How to find a Dodgy Builder

[Boysie]

All my Estimates/Quotes are written on a headed paper
the client answers verbaly

Gill
Not all builders are rogues and cowboys
Get an established builder who's been trading a long time
somebody old like me.
Unfortunately you have had a bad experience, explain this to
the builder make him aware of this.



There are as many "Rogue clients as builders out there"

Good Luck

 

[z3cade]

Sorry Boysie i thought you meant you never gave out a written quote..

Yes good luck Gill i hope you can get this sorted out. s

 

[SeaSurfer]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice.

I actually phoned him last night and there was no way he would give me his address. So i am at a loss that i cannot send this letter to him.

CD said that regardless that time has passed since he gave mum the quote verbally, he did not give her a 7 day written cancellation notice therefor any ''contract'' is unenforceable, but we will see what happens over the next few days.

 

[HornelZ3M]

Quite right too. tell you mum when its all sorted to buy him a new COWBOY hat. s:rolleyes

 

[SeaSurfer]

What a good idea, i had thought of trimming up the scaffolding for him, if i thought he might have an molecule of humour i might do both.

 

[r37]

a sthil saw costs £36 to hire for a weekend, just thaught i'd let you know.

 

[Boysie]

he did not give her a 7 day written cancellation notice therefor any ''contract'' is unenforceable

Hi Gill

I have been trading for more than 25 Years
I have never heard of a builder giving a 7 day cancellation notice 8-| 8-|
This may happens in other businesses ie mortgages and insurances etc
But not in the Building Trade,



Common sense should take over here, dont wait until he has started to erect scaffolding
and then cancel

Sorry Gill if i am not being kind to you, he may be Cowboy and a Rogue
You need to step back and look at it, will this go away? no.

 

[SeaSurfer]

he did not give her a 7 day written cancellation notice therefor any ''contract'' is unenforceable, we

Hi Gill

I have been trading for more than 25 Years
I have never heard of a builder giving a 7 day cancellation notice 8-| 8-|
This may happens in other businesses ie mortgages and insurances etc
But not in the Building Trade,



Common sense should take over here, dont wait until he has started to erect scaffolding
and then cancel

Sorry Gill if i am not being kind to you, he may be Cowboy and a Rogue
You need to step back and look at it, will this go away no

Hi Ray
This is the legislation i have been told by those who are dealing with issues every day, so i would expect and like to think that they are guiding me correctly.

As for letting him put the scaffold up then cancelling, as i said in opening post, my mother had already spoken to the builder, scaffolding erected then i found out about what was going on and after two phone calls to him prior tohim starting any actual repair, i cancelled him for reasons above.
As for stepping back, yes it was short notice but i wasnt prepaired to stand back and see mum ripped off just because the scaffold was already in place.

 

[Warrior]

If the scaffolding falls down and causes damage, injury or worse then it is likely that your mother as owner of the property would be liable. From what you have said it is likely that the builder has no cover either.

I'd employ another builder to check it over, use it to repair the roof and take it down. (Save yourself a few quid s:mrgreen ) Call the builder, tell him it's held in a secure place (make sure it is secure) and give him 7 days to collect at which point it will be removed from site, sold at auction and costs incurred laid at his door.

I still think the builder has a claim against you/your mother, irrespective of what advice you've been given.

If you want some advice register at UKbusiness forums and ask a few questions on the legal forum.

 

[Boysie]

As for stepping back, yes it was short notice but i wasnt prepaired to stand back and see mum ripped off just because the scaffold was already in place.

Gill

I didn't expect you to go ahead with the job.
You nipped it in the bud by stopping the builder proceeding.
The mention of using the scaffolding by another builder would be a very silly thing to do
I cant imagine another builder doing such a thing, the consequencies well?

Gill i have given you my views for whats its worth
i do hope you sort this out,
It must be very stressful for you and your Mum

 

[SeaSurfer]

[quote="Boysie[/quote]

The mention of using the scaffolding by another builder would be a very silly thing to do
I cant imagine another builder doing such a thing, the consequencies well?[/quote]

I wouldnt ask another builder to use it, as you say, a decent builder wouldnt want to anyway.


Warrior, i want to send him a letter telling him in writing to take it down within 7 days, but as i was asking in the opening post, How do you find someone with no details on him only a phone number.

Thank you both. I will have a look at ukbusiness forums

 

[Boysie]

mum has known this chap for years well enough to chat to if she saw him in the village

If its a small village could it not be handed to him in person
Also he must be known ? locally

 

[SeaSurfer]

Wish i could do that Boysie,

 

[Boysie]

Gill

i do understand your predicament ~X(
Being 80 miles from your mum must be frustrating
If you had the time to drive around the village
and the local area, i am sure you would eventually see his van
"or his horse tied up :ymcowboy: "

 

[Warrior]

[quote="Boysie

The mention of using the scaffolding by another builder would be a very silly thing to do
I cant imagine another builder doing such a thing, the consequencies well?[/quote]

I wouldnt ask another builder to use it, as you say, a decent builder wouldnt want to anyway.


Warrior, i want to send him a letter telling him in writing to take it down within 7 days, but as i was asking in the opening post, How do you find someone with no details on him only a phone number.

Thank you both. I will have a look at ukbusiness forums [/quote]

I suggested using the existing scaffolding as your mum has a problem with her roof that needs sorting asap and you won't be able to get new scaffolding in place until the old has been removed. The new builders dilemma is to remove the scaffolding against the former builders will or use it, again presumably against his will.

Why not phone him and give him 7 days. Read from a prepared statement so that you are concise and accurate, make a note of times called, and if it's an answerphone leave a message. You are not obliged to do any more than you can.

 

[SeaSurfer]

Warrior, i will have to do that, he seems to have vanished in to thin air, but cannot understand why he wouldnt want to take his scaffolding back anyway, he knows he isnt going to get the job now. I have kept notes of what has been said and when.

 

[Freds Dad]

Gill sorry to hear about your predicament.

I would be giving him seven days to take it down or you will give it away to another builder. It may stir him on to take it down.

 

[Warrior]

Gill sorry to hear about your predicament.

I would be giving him seven days to take it down or you will give it away to another builder. It may stir him on to take it down.

You can't do that. You can forewarn him that you will be forwarding costs of further damage incurred to the roof whilst his scaffolding remains in situ. Admonish yourself of responsibility for it's wellbeing and give notice that it will be removed and sent to auction, but you can't just dump it..

I'd cover yourself here as well. Take photographs and draw up a list of parts in case it 'disappears' and the builder claims he never removed it.

Is he not answering the phone at all, or is it clicking to voicemail. Call him and tell him you want to come to a financial settlement. That may make his ears p***** up. When he calls round, drop a quid on the floor and stick a scaffold pole up his jacksy. s:mrgreen

 

[SeaSurfer]

Thanks Warrior, i might have to take a run at him though s:mrgreen

At least i can see a bit of funny side to this, in between trying to do things right.

 

[Titan]

I can sense a new song in the air over Yorkshire way

As a sequel to Lily the Pink
how about Gillian the Purple by the who else other than The Scaffold ? %-(