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Tradesmen claim EQC owes them money

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Mon, 30 May 2011 6:46a.m.

Chimneys have been removed and roofs repaired under the Emergency Repair Scheme

Chimneys have been removed and roofs repaired under the Emergency Repair Scheme

By 3news.co.nz staff

Tradespeople say they’re owed large amounts of money by the Earthquake Commission, because they haven’t been paid for emergency repairs following Canterbury’s earthquake.

It has been reported several companies are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by EQC – and they’re considering legal action.

Chimneys have been removed and roofs repaired by tradespeople under the Emergency Repair Scheme since February.

Some companies are now considering laying off staff due to the lack of funds.

In an interview with RadioLIVE this morning Cransfield Glass owner Darren Cranfield says his company is owed $54,000, after replacing windows on an eight-storey apartment building.

He says he has phoned EQC about a dozen times, but still has no idea when payment will be made.

“We have to pay our staff – we have 15 staff and have to pay their wages each week. We have to pay for our glass, if we don’t pay for our glass… you don’t get it the next month,” he says.

“We had cherry picker higher which is huge… we’ve got to pay for all that the following month.”

Mr Cranfield says he is among dozens of small businesses being given “the run around” by EQC.

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Comments

31 May 2011 09:23a.m.

Ben wrote:

It is unforetunate that it has taken so long before legal action against the EQC has reached the public eye. Action should hasve been taken months ago in light of their shambolic performance. This goes way beyond simply not paying claimants. The EQC was effectively disfunctional for months after the Sept quake (and isn't much better now). The waste of money and the damage done to our city and to the emotions of our people is enormous. Legal action is one positive step we can take but this should be only the tip of the iceberg. Many, many, people in positions of responsibilty will need to be held to account. Certainly the EQC boss Ian Simpson should be the first to face the music but their are many more, some within government. When the dust starts to settle a Commission of Enquiry is possibly necessary. And for goodnesss sake let us not allow those in power to abuse the legal process so muddled minds can make muddled decisions and make themselves above reproach-this is a disgrace and it belongs in a Third World country. A concerned Christchurch Citizen; rate and tax payer; and property insurance policy holder.