Is it common not to fill up to the OK mark?

Hello everyone! Our house is built, everything went quickly and smoothly. We are building without a basement; insulation is to be added on the sides of the concrete slab. In order to attach the insulation, the concrete frost protection strip would have to be uncovered: unfortunately, the earthworks team filled everything up to the top edge. According to the general contractor, we have to dig out the strip ourselves, as it is usually not covered. We have already tried with a shovel and demolition hammer, it is impossible (the scaffolding will remain for weeks, but the work has to be done now). Now we are wondering: Is it common knowledge that you should not fill up to the top edge? Or should the general contractor have clearly instructed the earthworks team? How was it for you?

So if you have a general contractor, everything is their responsibility, but they should know the contract. Since you are obviously building "turnkey," the general contractor must already do the excavation.

Who commissioned the Erdbauer?

We commissioned the earthworks contractor and provided him with all the key data that came from the general contractor. The fact that a "trench" must remain at the house was not included as information. The question is whether this should be considered "self-evident" or not.

Apparently not, but the missing insulation should have been noticed by you, or if you didn't have the expertise, you should have needed a site manager, that is definitely your fault.

We have a construction manager (paid by the general contractor), but he only made us aware of it once the house was built - and said that earthworks contractors usually leave this "ditch" around the house.

We are not interested in "blame" here, but rather in "who" should fix this and "how" (scaffolding is in the way).

Is there anyone building here without a basement who had a similar situation?