Ripped off By Builder

JohnnyJet

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

I was one of the people that emailed DIY SOS for Mike. Here is the email address of the person who emailed me back saying that they were going to take on Mikes property as part of a DIY SOS makeover: Christine Nisbet [Christine.Nisbet@bbc.co.uk] - worth a try???

I would also second contacting Cowboy builders. I would also report him to trading standards.

Thanks, I will contact her today. I have reported him to Consumer Direct as apparently you have to go through them and they pass on the details to Trading Standards if they feel it warrants it. I don't hold out much hope though.

JohnnyJet

lisawaters wrote: »

This is very familiar, so the answer will be similar to what I found out. You're on your own legally, and the process is: get a CCJ for what he owes you, then an interim charging order, then a final charging order. You can do it yourself for a few hundred pounds if you an follow instructions and do the right things in the right order. You will need to know the value of the work he's done well and deduct it from the money you have paid him. A valuer can provide this. The process will take a year or so and you need to know what his financial situation is. Ask the court for an Order for Questioning to get him into court to answer questions under oath.

If he has protected his own home through the way he and his wife own it, you'll not be able to force him to sell it so may need to find where he's put his money. Don't be tempted to take the law into your own hands at least until you've exhausted the process, or you could be guilty of a criminal act, not him. It sounds as though you're earning? If you're on benefits you get court fees refunded or waived.

Don't rely on getting the money back to finish the house. Achieve that some other way.

The media won't take an interest probably and you need them to be in court to allow them to write anything even if you get to the final charging order. I will give your details when you let me have them to a TV programme who could help practically, and by naming the builder. They are not a soft touch and will need to ensure that everything is how you say it is. They are bound by more laws than you. They also may not touch you if there's current legal procedures happening. Approach them before you approach the courts.

Above all, keep yourself and your family sane and healthy.

I'll think of any other bits of info later and add to the thread. You need to know that you aren't stupid to have paid money up front. Lots of people get put 'over a barrel' and try to pay the last bit to get their work done. Dig out all the contracts you have. You can get half an hour with any solicitor to check the basics but they will charge a lot for doing what isn't that difficult really, just painstaking.

Really sorry you're in this situation but it can be overcome. You'll find other people who have been ripped off by the same builder. Put 'Littlehampton builder' in the thread title if you can to catch their attention. See if the builder's on Checkatrade or Right Trade and post your findings. Google his name regularly and his address and find out as much as you can about him. Remain civil and don't threaten him - you'll be meeting him in court several times. Do a search on Registry Trust and on the Land Registry to see if he has any outstanding CCJs or charging orders and contact the people he conned directly.

YOU are in the right. HE is a conman. Remember that...


Mike

Thanks Mike, this is really useful information. The fact that you say I can pursue him for hundreds of pounds rather than thousands is a great help, I will look into that as soon as I am able to. Does that include court fees? Are they costly? I am working so I don't expect any financial help. Just trying to get some of the house finished right now, the little spare time I have is mostly taken up with getting cheap quotes for materials and other building related issues.

I have already seen a solicitor and don't currently want to pay them any more money, would rather spend it on the house. But thanks to your advise will look into the DIY way. I have plenty of evidence as out of interest I was keeping a photographic diary, I also have plenty of written evidence and proof of the builder asking for additional labour costs when he wasn't on site.

reallylost

Hi
just been looking through your thread and I just wanted to send some hugs and also to let you know that the TV companies are great. We have a similar situation to you and are in touch with BBC to see if they can help.
Trading standards are looking into our complaint but say that they will only be able to help up to the small claims level (£3,000) so we should get a solicitor. But just like you our cowboy took nearly all our money so we cant afford that either.
Think positive (should take that advice myself...lol)
will be lurking here to see how you get on.
Sam

JohnnyJet

SouthernBellE* wrote: »

Hi jonnyjet!

Told you I'd find you!

As far as the process goes, check Mikes thread. Disappointing and unbelievable as it is, none of the authorities would help him either. Do you know this builders history?

Was he recommended to you?

Have you done any investigation into any other people he's left in a mess after taking on work?

I know Mike had contact with various TV Makeover shows. Since his was accepted by DIY SOS, he's had interest from another and tried to put you forward to them but I know this one will want to speak to other people affected...they do the name and shame thing.

The mess sounds like something they'd show and what its meant to you and your family but dig into his previous jobs to find out all you can.

Its wrong that most of the research and action has to be done by you, especially with 3 kids and an unwell wife to look after.

Don't pay another penny!

Let him take you to court, you have pictures, records of what you've paid, contract of work etc.

YOU should be chasing money back from him. Expensive to use a solicitor, hell of a lot of research and detail went into Mikes thread, use it as a reference. I know Mike still has more to deal with to reclaim from his builder but if yours has assets other than his house, you may not need to go as far so don't give up on reading through what actions can be taken.

We're determined NOT to let the lisawaters thread end with the makeover, more needs to be done to protect us all from the thieving greedy bleeders, too many of them around and I know it's disheartening to learn than the authorities seem so disinterested. Keep looking through though, the thread and into your bad builders previous history.

I hope you hear something from the TV ...If you don't hear from them, you can still gather what you can and submit an application on line.

Others worth looking at Cowboy Trap etc, loads mentioned in the other thread. They may not all do whole house but get your story out there.
Create publicity, try magazines to sell your story. He won't want bad publicity either.

Vent your anger all you need, we'll do it with you!

If you feel the way you did a couple of weeks ago, don't even think about it, get on line and talk, you'll be supported! Don't give up, we won't!

SBx

Thanks for looking me up.

I know some of the builders history as he was recommended to us. I also know a few of the jobs he has done but I am unsure about whether I can approach these people and what I should say. Can I get in trouble for slander? Should I tell them what has happened?

There are so many thing to think of right now and I am finding it hard to juggle everything, but I will try to keep the research going and it may take me some time (still reading Mike's post, only on page 7).

When things have improved I would love to help in some way regarding the website and a campaign, things must change as they are clearly not fair at the moment.

black_taxi_2

i got done by a rogue builder----showed me false documents he was gas safe registered/

had to get central heating put in again from scratch---also new flooring had to be ripped up and replaced again.
because it wasnt connected up to boiler he couldnt be done for endangering life--only leaving property at risk--whic is a warning letter.

cost me 7k

cant afford solicitor so going to small claims for 3k

JohnnyJet

dancingfairy wrote: »

Can you not get legal aid? or get a solicitor on a no win - no fee basis? maybe a local community law scheme? perhaps the CAB could help? or a diy approach such as Mike has taken? If this is something you feel able to pursue?
Perhaps joining up with others ripped off by the same builder might help? I'm sure that if they will rip you off they will have ripped several others off.
df

I can't get legal aid because I own a property, even though I can't live in it. I went to CAB and was told to contact Consumer Direct and take him to court. DIY approach? Do you mean take him to court without a solicitor? That would interest me if it is cheap, can't afford it otherwise.

JohnnyJet

sampainter wrote: »

Hi
just been looking through your thread and I just wanted to send some hugs and also to let you know that the TV companies are great. We have a similar situation to you and are in touch with BBC to see if they can help.
Trading standards are looking into our complaint but say that they will only be able to help up to the small claims level (£3,000) so we should get a solicitor. But just like you our cowboy took nearly all our money so we cant afford that either.
Think positive (should take that advice myself...lol)
will be lurking here to see how you get on.
Sam

Thank for the hugs, gratefully received

I tried to contact Trading Standard but got told to go to Consumer Direct first. Is there a way that I can go to Trading Standard directly?

JohnnyJet

Feeling very angry today, been up the house wreck today and new builder has told me that the original builder hasn't even put in waste pipes for the kitchen and where the bathroom pipes should go it looks like they have been filled with cement. Looks like he had no intention of finishing the work. I just feel like crying, this is just getting too much. Not going to though, men don't cry.

Also think we may be outstaying our welcome, it's very difficult to keep kids quiet at 5am, may have to buy a tent and move back into the property soon. I can't think of any other option. Surely we would be classed as living in poverty, why can't I get help?

lisawaters

It sounds as though you are coming to the end of your patience, which is understandable. Time to put a strategy into place. I'll PM my contact at Trading Standards.

You'll feel better once you're in control of things again.

Mike

JohnnyJet

I need to start to try and find a way out of this situation, I have several areas to deal with.

1) Look into some other accommodation after all I have only moved 3 time already this year
2) Work through how I can get the house into a stage where I can move back in.
3) Contact authorities again with surveys and additional information that has come to light.
4) Sue the B******