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Builder ran off with money and not finished Extension work
So not only has my builder taken my money and run he’s also left some of his staff unpaid.
One is Bob a 63 year old painter and decorator who is one of the kindest people I’ve come across.
He’s also not paid the joiner who fell off scaffolding last week and is currently in hospital.
The builder is such a narcissist it wouldn’t surprise me if he turns up tomorrow just to try and claim some more money.
He tried lying to us on Friday saying we owed him some money from October when we paid the labourers direct as he was on his sixth holiday .
Not only have we been ripped off we’ve been left with a repair bill for the neighbours property. We have paid things twice over due to subs refusing to work to complete first fix despite paying him in advance.
I’m concerned that he will remove the scaffold despite me having evidence that I’ve paid for it.
We’ve no sealed roof plus flashing needs to be done on parapet party wall.
He’s posted posts on his instagram with work he’s apparently carried out yet I have the documents and photos to prove he was no where near my garden at any time…
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11 Replies
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This is horrendous. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this. It can drag you down, but stay strong. You’ll get through this xx
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Would home insurance cover any legal action against him? I think if you have notified them you are under taking work you might possibly be covered for legal fees? Though if you didn’t notify them it might not be worth going down that route….sorry to hear this, it sounds really stressful what an arsenal, I hate that people like him exist you will get it sorted by hook or by ‘crook’ though just gotta get through this shit part
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I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Any construction work is stressful enough without adding a scam artist into the mix. I truly believe people receive their karma. What you put out, you get back tenfold.
I hope you get it sorted
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I suggest you pay the painter to spray paint the builders house ‘This guy is a con artist do not use’.
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He won’t remove the scaffolding, that will be the contractor. But if he hasn’t paid them then they might want it back.
Have you been in touch with Trading Standards? And the scaffolders direct. You want to save them from doing any more work for him!
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It’s awful what goes on is that programne rogue builders not on anymore? I guess with social media it’s not required but I know someone who literally spammed every group within 50 miles of my home to out a builder and she had tbat much support from people who had also come across him she had never met that in the end it was worth it and he didbt threaten her because she had the support from all the others. I really hate dealing with them
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I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been ripped off by this cowboy. Have you contacted trading standards for advice? They’re very helpful and advise you of your legal rights & best course of action.
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I’ve had a similar thing happen to me recently This guy was a member of the federation of master builders so although in hindsight I realise this means very little don’t feel one bit of guilt that any of this situation was your fault for choosing the bad guy.
I went to citizens advice. Who were great at helping me know my rights. They reported him to trading standards, HMRC and I went out of my way to visit a build show to speak directly face to face with the federation – who again have been proactive (something I didn’t expect from various other forums feedback).
Sadly this is happening far too often by greedy arrogant builders who feel their entitlement is to take everyone around them as a mug.
The more we fight back to name and shame these unprofessional idiots and hopefully forewarn the next set of unknowing customers, hopefully the less they will get away with.
Your consumer rights give you the right to claim money back – up to 100% – no one minds paying for what was done but why pay for what wasn’t.
I’m shortly going to be starting a civil claim and I will ensure I post links to the process on here to help us all.
I’m just sorry to hear about what you’re going through .. I’m there too and so know the stress and anxiety it causes. Good luck in finding the solution. But start with CA.
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It’s when I read things like this that I was the Government to wake the fuck up and regulate the industry. These cowboys don’t pay tax, they rip people off, cause irreparable damage and it’s like a pandemic
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A recession will sort a lot of them out.
I hope he loses everything. I’m sad that he has mental health issues but he’s a horrible person too.
He’s even posted on social media a video of him suggesting he did work in my garden, my son , husband and I took 8 tonnes of soil out . He didn’t do a thing
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Did you pay some of the money on a credit card?
This will offer protection on the whole job. Speak with your credit card company if you did.
Also, check with your home insurance. They may well be able to offer you free legal advice with your house insurance policy.
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