Upset builder

Deladuro

DebtHater wrote: »

Why did you contact the other builders? Seems pointless to me, and its just asking for an argument.

Maybe I am naive - but I really did feel I owed it to the unsuccessful bidders to know at the earliest opportunity that I would not be requiring their services. Not least because of the time and effort they had put in reviewing plans, visiting the site and preparing estimates.
It just seems the decent thing to do.

RuthnJasper

Deladuro wrote: »

Maybe I am naive - but I really did feel I owed it to the unsuccessful bidders to know at the earliest opportunity that I would not be requiring their services. Not least because of the time and effort they had put in reviewing plans, visiting the site and preparing estimates.
It just seems the decent thing to do.

I agree that it is a decent thing to do. Mr. B. behaved in an extremely rude and unprofessional manner - something I'd be inclined to remember if I needed any future building work...!

Good luck with the house and the baby! xx

thistledome

Deladuro, I agree it's the decent thing to do. My partner isn't a builder but he does spend a lot of time going out and giving quotes, which costs us money. We appreciate it when people take the time to let us know either way, you're not the only person who thinks it's polite to do this.

I wouldn't worry about this too much, the builder will soon get over it. Times are hard right now for everybody and work is hard to come by, he's just let his frustration show - not a very good move, but as somebody else pointed out already, builders aren't known for their PR skills. You don't owe him anything. I'd be tempted to just let it lie now and it will quickly be forgotten.

SplanK

Probably just blowing off a bit of steam... I would ignore him and see what comes through the post.... if he does indeed send something, take a look at what he is trying to bill for and post back here BEFORE doing anything else

nickj_2

it is always nice to hear from people who i've quoted work for telling me that my services are not required ,it's part and parcel of being in the building trade , you're not going to and don't expect to get every job you price for , but as most of my customers are either people i know or recommendations this doesn't happen very often ,
some of my customers sit on quotes for ages and then a bout 6 months later ring up asking if they can have the work done straight away so to know one way or the other is just a matter of curtesy . i personally would use mr b again

DVardysShadow

It makes perfect sense to contact unsuccessful bidders. If you have called in the right people, you should have more than 1 acceptable quote form people who you have confidence in. So, you may want to call them back in the future for other work. Decent tradesmen understand this and will view such a call as an opportunity to maintain themselves in your memory. Unfortunately for Mr B, he will be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Deladuro

Well, it took a wee while, but the bill came in this morning from Mr.B.

He is asking for £100 'Consultancy Fee' for advising on the conservatory.

What should I do?

I don't really want to get involved in any unpleasant legal wranglings.

Sambucus_Nigra

Do you feel that he earned £100 overall; with the additional work that he did for you? Or do you feel he is taking the p?

buglawton

Scotland is surely a stark contrast to here in the Thames Valley. Here, any half decent builder has a waiting list of 6 months. The Olympics are probably making things worse. 80% of all tradesment called will not turn up to quote even! And if a tradesman loses a quote, they are almost happy to have taken the pressure of themselves. Our kitchen was fitted by an excellent team that commuted in daily from Wales!

jc808

tell him to go poke it