[Joe H]

I think maybe you are the only one who has said that Mike.

Interesting though, but one I cant get my head around it just like that.

Couple years ago a domestic cleaner in my employ spilt some Flash on a carpet.
No problem, went to see, passed on to insurance and I paid £500 excess on a £1200 replacement.
but that was because I was to blame.

If there was even a 20% chance that the proceedures I used on this particular carpet was the root cause of the problem I would hold my hands up and pay up.
Not as if the marks were there when I left.  So who knows whats gone on.

I shall seek the advice on Monday of the solicitor and take it from there.
The solicitor is obviously going to pump me for facts,  and I will listen to her comments and take it from there.

[Mike Halliday]

I can see why you are taking the course of action you've chosen,  but I always look at it the way I would proceed if it was me, and I don't deal with stress & hassle easily, I'd lose a lot of sleep over something like this.

 I'd want it to end  this trouble as quick as possible.

[markpowell]

If you pay out you are basically admitting you have done something wrong and it will not do your reputation any good at all. Firstly you need to demand you want to have a look at the marks,  lift the carpet and look at the backing see if you have black lines running across the carpet backing where the floor boards join, if so the fitter has used the wrong underlay on fitting , and there is no way you were to know before the clean.
If they are filtration marks which have wicked through on cleaning then ultrapac renovate should work.
In cant understand why she has tried to solve the problem herself with the 1001 then when this failed she is trying to pass the book.
Do you have legal cover on your insurance maybe its worth checking out. Good luck.
Mark

[garyj]

Don''t pay up, as a matter of principle you have to see this out.

I've got a few court claims going on at the moment regarding my other business, one is for only £120, it has cost me more in time than this, but I do know it has cost them more too, which makes me happy  . It's a matter of principle.

I got the defence yesterday from 2 of the companies, can't wait to see them in court.

From what I have read from Joe on here he seems a good bloke, he has also gone out of his way to do everything possible to help this woman. She isn't going to be singing his praises to anyone anyway, so why should he fork out for a new carpet.

Stick it out Joe and best of luck. It's going to happen to all of us at some point I suppose, at worst you can be our Guinea Pig 

[JS2]

Perhaps it would be of some comfort, or concern, to know from personal experience how likely a case of this sort is to succeed in damages actually being awarded.  It sounds increasingly likely that anyone can bring an alledged claim and stand a realistic chance of winning.

Pete (JS2)

[Joe H]

Thanks for all your comment lads, very encouraging.

JS2 - I am well aware that there is a strong chance of damages being awarded.
Judges are human beings in a state of imperfection, thats why innocent people get imprisoned and why guilty ones go scot free.

I have taken everything on board, I will see the solicitor on Monday morning - might even take some of the comment posted on here and CleanTalk to help her make her recommendations......
and I will keep you all posted because like Gary.J commented - we can all learn from each other sexperiances.