Builder not fulfulling contract

charfield_2

Thanks to everyone for their advice- I do understand that I need to 'sort this out' by doing more in-depth research according to my circumstances, but I wanted to just get a few opinions until I can get to the solicitor/CAB on Monday. 'Every little helps' as some supermarket I forget the name of says! As for the 'English language police' AKA gordian (or whatever it was- I can't be bothered to check) I am sure that paragraphing my text will really show my inadequate builder that I mean business. Thanks loser.

Techhead_2

Well now, this has got unpleasant hasn't it.

devildog

I was told to withhold 20% of total bill until work completed satisfactory(that was advice given to me by solicitor)

Laz123

I know it's in its late stages but I would go for another builder to finish the job. Do not pay this original builder his third and let him sue you; he won't win.

BTW the prat known as gordikin is on my ignore list. I'd advise you to do the same.

charfield_2

As much as I would like to get another builder to finish the job, I really want to make sure that I act within the law just in case it comes back to bite me on the bum (so to speak). I speak from an experience that my parents had. I am hoping, however, that the builder will walk away and allow us to get someone else- but I suspect he won't with this amount of money involved.
We received a response to our letter this morning (was due before by weds last week, so shows how much he is really bothered about all this) which basically says how disappointed he is with us for not talking to him first and having to resort to letters (er, because you are trying to rip us off by at least £3000. The trust is gone, you know) oh, and he hasn't been on-site for 4 weeks!
We are going to meet up on weds to sort this out- I was going to leave the so-called 'extras' aside for the time being, but they are so crucial in explaining how this all started to unravel (the extras are what he is trying to rip us off with- we have had confirmation from 3 professionals on this).
Anyway, how do you ignore someone on here? I'll give that a go!

thanks for your replies!

nzmegs

Have you signed a contract regarding payment? I would say that the most the builder could do, if you walked away at this point, would be to take you to small claims. you would then be able to argue the toss about how much of the job is completed. I doubt they would bother.

it is very common to pay the final 1/3 at the end of the contract and to save 5% of that for snags.(which you may not notice until you have lived with the extension for a few days). Any builder should be able to work out his finances so that the final third of the money is not needed for the last part of the work. it implies that your builder has spent the money required for your build elsewhere.

I suspect you will have to settle at some middle point and ie pay half the money and he walks away.

Laz123

charfield wrote: »

Anyway, how do you ignore someone on here? I'll give that a go!

thanks for your replies!

Click on the username and choose View Pulic Profile, then choose user lists, then choose Add to Ignore List.

charfield_2

thanks you guys!
It is not stipulated either way on the contract about retaining 5% for snags. Am I allowed to do that? 'Our' builder def has a job on elsewhere, hence the lack of urgency for him to finish our house. I suspect you're right- he has spent the money elsewhere to fund his next 'project'. We have signed a contract regarding payment. I don't want to be dishonest or anything, even if he is BUT I do not want to be caught short just in case I do need to pay someone else to finish. I need to ensure that I have enough funds left to do that, which is why I want hold on to my final payment until the work is completely finished. My only concern was the legality of it, just in case he decides to go down the legal route (I doubt this very much, but you never know with some people).
We are meeting thurs morning- I think we'll need to come up with a settlement figure, since some of the poor work he has done will cost to remedy and some of the work we decided not to go ahead with has been hugely underestimated on his 'savings' list (ooo and some work he's way over-charged for too). We have quite a lot of sums to do!