Persimmon profits fall as housebuilder looks at repairing reputation

Company increased customer service spending by about 40% after criticism over qualitySales and profits at Persimmon have slipped as the UK’s second biggest housebuilder attempts to repair its battered reputation after criticism of its shoddy workmanship, huge executive rewards and an overreliance on the government’s help-to-buy scheme.The company said it had increased spending on customer service by some 40% over the first six months of the year, adding an extra 200 staff to its 5,00