Bloody builders!!!!

[Sparks82]

Hi first time posting just looking for advice from fellow sparks, having troubles with builder at home.
He’s suppose to be knocking down some load bearing walls and fitting steels, fitting a kitchen and a couple of windows.
Was agreed this week he would knock walls down rip out kitchen and fit the steels. Came Monday did a bit on a smaller job upstairs which was suppose to be finished last week which we’ve paid and still waiting to be finished, Tuesday knocked down a small plaster board wall and knocked some plaster one of the walls coming down,
Wednesday didnt turn up got someone to come and rip the kitchen out not a big kitchen about half a day and Left a gas pipe turned off but without a cap on the end and the isolator a nice height for our 3 year old who likes to touch and play with everything, which we mentioned to him but he didn’t bother coming and doing. He told us a plumber would come today but never turned up. Was suppose to come round tonight to discuss things but he’s sick
He asked us to pay him 2k beginning of the week so he could have a float to get material and labour. Since then we’ve paid for the skip, arranged and paid a deposit for the steels and only had someone here half a day to rip the kitchen out.
Now he’s holding me up on my electrics in the kitchen
He’s been hard to get hold of these last few days. When we try speak to him about our concerns he says we are putting under too much pressure and making a big deal about small issues and has twice Threatened to walk, would just get someone else if it wasn’t for the 2k and the last bits upstairs.
Would appreciate any suggestions and advice obviously not feeling very confident with him
Thanks

 

[tony clark]

you can ridddor him under the gas safety act for leaving a open end gas pipe who ever dismantled you gas appliance should be gas safe how do you know the gas isolation valve is not letting by and you have gas escaping in your dwelling.
first i would contact gas safe or a gas engineer to make safe, the hse would be all over him.

 

[stevethesparks]

Alarm bells are ringing.
Where did you find this builder?

 

[Sparks82]

From checkatrade reviews were ok was between him and another guy similar price but he didn’t charge vat so was saving about 4K. Started just over 2 weeks ago don’t he’s done a full day once!!!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

This story is all to common

My gut feeling would be telling get shot of this guy ASAP , and get a different reputable builder in to complete the job.

Ask the builder for your money back less any materials that he can prove he purchased for you .
If he refuses then Speak to a solicitor about trying to claim your money back

 

[cliffed]

Shocking,but like said,it’s all too common,get rid if you can,start afresh,ask for a contract planner/time table of works.

 

[Sparks82]

That’s the funny thing we asked for that and he printed off a sheet at the start showing the planned works and what’s gonna be done each week he just hasn’t been here to do it. He’s here today today saying here gonna be here all day and half a day tomorrow. Says the plasters coming on Monday to finish off upstairs!
So will have to see next few days if he sticks to his word!!

 

[Sparks82]

He says he’s finished his other job and the work he’s actually done upstairs looks alright just a case of him actually being here and getting on with it!!

 

[telectrix]

a builder sticking to his word??????

 

[ruston]

If it all works out for you; and I hope it does, don't forget to leave a glowing report on his antics on Checkatrade. You may save someone the same fate.

 

[Sparks82]

Definitely

 

[Toneyz]

Have you agreed on a fixed price for the works?
I think it is a case of him being cheaper as no VAT and he is too much demand. Have seen or got good reviews of his previous jobs.

 

[cliffed]

People let you down,if he gave you a program of works,& it’s behind,then he needs to improve on it,good luck.

 

[remedial]

Given the cost of building materials amd labour i dont really understand how any builder can stay under the vat threshold if hes working full time. Always makes me wonder

 

[DefyG]

If you are a sparks, don't you come into contact with builders you can trust rather than using the 'checkatrader' lottery?
Times we have been to put right installations by checkatrader cowboys who all had 'good' reviews!

 

[mattg4321]

Surely 1 medium sized job will take a builder over the VAT threshold.

I'm not a big fan of the current system. Make everyone VAT registered, or no one, then we can have a level playing field and stop the constant 'do you take cash' enquiries. Perhaps £10k turnover to allow for kids/oaps etc doing odd jobs.

 

[telectrix]

Surely 1 medium sized job will take a builder over the VAT threshold.

I'm not a big fan of the current system. Make everyone VAT registered, or no one, then we can have a level playing field and stop the constant 'do you take cash' enquiries. Perhaps £10k turnover to allow for kids/oaps etc doing odd jobs.

have to disagree there. most sole traders are under the vat threshold. 80 odd k, i believe.

 

[Sparks82]

Yes was a fixed price, found out after they started the wife’s friend knows someone who’s having work done by them as well,
She said there work was good but there not very organised.
Don’t do to many jobs for builders it’s mainly local councils, letting agents and private jobs

 

[Toneyz]

Yes was a fixed price, found out after they started the wife’s friend knows someone who’s having work done by them as well,
She said there work was good but there not very organised.
Don’t do to many jobs for builders it’s mainly local councils, letting agents and private jobs

Some tradesmen are like that good at what they do but they are not good at doing their accounts and organisation.

 

[telectrix]

accounts and organisation.

wazzat?

 

[Toneyz]

accounts and organisation.

wazzat?

smoke packet and beer mat Tel!!!

 

[Baddegg]

accounts and organisation.

wazzat?

The scribble you put on beer mats and smoke packets tel......your welcome mate

Edit.....you beat me @anthonybragg must read thread before replying

 

[Lister1987]

smoke packet and beer mat Tel!!!

That's far too hi-tech; scribbles on bog roll pieces spiked on a nail.

 

[telectrix]

That's far too hi-tech; scribbles on bog roll pieces spiked on a nail.

gawd, next thing is you'll be wiping your arse on BS7671. then again, there's over 100 pages that's all they're fit for.

 

[SJD]

Given the cost of building materials and labour i dont really understand how any builder can stay under the vat threshold if hes working full time. Always makes me wonder

As a builder, you have the customer pay directly for the materials. The builder orders / collects them from which ever merchant he uses, but the customer gets the bill. As a customer, you only pay for materials as/when ordered, so you don't have to trust your builder with lots of cash up front. So the materials don't get counted in the builders turnover.

Then you also have the customer pay other trades direct - the scaffolder, plasterer, plumber, electrician, etc. Again, not counted in the builders turnover.

 

[Midwest]

I'd get another builder, preferably one not called O'Reilly.

 

[Sparks82]

Hi just an update tonight we have got rid of the builder and asked for our money back.
the weekend events finally did it, he came saturday to work all day when arrived he had no tools his mate who he couldn’t get hold of had his tools in his car so he borrowed some of mine till he got hold of him, then I went out and told to him keep the door shut so the dog doesn’t get out, he then phoned later to say he taken the dog for a walk, The dog had got out and was looking around for an hour till he got back to find her sitting out the front and then he left about 1.30
Then Sunday he was suppose to come at 10 for half a day then at 10.15 he texted to say he wasn’t coming

 

[Baddegg]

Apologies @Sparks82 .....but the dog walking killed me!

 

[stevethesparks]

You ought to consider suing Checkatrade