This is the whole point. The NHBC system is purely designed to force you to accept sub-standard workmanship or go down the very long and costly process of legal action.
If you take legal action the NHBC walk away with 10% of your house purchase value or whatever premium you have paid (yes it is the purchaser who pays for the NHBC premiums, not the builder as many think) no matter what, for doing Sweet FA. Just think what you could do with that 10%. It is all a BIG CON. I sat and watched Imtiaz Farookhi on Watchdog (BBC 1 Scotland) last night openly lie about the NHBC Buildmark. His parting words were 'work will be done to the customer's satisfaction' UTTER LIES. Work will be done to the NHBC guidelines which are guidance only so it doesn't really matter (so John Croal - Bett Homes / Gladedale customer care manager tells me). But what would you expect from an insurance salesman living in an ivory tower on another planet.
It is no wonder that other insurance companies are jumping on the bandwagon - they have seen just how easy this new-build insurance racquet is.
CONTRACTS - These are only for use by them to grind you down. They don't really give a shit if they are in breach of contract. They are certainly not for you to use against them OHHH NO. It is just another facet of the new build / NHBC scam. Just listen to Imtiaz Farookhi - it is all lies.
If you think the NHBC are slow, imagine about a thousand times slower and you will be in the time frame of the legal system. But this is what it is all designed to do.
Five years on and I still don't have the Completion Certificate my contract with Bett Homes / Gladedale entitles me to. That might have something to do with the local auhority refusing to issue it because of sub-standard workmanship though.
It is all a scam!!!!!!
www.abadbett.com