Getting money back from cowboy builders

lisawaters

Princess_Sparkles wrote: »

Hi All, esp. Mike.
Hope everyone is well & 2011 is going well for you. Thanks to Southern Belle for the email about the show. Sadly, due to a seemingly never ending run of rubbish luck, I didn't get to see it. So glad to see the back of 2010. Spell in hosp, then made redundant, am now ensconced in a Christmas temp job as a check out operator that sees me working stupid hours (& hence missing excellent DIY programmes that I've been waiting months to see.!)But a job's a job, right? Only for another 3 weeks though.
I used to believe in Karma & that there was a reason for everything, well whatever I did to deserve all this must have been awful.
Mike's story is evidence that there is good out there, and that's what I'm trying to remember as each day goes by.
I haven't had the time to catch up on the thread yet, so apologies if you've heard all this already Mike, but I hope you're still loving your house & it has made a huge difference to every area of your life. I loved the thread as it grew & reading it last summer was such fun - I guess not for you (sorry!), but I am so happy it had the result for you that it did. Onwards & upwards eh? Much Love. x:)

Hey Princess, you sound really down. At least you'll be able to download the programme from the link MatyMoo has repeated.

Sounds like you're having all your bad stuff come through at once. Take it from me, you didn't do anything to cause the run of events, but you also have to be careful not to start believing that you are attracting bad stuff like a magnet. I am here to tell you that can become a self-fulfilling prophesy, which supports the belief.

We don't cause things whatever we do, it's just a belief religions seize on to make us feel guilty. If the bad bits were spread over a couple of years, you'd accept that. If they all happened on the same day you'd be knocked flat. They might be happening just regularly enough for you to be able to cope. But good things do come, as indeed I have been lucky enough to find out. And I am not someone to whom lots of great things have happened in the past.

Make sure you look after yourself, and that you have lots of people around you that you can have a damn good moan to. If you don't believe this approach can work, look back in the first thread to how I was feeling around this time 12 months ago...

We all wish you success battling these problems, and there are people on here who will offer help. Please be kind to them by accepting it!

x

Princess_Sparkles

Thanks Mike. You're right, sometimes the tunnel just seems to get darker all the time, when all I need to do is look upwards!
Anyway, this is not a thread hijack! I am chuffed to bits with the link that Matty has put up & I am going off to download now!
Thanks again for the kind words. x

MatyMoo

Enjoy Princess Sparkles, it is heart warming but you DO need several tissues

MrsMoo2U

I would say that you need a box of tissues never mind several. I watched again via the link. Thanks Killerwatt much appreciated.

Mike speaks from experience Princess Sparkles and so you should listen to him. I agree wholeheartedly with religions having a knack of making people feel guilty for things. I am all for taking responsibility for things but to feel guilty about something that you haven't even done is just a way of keeping control of people. Be kind to yourself. Stop thinking you have done something wrong and accept that some things are just more difficult to deal with than others. You will be a stronger person when you come out of that tunnel but in the meantime just take care of yourself and take small steps towards the opening.

lisawaters

cherisong wrote: »

I would say that you need a box of tissues never mind several. I watched again via the link. Thanks Killerwatt much appreciated.

Mike speaks from experience Princess Sparkles and so you should listen to him. I agree wholeheartedly with religions having a knack of making people feel guilty for things. I am all for taking responsibility for things but to feel guilty about something that you haven't even done is just a way of keeping control of people. Be kind to yourself. Stop thinking you have done something wrong and accept that some things are just more difficult to deal with than others. You will be a stronger person when you come out of that tunnel but in the meantime just take care of yourself and take small steps towards the opening.

Despite her location, cherisong is usually right. Ok, always right. I don't think anyone should be advised to listen to me with my track record, but I will admit to being a bit wiser now than I was five years ago. It's also much easier to solve other people's problems than your own...

A classic religious 'truth' instilled in me at school was: we are all born with original sin.

Isn't that about the same as being born on probation, or in debt?

I think I went off the organised stuff shortly afterwards. But there's some great independent and home-grown stuff around.

And you'll be relieved to know that's the extent of my theological views and the last time (and the first) I shall bother you with them.

pure_dead_dopey

OOOH its getting very deep in here!!

just popped into say I watched the programme, finally, and thought it was wonderful. Even shed a wee tear. You now have a beautiful house to go with your already beautiful family. I know Paul Bridle still bridles so to speak but if we're talking religion, you reap what you sow etc, or that well know saying from my Grannie, whats for you, wull no go bye you. He will get his, somewhere along the line.

Take care Mike, I tend to hang out mostly on all about debt now as I am pursuing UE (with a wee bit success) but I had to pop back to wish you all the best and to thank you for giving us a Christmas telly programme that cheered this household up, Littlehampton must be a lovely place to live.

Take care

Dopeyxxx

MrsMoo2U

lisawaters wrote: »

Despite her location, cherisong is usually right. Ok, always right. I don't think anyone should be advised to listen to me with my track record, but I will admit to being a bit wiser now than I was five years ago. It's also much easier to solve other people's problems than your own...
thanks Mike, that is so nice (if not true) of you to say

A classic religious 'truth' instilled in me at school was: we are all born with original sin. Yep I heard that too.

Isn't that about the same as being born on probation, or in debt?

I think I went off the organised stuff shortly afterwards. But there's some great independent and home-grown stuff around. Good morals is all you need

And you'll be relieved to know that's the extent of my theological views and the last time (and the first) I shall bother you with them.

Me too, could say lots but dont want to be kicked off here.

lisawaters

pure_dead_dopey wrote: »

OOOH its getting very deep in here!!

just popped into say I watched the programme, finally, and thought it was wonderful. Even shed a wee tear. You now have a beautiful house to go with your already beautiful family. I know Paul Bridle still bridles so to speak but if we're talking religion, you reap what you sow etc, or that well know saying from my Grannie, whats for you, wull no go bye you. He will get his, somewhere along the line.

Take care Mike, I tend to hang out mostly on all about debt now as I am pursuing UE (with a wee bit success) but I had to pop back to wish you all the best and to thank you for giving us a Christmas telly programme that cheered this household up, Littlehampton must be a lovely place to live.

Take care

Dopeyxxx

Good to see you again. I'm glad you enjoyed the programme.

Anywhere's* a good place to live, if you've got family and friends you enjoy being around, or who are online when you need them.

*(Well not Bognor Regis. Obviously.)

x

Newbean

Hello to everybody in this thread and what a wonderful lot you are. I'm new to this so really sorry if i don't get too right!! (bad grammar) I know. I watched DIY SOS and have since read most of the thread. What a beautiful little house and three cheers for all you good peeps who helped Mike(lisa). I was afraid a one time the poor little house was going to fall down but the beeb came to the rescue and did a wonderful job. I know this thread is about Cowboy Builders, but thought you may be able to advise me. I am in the same situation as you Mike in that i am owed money. My ex conned me out of 25,000 and more,although i went to court and won, 6 years down the line i havn't received a penny. As you can probably guess, Yes it was a civil court, he was representing himself,(although he was getting advice from somewhere cos he's not that clever)!! The judge bent over backwards to help him because he didn't have a solicitor. He is self employed as a mini cab driver, you can always hide cash. Plus he never submitted his 'Business Accounts' (as he called them) at court to show how much he earned. After two years and a lot of stress later i had two seperate charges put on his flat. a Flat which he bought with my money as a deposit (salt,wound). I am skint and on ESA so really need this money. But typical in a civil case even if i could afford to take him to court to sell his flat the courts would not make him homeless! I feel i am in a no win situation. It is so unfair especially when he is a lying conman and i'm not the only person he has done it too. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm sooooo fed up!!!!:(

lisawaters

Newbean wrote: »

Hello to everybody in this thread and what a wonderful lot you are. I'm new to this so really sorry if i don't get too right!! (bad grammar) I know. I watched DIY SOS and have since read most of the thread. What a beautiful little house and three cheers for all you good peeps who helped Mike(lisa). I was afraid a one time the poor little house was going to fall down but the beeb came to the rescue and did a wonderful job. I know this thread is about Cowboy Builders, but thought you may be able to advise me. I am in the same situation as you Mike in that i am owed money. My ex conned me out of 25,000 and more,although i went to court and won, 6 years down the line i havn't received a penny. As you can probably guess, Yes it was a civil court, he was representing himself,(although he was getting advice from somewhere cos he's not that clever)!! The judge bent over backwards to help him because he didn't have a solicitor. He is self employed as a mini cab driver, you can always hide cash. Plus he never submitted his 'Business Accounts' (as he called them) at court to show how much he earned. After two years and a lot of stress later i had two seperate charges put on his flat. a Flat which he bought with my money as a deposit (salt,wound). I am skint and on ESA so really need this money. But typical in a civil case even if i could afford to take him to court to sell his flat the courts would not make him homeless! I feel i am in a no win situation. It is so unfair especially when he is a lying conman and i'm not the only person he has done it too. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm sooooo fed up!!!!:(

Welcome!

Some questions that spring to mind...

• Why have you two charges on the flat?
  
• Is he the sole owner?
  
• Are there children living there?
  
• How much equity is in the flat?
  
• I thought you could get court fees reimbursed if you are receiving certain benefits... ESA?
  
• Has he ever agreed a payment plan?
  
• Did he keep to it without missing any payments?
  
• Is he likely to stay with the same employer or is he entirely self employed?
  
• Have you been to the CAB?
  
• Have you had him in for an Order in Questionning?
  
• Can you prove you gave him the money to buy the property? Have you contributed to its upkeep?
  
  • Do any insurance policies (car, contents etc) bank or credit cards, or employment offer you a free legal helpline?
• Were you married? Are you still married to him? Was this included in the financial settlement part of the divorce?

The court could and might order him to sell the property. It happens.

It might be that other forums would be better to ask about this, but I would not think he can get away with it on the basis of what you say. Maybe what would help is a bit of support from the excellent people on here who enjoy a challenge! I'm sure they will even now be strapping on their flashing blue lights and tea & HobNob dispensers and zooming in in formation...!

x