Builder not finished job - but won't give keys back until he gets paid!

Cknocker

How much of the original contract sum have you paid him?

Prav

Actually, I've paid all of it! Against my better judgement.Then he produced this bill which had all the off-spec things on, but the price of which hadn't been mentioned or agreed.

mikey72

Buy new locks.
Tell him afterwards.

Cknocker

Definately don't pay him anymore and change the locks then

misgrace

Prav wrote: »

Actually, I've paid all of it! Against my better judgement.Then he produced this bill which had all the off-spec things on, but the price of which hadn't been mentioned or agreed.

As far as I can make out, there is no written word or contract stating that he will do these extras, and you will pay for it.

If he had of discussed it with you first, then he told you the price, at least you would have known how much extra, or you could have said, no.

He is trying it on, and you must contact police regarding your house keys, he has no right to keep these its theft, they are yours, and you want them returned.

He might spout off about contacting this person and that person etc, then you can spout off about contacting trading standards, VAT man, tax man etc.

Have you any written receipt of what you have paid?, and if not, did you pay cash or cheque?

Shimmyhill

It's not theft at the moment, civil matter as poster said above.

How much is outstanding amount and what is the builder saying about the work you didnt agree to ??

Prav

There's about £1300 left, for some off-spec things but including the window plastering as mentioned above but the price of which hadn't been agreed.

The original contract price had been paid off already. This is for his 'new' charges.

Cknocker

Prav, so far you have this: -

Painting Radiators
Charging extra fr plastering the walls

Did he ever ask you if you wanted the rads painted as an extra, if not thats his look out, particularly if you didn't want it done!

The walls is a definite no, he chose to plaster it that way, his look out, if he had plastered it and then had to replaster it after you had installed windows that would be a differnt issue.

Prav

Whilst I wanted the radiators painting, it was not explicitly made clear that this would be an extra. It was assumed that this would be part of the overall decorating costs (wrongly with hindsight!). And no price was agreed.

So the £1300 was for the above two with most going towards the plastering.

Plus the fact that he hadn't finished a few things in the original contract e.g. the kitchen tiles, or removed all the rubbish - the garage is full of rubble bags, for which I have to hire a skip myself. Plus the remaining snagging list e.g. spot painting, and also a few electrical items- lights under the cabinet etc. All this was in the original contract that he hadn't finished; and then on top he's trying to get more money. That's why I didn't want to pay 2/3 of this amount before the original things hadn't been done.

The main worrying thing is whether I can obtain the rest of the NICEIC cert, as I mentioned above. I think he's trying to recoup money he's lost on this job, as the first electrician bodged the job, and he had to pay a second one to rectify the mistakes. Plus he continues to blame me for the delays to the work (it took twice as long as the original quote) because I delivered the kitchen a week or so late which he says cost him money. But he never made it clear that any delays would cause bigger problems later on - he was casual about it at the time. Plus it's his responsibilty to manage the project efficiently, by anticipating these problems.

The sad thing is the standard of the work has been largely acceptable. I was all set to buy him a thank you gift too!

But then he turned nasty and now he's simply blackmailing me which is just unacceptable.

PS spontaneously woke up at 1.30am and can't go back to bed - hence the 2.30am reply!! I must be mad!

misgrace

Shimmyhill wrote: »

It's not theft at the moment, civil matter as poster said above.

Sorry if I am coming across thick here, but if he has the OP house keys, and wont return them, then surely this is a matter for the police, if the house got robbed, or some damage was done, then surely the finger would point to the person who has the keys.

So if a tradesman has your house keys, and things go t*ts up, and the builder wont return them for whatever reason, how can this be a civil matter, the builder has house keys that does not belong to him, but to the OP.

The law is definately an !!!.....