Elderly parents and the dodgy builder

[barq]

Anyone had a dodgy builder?

Today my elderly parents had a bloke do some unsatisfactory repairs to their conservatory - replacing rotten wood and two new doors. It cost them £700 in cash and he left them very scared.

The glass in the doors is 'bobbly' rather than clear so doesn't match the rest. They are clearly interior doors and poorly made with gaps in the joints. I think he must either have got them cheap or maybe they were left over from another job - I can't think of any other reason for using them. They also don't fit and there is a large gap on one side.

Some of the rotten wood has been removed and replaced, but lots has just been covered over. Paint is splashed on the glass and the tiled floor - however it doesn't actually cover all the wood as some of it is still bare. (They asked about this, but he said he was a carpenter so they couldn't expect him to paint it.) Also he has sealed the plastic roof to the walls with gaffer tape. I've now seen the work and it is staggeringly poor quality.

They wanted to complain more but were sufficiently scared by him that they paid £700 in cash (plus 'extras', I don't know all the details here). They managed to get a receipt even though it made him angry (something to do with VAT).

Realistically do you think there is anything to be done here? He didn't explicitly threaten them (other than saying he could break into any lock ) but they are scared, upset and will have to pay to have the work done again properly.

Sorry it is a bit long, but I'm a bit upset for them.

 

[Night Train]

That is terrible. It may be worth a chat with a local community Police officer so that they can be aware of the sod in case he is trying out elsewhere locally.

 

[montage]

Sounds like a shocker. My parents are involved with a loooong court case with some plumbers/builders who are wanting £30,000 for a job I could have done better. My parents have refused to pay as the job has not been done to the pre-arranged standards agreed.....so now they are suing us for loooooodes....my parents are worried but I can't see why....the job is evidently shoddy and there have been blatent lies and cover ups.

I guess the fact your parents paid already is going to make this twenty times more difficult....as they have effectively agreed that the work is of a satisfactory level :s ..... The fact he intimidated your parents sounds like the line to play on...possibly contact the police? Did they take photos of the work done on the day it was done...so as to have photos with the date (proving that your parents did not meddle with his work). My guess is that this will be a difficult civil court case?

 

[Bigtwin]

Try trading standards - depending on where you are they may be either totally useless, or slightly less than totally useless.

In theory, your folks should contact the builder setting out the faults and give him an opportunity to put good, then pursue through the Small Claims Court if not satisfactorily resolved.

In reality however, he'll probably on off on one and trash the house/car/whatever and get away with it, so they might just want to put to down to experience and move on for a quiet life unfortunately.

 

[montage]

Been thinking....and for an evidently shoddy job your parents must have been very intimidated to pay up. You could get somewhere with this...but it would be very stressful and messy.

 

[montage]

Local councillor could be a good one.....havign just been elected they will be eager to please (that is the theory anyway.....)

 

[Bigtwin]

Local councillor could be a good one.....having just been elected they will not give a flying turd until a couple of months before the next vote...

more like...

 

[barq]

Around our way the councillors were elected a couple of years ago. But that is worth a try and I hadn't thought of it.

Part of the problem is that it has suddenly made my parents feel like they are now vulnerable old people (and in a sense they are right). It has really made them feel their mortality. And I've a big guilt thing going on because I had a meeting so couldn't get away from the office earlier.

Oh well, thanks for the support everyone. I don't think we'll get the money back but I feel better reading your replies and my folks will be comforted that other people agree it is outrageous. Cheers.

 

[Perry]

Stories like that make me shudder.

I'm a plasterer by trade, before I ask for payment I show them the work and then ask if they are happy with the job.

Less than once a year I get called back to a job but I always return when asked and that has helped me get regular work.

I hope it gets sorted for them.

 

[Maz]

I hate b@stard builders from hell. My mum got stung when she got some dodgy builder doing some work for her. In her simple naivety she paid 500 up front, but when i saw the work he did i sent him packing. Decided to write-off the money as a loss cos this fella was a nasty piece of work.

 

[Dave5N]

Grass him up to the revenue.

Or invest £100 in some 'mates'.

 

[Crankarm]

Grass him up to the revenue.

Or invest £100 in some 'mates'.

That's just what I was going to say. These people are low life parasitic scum. Do you have his name and contact details? Is the receipt he gave genuine? If you don't think so ring up HMRC and tel them you suspect he's dodging VAT. If you really want to get your own back call him again about 2 months later or get a friend to call pretending to be a new customer, new address and new job. I'm sure you could find him again you only need to set a sweet enough trap to catch him and then find out where he lives. Then get him to give him your parents money back if he doesn't then suggest very strongly he does otherwise....... you might hurt him. Then send pics of said man to plod, to Trading Standards and HMRC. Alternatively see if you can get local plod involved as this sounds like he has been obtaining property through deception and menaces (property being your parents' £700). Your parents are elderly and have been taken advantage of, intimidated and threatened. It would save you giving him a good kicking. £700 is alot of money to lose. If you pay some else to do the work properly then your parents are probably going to pay nearer £1,000 all in. How did he get to do work on your parents place anyway? Was he a cold caller or did they find him in the yellow pages then call him to come and do the work?

Or call BBC's Rogue Traders.

 

[dellzeqq]

The elderly are at continual risk from crooks. My mother-in-law has just parted with her late husband's gold watch to a man that called at the door looking for 'bric-a-brac'. He gave her two quid for it. And no receipt.

 

[barq]

There are some real horror stories here. Dellzeqq's is heartbreaking.

I'm not going to have anyone beaten up, or threaten anything - it simply isn't my style. We have the guy's full name and address so I might wait a couple of months (for safety) and then give HMRC a call. I don't agree with tax dodging anyway because it in effect steals from everyone.

As for the police... I think my parents have some kind of local community support officer (?). Not sure anything will come of it, but I can at least put this man on their radar.

The builder advertises locally and on that basis my parents seemed to assume he was kosher. Sadly they turned down a slightly higher competing quote from a builder recommended to them - so I think a lesson to be learned there!

 

[Andy in Sig]

I think that getting the police involved would be a good idea. It might also be worth you being present when the copper comes round just so as to help your parents overcome any diffidence they might feel.