Pool Companies- Hondon, Alicante Region
Jan 22nd 2008, 9:39 pm
#1
Grapes are good 4 U !
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hondon Valley
Posts: 569
Pool Companies- Hondon, Alicante Region
I can honestly say our pool has been no trouble. It's such an expense that we walked around and candidly talked to many other local people, got three quotes and did some homework to try to minimise the chance of being ripped off. We are so glad we did as our pool so far has been great and the company involved helpful, professional and friendly (although sometime a little slow to answer calls - hey thats Spain!). But certainly 9/10 from us.
Others we know have leaks, faulty lights, broken pumps, no-license, etc...
As 'old-hands' here we would say beware of the 'knock-on-the-door' approach. If these companies are so good why do they need to tout door-to-door. I would have though Pool Building was a 'word-of-mouth' thing / recommendation thing. Here in Hondon there are a few Expats pretending to be Pool Builders but are just middlemen adding a few 1000€ to the price for their commission. They will not lift a finger and you won;t see them once you've paid your final payment.
Believe me a pool is a BIG talking point around here and bad work soon gets the tongues wagging. Listen to these people.
PLEASE seek recommendations before parting/agreeing to pay money (even if they are very friendly Ex-Pats).
It staggers me that people trust these con-artists without even asking a few pertinent questions. Be brave, ask questions, watch their answers and body language... or it could be €10,000+ down the drain (no pun intended).
Others we know have leaks, faulty lights, broken pumps, no-license, etc...
As 'old-hands' here we would say beware of the 'knock-on-the-door' approach. If these companies are so good why do they need to tout door-to-door. I would have though Pool Building was a 'word-of-mouth' thing / recommendation thing. Here in Hondon there are a few Expats pretending to be Pool Builders but are just middlemen adding a few 1000€ to the price for their commission. They will not lift a finger and you won;t see them once you've paid your final payment.
Believe me a pool is a BIG talking point around here and bad work soon gets the tongues wagging. Listen to these people.
PLEASE seek recommendations before parting/agreeing to pay money (even if they are very friendly Ex-Pats).
It staggers me that people trust these con-artists without even asking a few pertinent questions. Be brave, ask questions, watch their answers and body language... or it could be €10,000+ down the drain (no pun intended).
Jan 23rd 2008, 6:08 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: España
Posts: 728
Re: Pool Companies- Hondon, Alicante Region
Others we know have leaks, faulty lights, broken pumps, no-license, etc...
As 'old-hands' here we would say beware of the 'knock-on-the-door' approach. If these companies are so good why do they need to tout door-to-door. I would have though Pool Building was a 'word-of-mouth' thing / recommendation thing. Here in Hondon there are a few Expats pretending to be Pool Builders but are just middlemen adding a few 1000€ to the price for their commission. They will not lift a finger and you won;t see them once you've paid your final payment.
As 'old-hands' here we would say beware of the 'knock-on-the-door' approach. If these companies are so good why do they need to tout door-to-door. I would have though Pool Building was a 'word-of-mouth' thing / recommendation thing. Here in Hondon there are a few Expats pretending to be Pool Builders but are just middlemen adding a few 1000€ to the price for their commission. They will not lift a finger and you won;t see them once you've paid your final payment.
The alarm bells should have rung the minute the gang of Romanian's turned up. They'd never used Gunite before, and instead of lining the pool in one day they did it in three!! The result is that the pool looks great - but empties itself in about a week! Their friendly expat builder has stopped answering his mobile phone since telling the couple that 'he couldn't afford to fix the pool' and 'he didn't know how, they would need to speak to someone who knows about pools'.
One thing worth noting... the expat had been a middleman for a bigger firm - so previous pools 'he had completed' were actually fine. This time, he'd realised that there was more money in it if he subcontracted the work himself... which is where the trouble started.
So make sure you check and agree exactly *who* will be doing the work this time around...
Jan 23rd 2008, 6:44 am
#3
Grapes are good 4 U !
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hondon Valley
Posts: 569
Re: Pool Companies- Hondon, Alicante Region
Make sure they really are getting you permission to build, they have to approach the Town Hall and should get a receipt for any monies paid. We had to have architect drawings submitted.
It's an expensive purchase so be bloody minded about it!
Apr 9th 2008, 9:00 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 178
Re: Pool Companies- Hondon, Alicante Region
Good advice! And a proper pool builder will give you a guarantee in writing. There's loads advertising in the local freebies BUT ask around.
Make sure they really are getting you permission to build, they have to approach the Town Hall and should get a receipt for any monies paid. We had to have architect drawings submitted.
It's an expensive purchase so be bloody minded about it!
Make sure they really are getting you permission to build, they have to approach the Town Hall and should get a receipt for any monies paid. We had to have architect drawings submitted.
It's an expensive purchase so be bloody minded about it!
just wondering are in Nieves or Frailes
Apr 10th 2008, 4:57 am
#5
Grapes are good 4 U !
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hondon Valley
Posts: 569
