Guides › Home Improvements and Traders › Repair Took Too Long or Was Done Badly
Repair Took Too Long or Was Done Badly
Services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and, if no time was agreed, within a reasonable time. If a repair was done badly you can ask for it to be redone at no cost, or for a price reduction if redoing it is impossible, too slow or causes significant inconvenience.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Rights
Care and Skill
Services must be performed with reasonable care and skill (Consumer Rights Act 2015); if not, you can ask for the work to be redone or a price reduction, and go straight to a price reduction if redoing is impossible, takes too long or causes significant inconvenience. source
Price and Timing
If the price was not agreed you only have to pay a reasonable price (s.51), and if no time was agreed the work must be done within a reasonable time (s.52). source
Making a Claim
Time Limit for Problems
You have up to 6 years in England, Wales and NI (5 in Scotland) to report problems with services, even if not immediately obvious. source
Section 75
Section 75: if you paid part or all by credit card for an item costing over 100 pounds and up to 30,000 pounds you can claim against the card provider for breach of contract, but you usually cannot use it if you did not buy directly from the trader. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 yearsTime limit for legal claims about services6 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 5 years in Scotland
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Write down what was agreed: the price, the date and what work was to be done.
Step 2 of 5
Take photos of poor work and keep notes of delays.
Step 3 of 5
Write to the business, explain what is wrong and ask for the work to be redone or finished by a set date, or for a price reduction. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 4 of 5
If the business belongs to a trade scheme such as TrustMark, use its complaints process.
Step 5 of 5
If you paid by credit card, ask about Section 75. Small claims court is the last resort.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
TrustMark and Dispute Resolution Ombudsman
Trader is a TrustMark Registered Business and its complaints process has not resolved the problem.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133)
Free advice, template letters and reporting to Trading Standards.
Card Provider Claim (Section 75 / Chargeback) Then Financial Ombudsman Service
You paid by card; if refused escalate to FOS.
County Court Small Claims
After other routes fail; usually up to 10,000 pounds, within 6 years.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Agree a completion date in writing before work starts: it is much easier to complain about a missed date than an unreasonable delay.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/complain-about-a-service Checked 13 October 2026
- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/51 Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/getting-your-money-back-if-you-paid-by-card-or-paypal Checked 12 October 2026
- trustmark.org.uk/homeowner/support/consumer-protection Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/cancelling-building-or-decorating-work Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/small-claims/deciding-whether-to-make-a-small-claim Checked 12 October 2026