Tradesmen / myLot

United Kingdom

August 28, 2010 4:16am CST

There are lots of different tradesmen like builders, handymen and bathroom fitters. I have moved into my new bungalow. I got a builder to take out the fireplace because it was dangerous. He covered the ceiling with plaster to cover up a horrible design. Then he put down a some wood before the flooring people could put down my flooring. Next all this started to go wrong. First of all the flooring people turned up and they laid my new flooring. I came into the room and said that is so beautiful and thanked the two flooring guys. However one of them said I wouldn't be getting my guarantee! I got the builder over and told him that the flooring people were not happy with the work he had done. That morning the two flooring people and their boss arrived to speak with the builder. One of the flooring people used a bad word and the builder ran away! The next day the flooring people took the flooring up. The builder tried to get the ceiling ready for painting. I heard sanding going on and he used a broom as well. I went out to collect my older son from the youth club. When I came back I was told that the ceiling had all come down! The builder ran away. I am not going to let the builder fit my new kitchen. The builder went off with most of the money I had paid him. He gave me a check for £120 taking £170 for painting the walls in the lounge. What kind of experiences have you had with tradesmen? What do you think the builders work was like? Why did the builder run away twice? Am I right for not letting him fit my kitchen?

1 person likes this

7 responses

dreamhealer

@dreamhealer (812)

•

1 Sep 10

I am wondering how you decided who to employ as your tradesmen? Were they members of reputable trade associations or recommended to you by friends as having previously done good jobs? There do seem to be so many horror stories around. From what you have said, you would seem to be absolutely right in not letting him fit your kitchen!!! If you are having several jobs done together, requiring different skills, it could be worth having a builder, who would co-ordinate the other trades needed, so things would run smoothly. Here's to a much better experience next time!

@gangstaaaz (65)

• Libya

29 Aug 10

money first ask later :D

carmelanirel

@carmelanirel (20942)

• United States

28 Aug 10

I think the builder should be fired if he works for a company or warned about if he is independent. I had a relative that started work on my home and after collecting the money, (Never pay a tradesman first), he took off. And because he was a relative and had children, I didn't sue him..Now I wish I did because he left us without siding on our home with winter approaching..

If it wasn't for a kind neighbor who helped us finish the work ourselves, we would have been in trouble..

@writersedge (22563)

• United States

28 Aug 10

I'm sorry you had so much trouble. I learned the hard way to see if the people working for me have insurance or not. Also if they have experience. The guy who did my bathroom trailer when I was young, redid the floor to my bathroom after my toilet and tub leaked onto the floor. The guy wouldn't let me watch him (should have been my first clue). After the weather got cold, it seemed like the water from my bathtub was going on the ground after my bath.So I used bubble bath and let the water out. Sure enough, the subs were underneath my trailer. So I called our local hardware store and asked them who they would recommend. They told me this guy who was former military, really gruff. He came over. He showed me what they had done, "You see this stuff? Hasn't been used since WWII. Only holds up until a certain temperature and then look at it." The rest of it crumbed in his hands right in front of me. "I'll put the good stuff in for you lady." He did and I didn't have any problems after that. The first guy did get a better floor for me, the old one was pressed fiber board, so he wasn't all bad. But the second one redid around everything so I wouldn't have water and other stuff all over the ground.

@rameshchow (4426)

• India

28 Aug 10

it is a contract or daily work? you said that he is taking 170pounds from you, really it is high amount. in india that for that work the contractor may asks 50pounds only.....

costly labour

lacieice

@lacieice (2060)

• United States

28 Aug 10

You have to really check out anyone you hire to do home repairs. They need to be certified, licensed, and insured. You can check with the Better Business Brueau...I don't know what that would be called in your country. It's really hard to find reliable people to do what you need done. I would file charges against the builder you mentioned. I don't know if it would get you your money back, but it might prevent him from doing it to someone else. Ask friends for recommendations to find someone who is qualified for the work. Check references.

bodhisatya

@bodhisatya (2384)

• India

28 Aug 10

Hi Maximax, The kind of situation you described is very common in here. The person or persons who have engaged "tradesmen" to get their house done or renovated or even while working on brand new building projects have to be very cautious, extrmely smart and well aware of the prices and reputation of the tradesmen/ workers or what we call here as contractors. If you slip in one single aspect while getting your things done the chances are he might fool you by charging way more, or may even run away with your money just as what you have described in your scenario. I just had my home renovated this January and it was getting on my nerves later-on! But thank God things worked out quite well in the end!