Orion Windows

Our build was always going to be a problem because of the age of our home and the lack of straight walls. Orion were aggressive in their tactics to get us to commence the build &, due to holiday/work commitments, we only had a small window of opportunity & they were adamant that it could be done in that time. The reality was very different. Once they removed the building to the rear of the house, which was supposed to take 2 days but took 4 - if the people who did this were actually onsite for a full day on any of the days it would only have taken 2, that secured our property they informed us they couldn't complete the build before we went away because the lack of straight walls made the build problematic!! Really?? We were left with chipboard securing the house and only after kicking up a fuss did they install a custom made sealed double glazing unit to secure the property while we were away for three weeks! A series of visits by Orion staff who turned up with only half the kit to complete the job, wrong parts, incomplete work instructions. Sometimes they would turn up at pre-arranged times, sometimes not. When we made arrangements to be at the property, around work, appointments would be cancelled at short notice. When we said we couldn't accommodate an appointment via email, as requested, they would turn up anyway. These delays meant subsequent work, plastering, had to be cancelled and re-arranged at short notice and when it was finally ready our original plasterer was not available. When the plastering was complete the Orion electrician came to complete their work and promptly put a hole in the newly plastered walls and left site without mentioning it. Not a huge hole but, when you have just paid £400 for plastering, another irritant. The communication and customer service for this company is appalling and project management non existent. Emails went unanswered. Calls to the director, predominately, not returned unless the next payment was due. They have finally finished the conservatory with snagging, April 2014, but it was started at the end of August 2013!!! There is an outstanding amount of less than £250.00, our error as we thought we had given them a cheque for the full amount when they had finally completed snagging, and quite amazingly we have received two letters in under a week....just a pity they were not as on the ball during the work. To be very clear, we love our conservatory but the process leaves you with a slightly bitter sweet taste that could have been avoidable. It is well built and the majority of the staff who came to our home, mostly contractors, were very good and very professional. Unfortunately the director of the company can not be described as either. It was also very competitively priced BUT if we had known the stress, cancelled work commitments and time it would take we would not have chosen Orion and would have willingly paid extra for someone to take away the stress. I was glad that I read another review site, unfortunately after the work started, and thank the contributor who said do not make final payment until all the snagging was completed. It was the best advice ever as I am convinced we would not have a completed product now. Engage with Orion at your own risk.