To Hal Mann Accounts Dept:

Late in September 2004, I received yet another statement showing that I still have to pay Lm60 for services rendered during 2003 (Account: S04164). I was informed in a previous communication dated May 9, 2003, and I was also informed verbally, that I incurred an extra charge of that same amount from the stair marble layer.

This extra charge was because the surveyor (George Vassallo of Hal Mann) set the substrate level in the washroom unnecessarily high, whereby the last step height was increased too much. Due to this, the stair layer had to redo the stair levels.

Since there was no reason for the substrate to be set so high, I consider this to be a miscalculation by the surveyor, who actually admitted the fact in a conversation soon after the incident.

Thus the extra charge I incurred was due to a miscalculation of the height for the tile surface by the Hal Mann surveyor. For this reason I expect compensation in the form of a reduction of Lm60 from the total bill, and immediate, permanent closure of the issue.

For your information the receipt from the stair marble layer is attached, photos showing the level of substrate that was made for the washroom and the correction on the steps are available.

I shall wait five days from receipt of this letter for a reply; if the issue is not resolved it will then be passed on to be handled by the Consumer and Competition Division. (Oliver Schembri)

Mr Schembri sent this letter to Hal Mann on November 19, 2004. On December 1, I asked Hal Mann for their comments, to no avail. On January 12, I sent Hal Mann a copy of the letter and asked for their comments, still to no avail. Subsequently I sent Hal Mann three more copies of the letter with requests for their comments on February 16, April 13, and May 18 - all to no avail.

At this stage I have no other option but to publicly ask Hal Mann for their side of the case.