How a purchase survey led to mis-selling of damp treatments

First, Dampco arrive and do their 'survey' - they confirm that there isn't a damp proof course in place.  Of course, 'abnormal' readings were gained.  They don't say what constitutes abnormal. They don't say what instrument was used.  On the basis of a few prods with a ping prong meter, guess what .... they recommend an injection damp proof course to be inserted to the kitchen front and side walls, plus 'verticals' as required.

Do you know.. I have no idea what these 'verticals' are - or what they are supposed to do.  It's a mystery.. Always will be..

Now for the fun of sticking a load of useless holes in a massively thick stone wall - that have absolutely ZERO chance of completely saturating the wall with chemistry, Dampco quoted £462 plus the cost of their guarantee.  All money that the unsuspecting single lass buying the cottage could ill afford.

Now then.. you have to read carefully.  The guarantee looks great - 30 years - wow!

Read closely.  It says " if the areas in the guarantee are affected by.... "RISING DAMP!!!" we will, after you have paid us a fee to inspect it......

You really don't think they are going to come back and sort out the problem do you?  Silly... in all my years doing this - not once have they re-done any work.  Everyone is conned into paying the inspection fee, after which they decide the damage is now NOT due to rising damp, but a host of other things, very carefully laid out in the "Damp Course Information" sheet - which I reproduce below.  You will notice the important bit under "Other Sources of Dampness" - yup - you got it - item c:  Where condensation is present, our surveyor will be only too pleased to make recommendations, but this type of work carries no guarantee. And guess what - the new damage to the plaster is ALWAYS condensation related.  

Think about it.  The damage was condensation in the first place.  They have just sold you a useless damp course for rising damp that never existed.  They KNOW its condensation all along - and it's specifically excluded.  They take your guarantee money, knowing full well that it will never have to be acted on - if you claim, they charge you, say its condensation and run away laughing.

EVERY damp company plays the same trick.  I've never known a guarantee be honoured.  In fact, the Triton Chemicals guarantee even states that their overall annual policy limit for claims is £100,000 - for all the guarantees they have ever written.  So with annual sales of many millions, there is only a piddling pot of £100k to go round every guarantee ever issued.  They know full well it will never be called on, and the whole guarantee system is yet another scam with which to make millions in extra income.