Builder gone AWOL

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Tiglath
Tiglath Posts: 3,816 Forumite
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Hi - I could do with some advice please. We are halfway through having a new bathroom and some building work done, but the builder keeps not turning up when he's supposed to, and is now not answering his phone. We found him through Checkatrade and he and his company did a great job on the first job they did for us in June, but this current job has turned into a nightmare. Any suggestions on where we can turn from here?
"Save £12k in 2019" #120 - £100,699.57/£100,000
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  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
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    How much have you paid him?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 26,612 Forumite
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    Some builders do have a tendency to start one job while they still have another on the go. He may even have had some personal problems.
    Unless the bloke has abandoned you entirely or he's been missing for several days , I'd cut him a bit more slack.

    Different if you've paid him in advance, of course.
  • robatwork
    robatwork Posts: 7,090 Forumite
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    Moneyineptitude wrote: »
    Some builders do have a tendency to start one job while they still have another on the go. He may even have had some personal problems.
    Unless the bloke has abandoned you entirely or he's been missing for several days , I'd cut him a bit more slack. .

    I've never understood why we have to cut builders a bit more slack.

    If someone started cutting your hair then left in the middle to start someone else and then wandered out the shop for a ciggie break, you wouldn't cut him some slack.

    If you see a shoe you like and the shoe shop assistant brought you only 1 shoe in your size and then went to lunch, is that OK?

    Even in the building trade, if someone was putting new windows into your house and left with half of them empty, you wouldn't find that acceptable.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 26,612 Forumite
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    robatwork wrote: »
    I've never understood why we have to cut builders a bit more slack.
    Probably because if you don't, they'll make you wait even longer!:p

    What do you suggest? Send the builder an LBA threatening legal action if he doesn't return? ;)
  • martinthebandit
    martinthebandit Posts: 4,422 Forumite
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    robatwork wrote: »
    I've never understood why we have to cut builders a bit more slack.
    .

    Because builders, like any other industry need a full order book but have to also balance that against so many imponderables.
  • robatwork
    robatwork Posts: 7,090 Forumite
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    OP doesn't seem to be saying how much slack the builder is taking
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
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    martinthebandit wrote: »
    Because builders, like any other industry need a full order book but have to also balance that against so many imponderables.


    Who cares! That's not ops problem.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 26,612 Forumite
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    arcon5 wrote: »
    That's not ops problem.
    I'm afraid that's exactly the OP's problem.

    What do you suggest is the solution?

    By the time the OP sends an LBA,for example, the builder will doubtless have returned to the job.
  • martinthebandit
    martinthebandit Posts: 4,422 Forumite
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    arcon5 wrote: »
    Who cares! That's not ops problem.
    Seems like it is to me.


    .....and remember, good trades people don't work for bad customers.
  • MikeWhite
    MikeWhite Posts: 617 Forumite
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    martinthebandit wrote: »
    Seems like it is to me.


    .....and remember, good trades people don't work for bad customers.

    Indeed, but "good trades people" don't disappear without explanation and/or ignore their phone!
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