Dear Claudienne,

I write seeking your assistance regarding a home I purchased in November 2014, in the Jacaranda scheme in St Catherine.

Almost a year after occupying the unit I noticed evidence of termite infestation. I made several calls to the developer, West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON), and sent them e-mails informing them of this issue.

For instance, an e-mail I sent the company on November 23, 2016 stated the following:

“ With reference to the captioned, I am now informing you that the termite problem previously reported has escalated, and they have now infested the kitchen cupboards. Please note that to date only the exterior of the unit has been treated, and following our last telephone conversation I am still awaiting your confirmation as to when further action will be taken to complete treatment of infested areas within the unit.

I await your urgent response as I seek to prevent further damage to my home.”

After many promises, on January 1, 2017 they eventually sent a pest control company to examine the unit.

This pest control company did superficial spraying and was to return to dig holes and carry out in-depth treatment of the unit. However, this was not done as WIHCON terminated their services.

Despite my many calls and e-mails pleading for action, nothing was done to the interior of the unit.

I subsequently sent an e-mail to WIHCON which stated:

“ Please see attached further evidence of the deteriorating effects of untreated termite infestation both outside and inside the unit. Please note that to date I am still awaiting a visit from the repairs team as promised two months ago. I am very concerned that despite my many emails and calls for assistance, these ongoing issues have not been treated with urgency. I have also lost personal property as a result of water damage.

I now anticipate a prompt response indicating when these issues will be addressed, as my only other option is to take my plight to the media.”

On July 8, almost six months later, they sent a company that manufactured kitchen cabinets to remove and replace the damaged kitchen cupboards. The arrangement was for the pest control company and the kitchen cabinet manufacturer to visit my home together to remove the cupboards, carry out the termite treatment, and replace the cupboards the same day. However, the pest control company did not show up until three days later (July 10) after I called WIHCON and complained.

When they came they only did superficial spraying of the infected areas, stating that they were not advised as to the extent of infestation, and therefore had no equipment with them to properly treat the unit at the time.

I immediately informed WIHCON of this, and I was told that this situation would be rectified. However, to date I have received no further correspondence to inform me when the unit will be fixed.

Please see attached photos and videos of the current condition of my home since Saturday July 8, 2017. This means that at the time of sending you this e-mail (July 24), I have been without kitchen facilities for nearly one month .

I now find the current living conditions unbearable. I have no kitchen, living/dining, washroom or verandah facilities, and I am now being accommodated part- time by family members and friends. I currently go to my house only at nights to sleep, as I find it very depressing to continue to stay there. I am deeply disappointed by the negligence and scant disregard meted out to me by the developer. I am currently seeking legal representation, but this has proven very expensive to source.

Any assistance you can offer to ensure urgent action by the developer on this long- standing issue would be greatly appreciated.

HT

Dear HT,

Tell Claudienne has been in communication with WIHCON regarding your concerns. We note that since we contacted WIHCON, the pest control company returned to your unit on July 28 to do subterranean drilling and spray the interior and exterior of your premises. We see that your kitchen cabinets were replaced the following day (July 29).

On August 8, WIHCON’s Sales and Customer Service Executive sent Tell Claudienne the following e-mail:

“ Just giving you an update as to where we are with HT’s unit. On Friday, July 28th, termite treatment was completed by a new sub-contractor, and on Saturday, July 29th, the kitchen cabinet manufacturer was on location and completed the kitchen cupboards, so her kitchen is now restored and operational.

A final treatment was done by the pest control company underneath the staircase area on Saturday, August 5th, and replacement of the staircase was completed.

I have been in direct conversation with HT to ensure that we resolve all her issues. We have a few minor outstanding issues to be completed:

1) 4 tiles to be replaced in the bathroom

2) A leak in the back bedroom

3) Crack in corner of the bathroom upstairs

4) To install skirting along staircase

5) To seal windows

6) Touch out painting for areas currently being worked on

We are putting all systems in place to have the outstanding issues completed by this weekend, Sunday, August 13th, and I will talk directly with HT to have her sign off and confirm completion.

Once again, thanks for the opportunity to rectify and address these concerns.”

You advised us by e-mail (July 31, 2017) that the kitchen cupboards had been reinstalled.

However, an e-mail that you sent to Tell Claudienne on August 8, 2017, listed additional outstanding issues that were not in WIHCON’s list of “minor outstanding issues” .

We note that the WIHCON Project Manager was made aware of your list of outstanding issues.

We note that the repairs were not completed on Sunday August 13 as promised, because on Monday August 14, you forwarded to Tell Claudienne an e-mail you sent to WIHCON that stated the following:

“ I am reporting that contrary to your promise that all outstanding work will be completed within my home this weekend, only the painter showed up on Saturday at about 11 am. After spending 30 minutes, he informed me that he would not be able to do further work until the carpenter completes his job. Once again I have been left deeply disappointed. I put off all my other errands to accommodate your team, and to date I have not received any communication from you or your team explaining why they did not show up as planned.

Since these repairs have been ongoing for over a month, I now need to ascertain from you definitively how soon I can expect closure of the current situation. I anxiously await your response.”

Finally, we are pleased to note that WIHCON has completed the outstanding repairs to your satisfaction.

The e-mail WIHCON sent you on Monday August 21 reads as follows:

“ Dear HT,

“I called you on Saturday to check up on how the repairs were going but got voicemail, so I left you a message. I am so happy that we got the opportunity to make good all outstanding repairs. Thanks for accommodating the WIHCON team, and once again apologies for the inconvenience caused. I will be sending you the completed defects list for you to sign off on these repairs.

Regards”

And your e-mail to WIHCON on Monday August 21 stated:

“ I am reporting that all outstanding issues regarding the captioned [matter] have finally been completed as of yesterday, August 20, 2017. I would like to thank RA who came by on several occasions over the period to ensure that workers were on site, and to you for organising closure to this situation.”

You also sent an e-mail to Tell Claudienne on Monday August 21 that reads as follows:

“ I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude for your monumental assistance in achieving closure to the captioned. I truly believe that had it not been for your involvement, I would still be suffering today. Your efforts have been instrumental in bringing closure to this long- standing issue.

God bless you. Keep up the good work.”

We wish you all the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility or company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.

Have a problem with a store, utility or company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.