Builder threat of legal action.

skivington

hollydays wrote: »

I wonder if you should have a chat with your local Police too.

I was considering that, I feel that what he has done ammounts to an attempt to extort money from a pensioner and her neighbour. I am just worried about the lawyers letter. I am comfortable that the work he has done is expensive at £500 but dont know if there is any legal way he could sucessfuly pursue this.

trevormax

I would ask the builder to provide evidence to say that you personally asked for any work to be done.

neilmcl

The builder can take a run and jump as far as you're concernd. If what you're telling us is correct then you have no contract with the builder all you asked was for him to send you a copy of the bill. I think you should relay this to the builder. That doesn't help your neighbour I'm afraid but that's not your problem (legally speaking).

Hintza

Neighbour is a pensioner if OP ducks this the builder might claim it from the pensioner with menaces. I think OP needs to be a bit more proactive and neighbourly here.

This has the potential to open a real can of worms.

neilmcl

Being proactive is what's got the OP into this mess in the first place.

There is nothing to duck, there is no relationship between the builder and the OP with this, the OP should just tell him to do one. As far as helping out the neighbour then the best advice would be to get the neighbour to speak to CAB, trading standards and possibly the police.

Venkman_2

neilmcl wrote: »

Being proactive is what's got the OP into this mess in the first place.

There is nothing to duck, there is no relationship between the builder and the OP with this, the OP should just tell him to do one. As far as helping out the neighbour then the best advice would be to get the neighbour to speak to CAB, trading standards and possibly the police.

From a legal point of view I agree with this. The OP never said "I wish for you to carry out the work and agree to pay" or words of that effect so the builder cannot issue him with a bill.

skivington

neilmcl wrote: »

The builder can take a run and jump as far as you're concernd. If what you're telling us is correct then you have no contract with the builder all you asked was for him to send you a copy of the bill. I think you should relay this to the builder. That doesn't help your neighbour I'm afraid but that's not your problem (legally speaking).

Thanks - That is what I thought, and I did write to him to tell him my position and invited him to discuss it with me. The result was recieveng a letter from his lawyer threatening legal action. However I know my neighbour paid in disgust thinking £500 was excessive for the whole job, whilst I was not involved setting this up I am now embroiled in it, have will try and get to see CAB and Trading Standards today.

skivington

Hintza wrote: »

Neighbour is a pensioner if OP ducks this the builder might claim it from the pensioner with menaces. I think OP needs to be a bit more proactive and neighbourly here.

This has the potential to open a real can of worms.

Rest assured I will do all I can, I have been in dialouge with my neighbour but dont want to worry her with this right now (I have only had the house 2 months so dont know her all that well). I am going to reasearch as much as I can, and get as much advice as I can to try and avoid the messy situation that you allude to. It is not my intention to wash my hands of this leaving it in my neighbours lap, although I think I could legally do this, morally I could not, I need to find a way of fighting this sucessfully.

pinkshoes

Have you written to the builder yet requesting an exact breakdown of the costs i.e. scaffolding, materials, labour etc...?

You can then use this information to take him to potentially dispute the cost, and maybe even get some money back for your neighbour too.

neilmcl

pinkshoes wrote: »

Have you written to the builder yet requesting an exact breakdown of the costs i.e. scaffolding, materials, labour etc...?

You can then use this information to take him to potentially dispute the cost, and maybe even get some money back for your neighbour too.

I would suggest he doesn't do this. He doesn't need to get a breakdown of the costs, he's not disputing the costs he's disputing the fact that the builder is coming after him at all. The OP needs to back away and not further embroil himself with this situation whilst providing whatever support he can to his neighbour.