Colourfence.co.uk

ColourFence: Great product if you don't mind gaps under the fence - gravel boards are not included in the installation and there are gaps between the fence panels and posts - all sorts of garden growth starts pushing through from both sides of the fence when borders are lain one side or both sides of the fence.
Need to Know: Most installers of ColourFence are Independent Contractors and whilst most deliver a fantastic job, that is not the case for all of them. Should you have issues with the installation - not the product - including poor finish, incursion on the neighbours property, rubbish left behind,etc., ColourFence is not the responsible - it's the Independent Contractor who is responsible.
So it was with Bo Stewart-Woods of Bowen James Ltd (ColourFence North Bristol) covering Bristol, Yate, Alveston and surrounding Areas. He simply ignored key areas of his franchisee responsibilities then lied on his claim as to the practices his team followed.
Keep in Mind: after removal of the old fence, the installation team are required to mark the fence line for the new fence and have you sign Part 1 of the Satisfaction Form 'Start of Installation' walking the customer over the boundary line to 1 agree line and position of the fence, and 2 confirm finish of each end position. Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd's team did not do any of this.
Immediately after removing the old fence his team started digging new fence post holes without any consultation or agreement whatsoever as to the boundary line, the new fence line, the position of the fence, and the finish of each end post. My wife spoke to them first, then I spoke to them twice about the holes being dug too far removed from the original fence line. His team reassured me that the post holes had to be dug extra wide and that the finished placement of the fence posts would be aligned along the original boundary line.
This is the third installation I have had of ColourFence product. I had minor issues on the first and none whatsoever on the second. Based on this experience I left Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd's team to it even though they were not the team that undertook those two earlier installations - big big mistake on my part.
Easier to show something in a picture than to describe it in words but here goes...
1) Original boundary line ignored: new boundary set too far into my property away from the original fence line.
2) New boundary line not agreed with customer before post holes dug and fence posts set in the holes.
3) New post holes: loose bricks used for gap under original fence taken without permission to infill new post holes to 'save' on Postcrete.
4) Unsafe sharp edged metal fence spikes and shattered wooden post ends left 'in the ground' for the unwary to be caught out when weeding and planting boarders along the fence line and when plants and borders are full grown. There is no doubt that this was the reasoning of Bowen James for not closely following the original border line as to do so would have necessitated them removing these unsafe sharp edged metal fence spikes and shattered wooden post ends.
5) Sharp jagged screw-tips protruding 1/2" in from the fence post easily snagging hands and clothing when pruning along the fence line should have been fitted the other way round.
6) Not all fence panels fitted correctly to minimise the gap with the fence post. Within two-months growth from neighbour's border protruding through the gaps between panels and fence posts. Panels are meant to be set flush to the fence posts to be flat-edged against the U-edge of the fence post.
7) Fence post caps missing and others not fitted correctly top of the fence posts.
8) 'Satisfaction Form' Part 1 Start of Installation and Part 2 Completion. At no time did Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd's team make any attempt to walk the boundary line and show the fence, they simply requested signature that the work was completed. I signed the form on the basis that I would check the work and get back to Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd if I had any issues.
9) Old fencing was left in driveway for 10-days despite the promise to collect it the next day.
10) Many follow-up emails were not answered, calls made and messages left.
11) Bo Stewart-Woods refused to take responsibility to resolve issues raised even going so far as to insist he was a Regional Manager and it was not his responsibility to oversee the work nor supervise the installation. He ignored contractual obligations to utilise the services of an independent arbitration body as per his written quote and went to great lengths to voice his opinion that it would be a waste of my time taking this up with ColourFence Head Office as they'd only refer the matter back to him.
Don't be pressurised to sign completion forms on the day installation is completed - Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James tried to use this later to justify himself doing nothing to rectify outstanding issues.
Steve Tarbard Franchise Development Manager ColourFence Ltd was a total waste of space. He can't be an 'independent arbitrator' given he has a vested interest to side with the franchisee who falls under his remit as the Franchise Development Manager ColourFence Ltd.
All in all it took 8-months of constant follow-up with ColourFence Head-Office before Steve Brown Head of Field Operations Climar Industries got involved.
He arranged for their Internal Midlands Team to step in to rectify the issues out of goodwill and the need to action remedial work. 5-Stars for the excellent remedial work carried out by Alpar and Gary of Midlands Fencing.
Unfortunately, any request for compensation has to be addressed with the original installation team, in this case Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd, which is a complete waste of time unless you have deep pockets for 'money upfront', time on your hands - better to have a legal team willing to progress your case on a 'No Win No Fee' basis which is what I'm looking at now.
Do what I'm doing - post reviews and pictures on every website out there for ColourFence to be fully aware of your dissatisfaction with the lies and poor workmanship of Bo Stewart-Woods Bowen James Ltd.
If you are in the position that Bowen James Ltd are your independent contractor responsible for your ColourFence installation then my advice to you is 'watch them like a hawk', oversee their work from start to finish, walk along and agree the new fence line AFTER removal of the old fence and old fence spikes / post ends, don't take their 'we leave those in the ground, we can level them if you want' nonsense.
Only then sign Part 1 of the Satisfaction Form 'Start of Installation' where they have walked you the customer over the boundary line to 1 agree line and position of the fence, and 2 confirm finish of each end position - do this BEFORE they start any work on any of the installation itself including the digging of post holes.
Be prepared to say 'stop work' 'leave' if you are not happy with the way things are going; yes, you have to be that diligent with this particular team as there's every chance you might hit that 'ColourFence Brickwall' where you must be prepared to push on for months to get things rectified later.
You might end up having to kick up a storm on Twitter and Instagram to get their attention - do so.
Perseverance is 'key': keep badgering ColourFence Head Office until someone there works out you're not going away until things are sorted.
Reputation is 'key': when ColourFence Head Office, other ColourFence Independent Contractors, and Climar Industries realise you're not going away until this particular situation is rectified with this particular Independent Contractor, and that the noise you're making might well reflect on their reputation and business - then you'll have their attention.