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    <title>Charles Church and Persimmon Owners' Forum</title>
    <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/index.php</link>
    <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
    <language>EN</language>
    <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:09:57 -0600</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:09:57 -0600</lastBuildDate>
    <category>Charles Church and Persimmon Owners' Forum</category>
    <generator>Phorum 5.1.16a</generator>
    <ttl>600</ttl>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] :SRe: Maxwell Gait</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,257#msg-257</link>
      <author>Aryaman</author>
      <description><![CDATA[:S
I have been seriously considering buying property at this development as it is very close to the school, but now I am bit worried after reading nmearns experience!! Is problem sorted yet? More advice appreciated?]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,257#msg-257</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:09:57 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Charles Church (Wales) - rectifying defects after 2 years</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,256,256#msg-256</link>
      <author>unhappyhomeowner</author>
      <description><![CDATA[A word of warning to anyone with defects to their Charles Church built house - 

Please remember to keep a written record of any problems you report to Charles
Church and ensure that the fault is logged properly at their head office. 

I bought a Charles Church house 4 years ago and have recently suffered a reoccurence of a problem that was supposed to have been fixed soon after we moved in. However, because I dealt direct with Site Manager at the time because the problem was urgent Charles Church have now declined to offfer any help. This they say is because they have no record of the original defect and the work done to repair it.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,256,256#msg-256</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:44:16 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: SNAG WITH WITHOUT REMORSE</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,255#msg-255</link>
      <author>undlou</author>
      <description><![CDATA[yeah im also interested in the snag book. my house isnt built yet but im sure i'll find something.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,255#msg-255</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:38:45 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Exchange of contracts:X</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,254,254#msg-254</link>
      <author>undlou</author>
      <description><![CDATA[we have gone for the firstbuy scheme which lends us 20% of the price and we put in 5% and use this as a 25% deposit. at this point everything was going well. within 3 weeks we put our reservation fee down, got our mortgage accepted, our application with moat was accepted and another couple of weeks all the insurance went through as well as the solicitors contract and fees. its been over a month since our solicitors have taken our deposit, and received our contracts. they still have not exchanged contracts. our solicitors have been chasing persimmons solicitors for a month but they keep avoiding them. 
You can only apply for a moat loan within 6 months before the completion date. also this firstbuy scheme with moat expires in April. they won't lend money to anyone whos home will be completed after April. 
As persimmon homes are saying they wont complete their houses until june next year (which would be 8 months from date of application) moat is basically saying either move completion date to April or we don't get our loan.

we are stuck because exchange of contracts can only be dealt with the solicitors, so when we call persimmons ourself they wont speak to us. our solicitors have been trying to get an answer since mid October.

so i dont know what to do. we need that loan to be approved otherwise we can't afford it. but persimmons seem like they are trying their hardest to make it hard for us.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,254,254#msg-254</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:34:26 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - Paignton People, 3 Nov. 2011, 'Residents shocked as estate play equipment removed'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,253,253#msg-253</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.paigntonpeople.co.uk/Residents-shocked-estate-play-equipment-removed/story-13742188-detail/story.html]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,253,253#msg-253</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:57:01 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - getbracknell, 3 Nov. 2011, 'Jennett's Park developer to fight enforcement order'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,233,252#msg-252</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2102709_jennetts_park_developer_to_fight_enforcement_order]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,233,252#msg-252</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:27:38 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Facebook site</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,251,251#msg-251</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Clearly some people are upset given the content of this Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122239944456971&amp;v=wall

Not sure about the choice of name as it detracts from the content, perhaps the owner should consider a more appropriate one?]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,251,251#msg-251</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:35:26 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Charles Church - Morpeth Herald, 4 Nov. 2011,'Council priced out of fighting planning decision'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,250,250#msg-250</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/community/local-information/council_priced_out_of_fighting_planning_decision_1_3935156]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,250,250#msg-250</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:18:34 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Charles Church - Morpeth Herald, 29 Oct. 2011, 'Road to ruin in estate dispute'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,249,249#msg-249</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/community/local-information/road_to_ruin_in_estate_dispute_1_3911168]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,249,249#msg-249</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:16:37 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: SNAG WITH WITHOUT REMORSE</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,248#msg-248</link>
      <author>starlitegaize</author>
      <description><![CDATA[What was the snagging book you bought? It might be a bit late, but I'd like to hammer them and the NHBC...]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,78,248#msg-248</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:50:42 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Latest comments?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,180,247#msg-247</link>
      <author>starlitegaize</author>
      <description><![CDATA[In a word? Don't! 

Charles Church houses are Persimmon Homes by another name - there is no higher quality - it's just a premium name they use.
The quality is actually shocking - plastic central heating pipes - radiators that can be easily knocked off their brackets... Kitchen is si cheap, it makes IKEA look like PoggenPohl... The baths are appalling quality, and the taps on the cloakroom basin are so close to the wall you can't turn them on or off easily.

The staircase is coming away from the wall - there are ominous creaking noises on the first floor, knocking in the outflow of the en suite... The doors are so cheap as is the ironmongery. 

Watch out, the show home has been spec'd up - your house will not have what they put in the show home.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,180,247#msg-247</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:48:00 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Unadopted Road</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,246,246#msg-246</link>
      <author>starlitegaize</author>
      <description><![CDATA[My aging mother bought her Charles Church house on the Priory development in Sudbury, Suffolk in 2007, moving in after a delay of two months.

Since she's been there the road has yet to be adopted - 4 years on. I have spoken to the highways department of the local council who say this delay is caused by the developers.

When we bought the house, we were informed by the sales team that there would be a bus service running through the development... (and the MAIN REASON for buying). Haha! We're still waiting for this! (Oh and to cap it all, apparently the developers sold a piece of land that connected the bus route to the older road....)

Does anyone know if we have any redress under the Property Misrepresentation act on this?

Customer Care? Yeah right...! Doesn't exist.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,246,246#msg-246</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:39:47 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Charles Church - Morpeth Herald, 29 Sept. 2011, 'We’re all so flipping furious'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,245,245#msg-245</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/community/local-information/we_re_all_so_flipping_furious_1_3819467]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,245,245#msg-245</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:46:41 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - Oxford Mail, 22 Sept. 2011, 'Grove wants answers over 2,500 homes'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,244,244#msg-244</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9264349.Grove_wants_answers_over_2_500_homes/]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,244,244#msg-244</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:44:20 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon &amp; Bellway - Lexology, 29 Sept. 2011, 'Selling land between house builders – comparing size and value'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,243,243#msg-243</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d983fac3-93e8-492d-9af5-fe6a1e3cb92e]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,243,243#msg-243</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:41:54 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,242#msg-242</link>
      <author>carterma</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Illana

You need to ensure you have logged in before posting, as it seems to lose it.

Congratulations, which site was it again?

I think you can take a further positive from our recent dealings with Charles Church, as the Customer Services Manager as at long last been involved and he's sorting the 4 final remaining items that need resolving.

The long and the short of it is, if it's workmanship it can and most probably will be sorted but if money is involved then you'll struggle unless it's specified, as in our experience they just will not budge an inch.

Good luck and let us have some progress feedback as you take your new journey, it can be exciting and good fun!

Mick]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,242#msg-242</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:56:03 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,241#msg-241</link>
      <author>Illana</author>
      <description><![CDATA[After just writing a very long email, which disappeared!

In short, we have signed the reservation form and have instructed our lawyer - this was after spending avery long time with Charles Church and telling them about the feedback we received from forums like these.

I can only hope that they follow through with what they have promised and guaranteed, otherwise we are going to be living in rented accomadation for a very long time!

Thanks again for your help and advise.

Kind Regards
Illana]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,241#msg-241</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:54:36 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,240#msg-240</link>
      <author>carterma</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Illana

How did you get on?

Cheers

Mick]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,240#msg-240</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:54:39 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,239#msg-239</link>
      <author>Illana</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Thanks Mick,

I will let you know, we are seeing them tomorrow!

Illana]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,239#msg-239</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:57:10 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,238#msg-238</link>
      <author>carterma</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Illana

3rd attempt at posting and each one shorter than the last.

Oakroyd at Birkenshaw, lovely development, reasonably quiet with very good neighbours.

Keep us posted on your purchase.

Mick]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,238#msg-238</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:22:12 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,237#msg-237</link>
      <author>Illana</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi,

Thank you so much for your email, it is very helpful.  

We of course had born in mind that this is a new build, therefore there is always the chance of things not being perfect as they try to sell you in the brochures and by the sales team.  

I am pleased to hear from your email that in the end things went well for you, but it would be a nightmare to go through what you did, I will be speaking to the sales manager about my concerns, especially as Charles Church year end is end of December, which is when our house is meant to be built by!

Can you tell me one more thing, where is your new build, obv you don't have to say your address, but just the area/town?

Illana]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,237#msg-237</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:23:21 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,236#msg-236</link>
      <author>carterma</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Illana

Forwarned is forarmed, you need to go into any new house purchase with your eyes wide open, believe nothing unless it is in writing, accept that you have absolutely no control over the build if purchasing off plan and that the process you are entering into favours the builder rather than the buyer.

We bought a Charles Church home off plan in Feb 2010 and had a very stressful transaction from day 1, we exchanged contracts in April 2010 and completed the purchase in July 2010. Between April and July we were living in rented accommodation so luckily we had time to get some of the issues below sorted before we moved in.

To cut a very long story short and to keep the story in context, we are very happy with the house we have purchased but we have had to spend an inordinate amount of time and effort in getting some elements of the build and finish to our reasonably good standard and not the poor standard the site team were prepared to deliver.

Most of the many problems have been superficial and easily remedied but should have been picked up by the site team before we moved in, but Persimmon year end in June seemed to get in the way and the house was rushed to completion in order to secure the sale in the 2009/2010 financial year. We have spent the past 12 months having these problems resolved by the various trade subbies and/or the customer care team, who have been very good by the way.

Our problems included;
Dishwasher not plumbed correctly
Cooker that didn't fit due to location of gas pipe
Washer and dryer didn't fit in the utility
Boiler was replaced on day of handover
Sunken drive and garden along drain runs
Very wet garage
Noisy internal waste pipe from upstairs bathroom
Loose flags
Shoddy pointing to external stonework
Condensation and mould in loft space
Electric and Gas cupboards damaged
Window frames damaged
Downpipes not connected to water drains
Leaking (internal) external tap
Cracked tiles in the bathrooms
Incorrect radiators fitted to bathrooms
Full regloss of all woodwork thoughout the house

I could go on but you probably get the idea by now.

The frustration is with getting things done within a timely manner and having days off for appointments to be broken with no warning. Also, the site team talking @#$%&amp; most of the time and unwilling to accept there was a problem on occasion.

The main good points were that the build was generally good, the internal plastering was very good, as I managed to view it before it was over painted and the discount for purchasing off plan was good.

For information, I've worked in Construction/Civil Engineering most of my career and I do have reasonably high standards, but when you pay good money and usually a premium for what you believe to be a quality new build house then I will accept nothing less than a good build and finish, no matter how good or bad the site team are.....and don't they now know it ;-)
 
Hope this helps and good luck with whatever you decide.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,236#msg-236</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:58:16 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Thinking of buying a Charles Church new build home?</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,235#msg-235</link>
      <author>Illana</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Can someone help me, I am thinking of buying a Charles Church home, but I have just been reading some very bad reviews about workmanship, people having nightmares with the spec and all sorts.

Can anyone give me a some positive press?  Or some real life experiences, good or bad??

Thank you
Illana]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,235,235#msg-235</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:40:49 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - Bedfordshire on Sunday, 29 May 2011, 'Delight for villagers in row over lorries'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,234,234#msg-234</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Delight-for-villagers-in-row-over-lorries-27052011.htm]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,234,234#msg-234</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:30:27 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - getbracknell, 2 June 2011, 'Garages at Jennett’s Park are too small'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,233,233#msg-233</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2093704_garages_at_jennetts_park_are_too_small#comments]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,233,233#msg-233</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:24:45 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Maxwell Gait</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,232#msg-232</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Sorry to hear about your troubles at the Charles Church development.  Make sure you keep records of everything and write and complain.  Better still get together with your neighbours and write collectively as well.  However, what tends to happen is that individual arrangements are made with each owner, so Charles Church likes to 'divide and conquour'.

Were there many snags on your property other than this problem?]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,232#msg-232</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 16:33:19 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Maxwell Gait</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,231#msg-231</link>
      <author>nmearns</author>
      <description><![CDATA[We moved into Maxwell Gait in Newton Mearns and are still fighting to get our plumbing sorted. They have installed pumps which the plumbers say are outdated and not suitable for these houses. The noise of the pumps is like a plane taking off- try sleeping/ watching tv while that goes on. Most neighbours were having problems with water cutting out and so now they have fitted restrictors onto our showers so that instead of a nice powerful flow it's realy low pressure. 

I really feel that I wish we hadn't bought the house now but are stuck. My advice to anyone considering a house in Maxwell Gait- DO NOT BUY HERE. You may live to regret it like us. 

I live in hope that one day this will be sorted but that seems ever increasingly unlikely.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,231,231#msg-231</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 10:00:07 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Persimmon - The Telegraph, 11 Jan 2011, 'Persimmon chairman John White to step down'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,209,209#msg-209</link>
      <author>Admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/8250968/Persimmon-chairman-John-White-to-step-down.html]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,209,209#msg-209</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 02:34:06 -0600</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Press Articles etc] Re: Persimmon - Wales Online, 20 Dec. 2010, 'Santa’s special hospital visit to sick children'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,192,208#msg-208</link>
      <author>Kneejerk</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Clearly 'UnhappyCustomer' is not alone with their problems, there are mnay others.

The problem with tackling the poor performance of Persimmon / Charles Church is that home owners are rightly concerned about the impact on the value of their property through bringing to the attention of others some of the problems they have experienced. As a direct result little appears to be done, on the various sites where there are or have been problems.  Persimmon / Charles Church appear to work on the principle of 'divide and conquer'. Indeed where there may have been legal proceedings against Persimmon these appear to be settled out of court, with 'gagging' orders, as a result little appears in the public domain.

So what can we do about the poor performance during construction and the 'after care' service?  The reality, I think, is very little as individuals, it is only when we act collectively that we will get Persimmon / Charles Church actually to act.]]></description>
      <category>Press Articles etc</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?2,192,208#msg-208</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:52:49 -0600</pubDate>
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      <title>[General Discussion and Owners' Polls] Re: Law Society of Scotland - The Journal, 15 Mar. 2010, 'Consumer Code for Home Builders'</title>
      <link>http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,169,207#msg-207</link>
      <author>UnhappyCustomer</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Quoting from the article:- &quot;the Code aims to ensure that home buyers are treated fairly, know what service levels to expect, are given reliable information upon which to make their decisions and know how to access speedy, low-cost dispute resolution arrangements if they are dissatisfied.&quot; [end quote]

We found anything but the above when buying new from Charles Church, and even recent complaints following the new home buyers code (to regional directors) fell on deaf ears we felt.

Of concern for new buyers is whether Charles Church and Persimmon Homes past failures will be repeated over again in the future - and will the new code see Charles Church and Persimmon Homes improve customer service and quality of workmanship and remedial works. In short, can a leopard change its spots?

I feel the spokesperson for Charles Church and Persimmon Homes, is saying that nothing will actually change for the better with the new consumer code as far as Charles Church and Persimmon Homes are concerned. 

But rather than hear my opinion of what Persimmon Homes might do differently in the future, please read their own statement and position regarding the new consumer code for home buyers, http://www.persimmonhomes.com/promotions/national-promotions/consumer-code.

This statement is taken from Persimmon Homes website. Dominic Harman, Persimmon Homes' Group Communications Director, statement:-

&quot;We welcome the new Consumer code for Housebuilders which we fully complied with in our original customer charter. The new Consumer Code has been developed over many months of consultation with industry stakeholders. It can only be seen as a positive step to further ensure homebuyers get the very best service that they should expect from a responsible and reliable house builder like Persimmon&quot;. [end quote]

Dominic Harman is also Charles Church’s Group Communications Director, and is quoted on their website http://www.charleschurch.com/consumer-code-for-home-builders as saying:-

“We welcome the new Consumer Code for home builders which we fully complied with in our original customer charter. The Charles Church Commitment sets out our promise to those who purchase our new homes and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensure that our staff are trained so that our customers get our full attention to detail, support and a consistent approach to making their moving experience enjoyable.” [end quote]

If as Dominic Harman says, they fully complied with the new Consumer Code, in their original (old) customer charter, then to me this implies that in the future they will do what they did in the past and thus suggesting to me they do not need to change. However the complaints over the last ten years regarding Charles Church and Persimmon Homes suggest change is of urgent importance in my opinion.

Their old customer charter and prior and current marketing claims all sound very good indeed, however I found them to be untrue in our experience and thus worthless, and this continues to be the case as I write this.

I can agree with Dominic Harman regarding how other Charles Church customers receive a 'consistent approach to making their moving experience enjoyable' albeit I don't agree with the word 'enjoyable' being used in this isntance.]]></description>
      <category>General Discussion and Owners' Polls</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://charles-church.org.uk/read.php?4,169,207#msg-207</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:05:58 -0600</pubDate>
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