builder threatened me with debt collector

sunriselondon

The builder started the work to modernise my house since mid Jan. It was estimated the work to be completed in 4-6 weeks. In the first couple of weeks, they came to work during the week. After the third week, they only came occasionally during the week and gradually they rarely came during the week and mostly only worked on weekends. Few months on, the work is still not completed. A couple of weeks ago, I raised my concern about the standard of work (poor finishing, poor workmanship and wrong installation etc) and asked for a completion date to handover and return the key. He became nasty, wrote me a long email accusing me of lying and delaying his work and demand the balance payment (I have already paid him over 90%) and threaten to use debt collector if I don't make the payment within 14 days. He refused to return my house key, saying that he will return it when he received the payment. He left some of the work unfinished, left a big hole in my new German kitchen unit because he did not move the plumbing for the new unit, install new pipes but left the hole on external wall unsealed... in a nutshell, complete nightmare!
I am very concerned about his threat about getting debt collector. I can change the lock but still feel really insecure. What should I do??

Also, I would like to complain and warn people about this builder as well. Is there any channel that I can do that? Would appreciate some advice please! Many thanks!

frank.hopper

Threaten him back!

LondonPlumbers

Firstly they are your keys, if you want them back then he has to return them. I'd send him a letter / email telling him that if he doesn't you will have to employ a locksmith to change the locks and the costs will be claimed from the builder. I would still get the locks changed even if he gives you the keys back as he can go an get a spare key cut.
Next I would take photographs of all the work you employed him to do / any damage he has done. Get a couple of written quotes to finish the job to your satisfaction and what can be seen as reasonable. I would also write to the builder telling him of your concerns but giving him the chance to put right what is wrong and to finish the job at the agreed price. Keep copies of all corrospondence. Then let him take you to court, providing you can prove that he has not finished the work, then you have nothing to fear....

Tucker

It sounds like a hollow attempt to frighten you into paying even more cash that he does not deserve and it seems he knows you well enough to believe it will work.

I think you know the answer and it's time you surprised him by showing him you aren't going to be the push over that he read you to be.

Foggster

I agree with all the above. I didnt realise how "not scared" I was when I confronted our builder some 12 months ago. I had been messed about for far too long and when I had the chance to express my concerns I surprised myself with how passionate I was about my lovely home which was probably pretty scary to the builder.

However, I had held back some 40% of the balance and 80% of the work had already been completed, this is probably the only sensible thing I had done!

Like others have said, write a list of what you need doing and then give the builder reasonable time to complete this and when you are happy with this then and only then pay him the balance.

27col

What is a debt collector going to do. They have no more powers of entry than anyone else who comes to your door.