Getting money back from cowboy builders

Barneysmom

BILLIE wrote: »

Mike you have done well to read this thread and answer so many of us. Enjoy and here's to the next challenge which I am sure most of us are up for when the gauntlet is raised. Billie xx

I've been thinking about that. The Next Challenge.

Maybe something will suddenly jump out of the screen one day and one of us will just know it when they see it?
I hope so

Mike thank you for letting me share your journey, what a rollercoaster xx

lisawaters

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Can I ask as well (this is directed to you Mike), you hear of these DIY programmes where, when the house has been done up and is looking braw, the owners are in for 2 hours and it starts to fall apart and the coffee tables are made of MDF which fall down with a sneeze, was it all done to a nice standard?

It certainly looked amazing but then we are not living in it (mores the pity as I would sell my soul for a kitchen like that!!!)

Am so glad I saw it and it was by accident as I normally switch these kind of things off as I normally don't like them but I was reading and then my attention got switched when it mentioned a website and then the story came back to me.

You again?

To clarify the situation with DIY SOS:

They don't do anything you probably won't like

The intention is not to elicit a reaction with garish designs and colours

The pre-production meetings and discussions go into a lot of detail about your preferences

Julia Kendell is not there because she's a stunning bimbo. She's a stunning professional designer and one of the kindest women I have ever met. Every member of the team is an expert at what they do. The fact that they're funny and good-natured is a plus.

The quality of workmanship was the best available. The people involved (and the BBC) do not want other professionals having any excuse to criticise the work. All certificates and building approvals are managed continuously by the local building control team.


The above is not necessarily true of other programmes. My experience has been astonishing from beginning to end. These are real people getting a real buzz from doing a superb job. So much so that I shall only use them for all my future building and decorating needs.

lisawaters

UncleBuck wrote: »

Mike

If you are reading the feedback to the show on this thread, I'd just like to say that I really hope that everything has turned out just as you'd wished and that the dark days are well behind you and the lads.

For "Mikes Mob", I'd just like to say a GREAT BIG THANK YOU for showing that the spirit of generosity and warm hearts are sill ALIVE in the UK!

For the BBC and the SOS team a GREAT BIG Thank You for all your hard work.

For those who gave their time and materials for free, a warm and sincere hug and wishing that 2011 repays you all 10x over in good health and good fortune.

Take Care

UB

I can add nothing to this.

psychopathbabble

Poo you are so right... He will run away as soon as I'm back properly!!

NualaBuala

lisawaters wrote: »

Who?

Nick-blasted-Knowles, I expect.

lisawaters wrote: »

The camera lens they used on all my shots adds about two stone. It's true.

Now now Mike, hope you're not fishing for compliments. I'm sure you have no shortage of them these days - you look great!

lisawaters wrote: »

I just scraped some goo off my mouse's bottom and it's working much better now. Just stopping for a cup of tea. brb (as the young people say)

What an interesting hobby! :rotfl:

It was great to read your post about what a good job the DIY SOS team did - I had that impression watching the programme. It didn't seem like one of those cheap makeover shows where they just staple MDF all over the place and it probably falls down 5 minutes after they leave. I thought they did an amazing job. :T

If there is someone to email to say thank you, then could someone PM me the address?

lisawaters

simondav wrote: »

Saw DIY SOS tonight, what a great result, very well done to all involved !! Very emotional viewing. I am the same age as Mike. I got divorced in 2002, and ended up buying a house that had been badly bodged by the previous owner, a so called builder who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. Terrible electrics, plaster thrown onto walls, damp problems, no insulation, removal of a load bearing wall so part of the upstairs sagged, stud walls just held up by one or two small screws and so on. I should have noticed it as I have some building experience, but was going through a difficult time then and he was sympathetic to my personal situation. He was a conman. My situation then was nothing like as bad as Mike's, and I ended up selling the house after 2 years after doing some remedial works. This guy had damaged other houses in the area including my neighbour. She wanted a loft conversion, but he cut a huge hole in her bedroom ceiling in the wrong place for the stairs, and applied no sound insulation on the party wall between our houses. Bad builders wreck buildings and lives, but it was so good to see the fabulous house for Mike and his boys at the end. Overall there are so many more good people than bad, as this program showed. I am sure Mike and his boys will go on to happier things, as I have done.

The difference between simondav and me, and most of the other hundreds of thousands of people who get conned by certain tradespeople every year, is that we've admitted it publicly. Many, many more cases go unreported because people feel embarrassed at being conned.

The system at present enables small criminals such as my builder to get away with it. That's the real embarrassment for us all and one I hope is one day addressed.

Sorry you had a bad time, and pleased you've put it it context and moved on.

lisawaters

SouthernBellE* wrote: »

I did watch. I did warn you I was an emotional numpty so I've been trying to compose myself.

Nic you did us proud!

Told you all you'd need tissues!

Was lovely to hear from so many former posters, reminds me how very fortunate I was to be able to take part, how lucky I was to stumble across Mike's original post and how grateful I am to all those that posted before me. Had everyone not been so kind & supportive, I'd never have posted to begin with. I may have joined the forum for moneysaving advice but I found something far better. Good friends and supportive community.

Mike, Jack & Sam... I have no words, it's the wine, blubbing again!

Amazing family and so very deserving. Every happiness to you in the New Year.

SB
X

And to you too!

lisawaters

sillywilly wrote: »

SouthCoast wrote: »

Very wrong, seems like a bollox system. Ripping people off if you are a trade which equates to THEFT, FRAUD, DECEPTION and ABUSE seems to be a consequence free CRIME for the people who commit such thoroughly immoral acts.

You see it time after time on programs like Cowboy Builders and Rogue Traders and they just seem to get away with it.

The law needs to change and it needs someone with real clout?!! behind it who can make laws change.

I got fined once for cycling along an empty beach promenade perhaps 10 metres wide. Didn't see the signs. Got stopped by a beach warden and a PCSO. Told them I didn't see the signs, apologised, pointed out it was empty and doing no harm. Asked my name and address and having nothing to hide and being an honest person, told the truth.

Heard nothing about it. 6 months later I got a court summons. Turned up explained the situation to what I thought would be reasonable and rational people, realising no one was at any risk of harm, it was an accident i missed the sign.

They didn't want to know. Charged me £70 + £50 "costs" + £15 "victim surcharge". They wanted the money there and then and I said that I couldn't pay, which was true and I thought it was a joke.

I offered them £1 a week - they said the minimum I had to pay was £5 a week - or the fine would be increased or I could face a stay in prison if I refused to pay - no joke!!

I could easily have cycled past these people or given a false name and address but had nothing to hide and didn't know I was committing a "crime"!!

Sorry that is long winded - my point is I had to repay the "court / council" the full amount at the lowest I could £5 a week in 27 weeks - 6 months.

Why isn't the law the same for shysters who rip people off, steal from them and actually harm them - the same?

And... relax.

All true though.

lisawaters

Erme wrote: »

Just one question - how did you stay alive for those 2.5 years?

I didn't fancy the alternative.


And I wanted to show the boys that no-one should ever be steamrollered. (Think I got away with it this time!)

lisawaters

As fast as I'm replying to messages, more are coming in!

I must work faster...