took place (something that was promised by Paul Farley during the quote and on his website) and our drive didn't see so much as a rake to smooth it out before the concrete was poured. Inadequate drainage was installed and as a result water can now seep into the garage when it rains. There were also many health and safety failings with local children playing on site, a worker smoking whilst using petrol powered tools and concrete piled onto the pavement. Concrete slurry was also poured down a mains drain during the installation which can result in blockages and contamination. On top of the poor workmanship, Paul's men used the side of the property as a lavatory and Golden Trowel winner Lee was smoking illegal substances on the job.
Upon viewing our footage expert chartered surveyor Barry Cross was shocked at the poor workmanship during the installation. He was surprised that the driveway ended up not looking too bad but is unsure how long it will last.
Lee Response:
Lee's since told us he'll never work with Paul Farley again. Whilst he stood by the quality of his work, he's also offered us a full refund or new drive out of his own pocket. He says Farley didn't provide him with the proper tools for OUR driveway, or provide a trough drain in his instructions.
Lee's also promised not to smoke dope on future jobs - AND to use the inside loo. He's apologised - and he says he's learned from the experience!
Brighter Home Improvements Ltd Response:
Paul Farley completely refutes that he is dishonest and a Rogue Trader. He says he has numerous satisfied customers, but has failed to provide us with their contact details. With regards to complaints he recognises that on a small number of jobs there have been issues beyond his immediate control. He blames suppliers and subcontractors for this. He is committed to resolving these issues at his own expense and has already made offers to that effect.
Regarding our Doncaster job he accepts some of the subcontractors working practices were unacceptable but maintains the end product is fine and the concrete supplied was suitable.
As for not overseeing the work, he does not have the time or the resources. He also adds that he sends subcontractors to deal with customers face to face and if appropriate, carry out remedial work.
Rogue Traders: Brighter Home Improvements Ltd