Glazing firm steps in for pensioner
A pensioner whose dream of a new conservatory was shattered when the company she had employed went bankrupt had her faith in humanity restored thanks to a Shrewsbury business.
Cindy Ball of Bicton Heath had taken on a building firm to build her a new conservatory at her home in Edgefield Green.
But despite paying thousands of pounds she was left with nothing to show for her money.
After months of waiting, countless phone calls and a number of letters she learned that the company had gone into liquidation.
According to the receivers appointed by the liquidators the company owed more than £140,000 to its creditors.
But undeterred Ms Ball, who lives in sheltered accommodation, decided to forge ahead with her dream of having a conservatory and contacted Monkmoor Glass.
And staff there were so upset by the way the 68-year-old had been treated they decided to waive any profits they would make on her new extension and instead sold it to her at cost price.
"It was a wonderful thing of them to do," said Cindy, who is registered disabled. "I had decided to have a new conservatory and last October a fitter from another company came out to see me and asked me for a third of the price as a deposit. I gave it to them and expected the work to be done. They arranged for a builder to come and do the base and walls and then they asked for another third. But from January to April I had nothing but excuses from them. When I finally heard from them they said they would come the following Monday to put the conservatory up.
"That was the last I heard. I called and sent letters and took the advice of the Citizen's Advice Bureau. By this time I was getting upset so I went to their last address and found nothing but portacabins and skips full of rubbish.
"I then got in touch with the receivers and was told they were £142,000 in debt and that I am not the only person having hassle with them."
Cindy then got in touch with Monkmoor Glass, who sent their surveyor Rowan Bridgen around to see her. "He said he was so upset when I told him what had happened that when he returned to the office he mentioned it to his boss and they said I would only have to pay cost price for the conservatory.
"I was amazed. I am blessed that they decided to do that for me. They did not have to do it. It was just so kind of them and it is wonderful there are still people like that out there."
Rowan, who worked on the conservatory at night and weekends, said: "It just seemed so wrong. People are all money, money, money and it was our opportunity to put something right. She was so pleased and couldn't believe her eyes."
