[lands]

Wonder if anyone knows what we should do.

Cleaned 2x2 Italian designer sofas and over wet so staining has come through from lining. Customer has had quote and report from manf. who have quoted £5.8k to replace and £4k to re-upholster (supply of material only). They are 6 years old. Thought our PL ins covered us but apparently there is a "contracted works" exclusion so that was a waste of bloody time and money.
Anyone know what we should do next?

Pete

[*paul_moss]

Pete
You got no info on your profile so update or your unlikely to get  a response.
There are lots of pro cleaners that may sort this out with further info.

[Dave_Lee]

PL policies only cover you for Public Liability, that is third party items, just like with car insurance when your own vehicle is not covered. With PL insurance in this business, the items you are cleaning are not covered. You need PL plus'Process' cover or 'Items worked on' cover. Bit late now, so as Paul says fill in your profile for more advice.
Dave.

[lands]

Its on now. Just so you know we have tried to rectify twice under the guidance of Prochem but customer will not let us make any other attempts to put right. For the sake of the profile we are London and Surrey based in Croydon and Caterham, Surrey and we are a partnership. We use only prochem methoeds etc. This is my fault, I shoud have used pre-spray gold and avoided such a wet clean as it was a very cold day that day and ventilation (other than doors in this property was poor.

[*paul_moss]

Hi Lands
Sorry but dont know your first name.
Loads of guys on the forum from that neck of woods that should be able to do something for far leass than the insurance quote of 4k.
Shaw you will get some response once they read,may be a good idea to put your name and number or email on the board, you may get a call to help out 

[lands]

Hi Guys,

Name is Pete Sweeney

email londonandsurrey@btinternet.com

07791 235113

[Dave_Lee]

Lands,
What type of Fabric, how long ago was job done, did it stain straight away or was there a delay, what is colour of staining, is it like a water mark?
Dave.

[vangaurd]

this is going to to be interesting, i wait with bated breath to see the outcome
who can rectify this prob , john kelly, steve gunn , paul moss,etc stand up all the pro hands hand help this guy out, i could be us one day , i hope not
ps what is the colur of the fabric.

[lands]

Hi Dave

Did job first week in Jan. Didn't stain until a few days later. It was a yellow to brown (there is a yellow lining inside cushions but don't know if that has caused the brown mark on inside of underneath the sides (does that make sense) which looks very much like a tide mark. The cushions and backs are more like urine colour but appear as thick but faint lines. The sofas are from a range called cassina and are called maralunga purchased from a company called Chaplins in Pinner, Middx. After second attepmt under advice of Prochem to make them better they did improve (used fibre shampoo and next step was to use that with oxibrite but she is having none of it)  The customer is getting quite heavy handed (which of course I don't blame her for but she did let slip at one point that she wished they were not white and would like a different colour. Tried to upload photo but my techy skills are poor.

[stevegunn]

Maybe contact Paul Pearce at the NCCA if it can be rectified he will do it I think he is based in Surrey

[vangaurd]

when white sheets get water stains it is very difficult to remove without bleaching, the cushions if removable, may benifit , from this only a thought

[John Kelly]

Unlikely anyone would be willing to rectify it for you or they will inherit the problem. However the customer needs to understand that she has to give you the chance to rectify the problem which sounds like browning. The Prochem advice is the next step. You need to put this to her in writing.
What detergent did you use. Sounds like a cotton fabric which should have been cleaned with an acid based product.
If you have already admitted responsibility then I'm afraid you are going to have to swallow it. You could hold out and offer her an imdeminity settlement (current value) which she then may take you to court and try your luck. Sorry couldn't be more helpful.

[craigp]

Pete,

Buy the sofa, or in other words buy the customer a new one, tell her it was 6 years old so you think you should buy a new one for a bit less than that was new, if shes going to be kind she will.

but insist you have this one, fix it best you can and sell it.

might be the least expensive way out

[the red carpet]

Paul Pearce is your man, he is based in surrey and speciaises in putting right other cleaners mistakes i doubt his charges are cheap but i would expect a little less than 4-5k as has been suggested.

Paul will at the least be able to tell you that the problem cannot be rectified, with any luck he will put it right for a couple of hundred quid heres a link to his site http://www.healthyhome.co.uk/

If all else fails, cut of your current phone number
get a new 0800
and your new name is "xxxxxxxx carpet care"
good luck in your new buisness

[lands]

I think I'll be talking to Paul, I don't live in a caravan. Thanks guys, your input is much appreciated. Pete

[carpetguy]

If, as John suggests and I agree, from several hundred miles away, that the problem is " browning ", it has nothing to do with the backing, but everything to do with possible overwetting and uneven drying.

If this is the case, it should be possible to remedy, but you need to get it out of the house and checked by someone of Paul Pearces stature, in this business.

What the owner will be concerned about, is the possibility of it, not being rectified, getting worse, what your proposals are..................

[*paul_moss]

I like a nice ending.
And all the  good guys are called Paul 

[Chris R]

Just so that you are aware.

Even if you had the type of insurance that would cover you for this problem they WOULD NOT pay out for a BRAND NEW suite.

Commercial insurance pays out to the value of the item at the time of cleaning, so they would only compensate the customer to the value of a 6 year old suite.

If you claim on your car insurance policy do they buy you a brand new car, even though its 6 years old ? NO, they give you the current market value for a 6 year old car. New for old insurance is only available on domestic policys.

You may well get more technical info on this if you post on www. cleantalk . co .uk  

Some of the top men in this industry will not post on this forum, because of a falling out with the owners a couple of years ago.

good luck

Chris

ps  Photos would be a big help. Also taking away a damaged cushion for a pro to try and put right would be a good idea

[Jason Hedges]

Hi Pete,

I had a situation similar to this a year or so ago. Suite wasn't quite so expensive, problem wasn't as bad but I did have treatment risk cover.

When I contacted my insurance company they asked how old the suite was, 10 years old I said, they said that insurance cover payout will reduce depending on the items age year by year. I'm sure they said something like 10 percent a year devaluation and after 10 years there will be litte or no value in the item in their opinion.

As you haven't by the sounds of it got treatment risk cover I would seek legal advice if it goes that far, as it was 6 years old theres no way you're liable for replacing with new or getting it re-covered at that cost!

Hopefully it won't come to that and someone can sort it out for you.

Good post Chris, great minds think alike

Good luck,
Jason.

[*paul_moss]

Clean talk