Rogue builder

aigvic

We contracted a builder to build our new extension through his ltd company. We paid him £28000.00, out of which £20500.00 was in cash. However, he abandoned the project after a few months. We went to an Association of Master Builders(FMB)'s appointed adjudication and the adjudicator decided that he should refund us just under £6000.00 cash. However, he has failed to refund the money and his membership of the FMB has been cancelled for this reason.

We also found out that he has registered a new company a few days ago to start trading with, which means he won't pay back the money and would not care about what eventually happens to the first company. He had said during a conversation that he'll just liquidate the company if we pursue him legally anyway.

Yesterday we received a letter from an insolvency company to say they've been appointed as liquidator to the first company. Naturally the company has no assets.

Is there anything we can legally do to make him personally liable as a director of the first company, so maybe we can get a refund our money from him? Our house is still uncompleted and we cannot afford huge legal bills to add to the money we've already lost. Regards.

somethingcorporate

Go and see a solicitor for a free 30 minute session. If he has liquidated the company there is likely nothing you can do.

Paying upfront to builders is a sure fire way of getting ripped-off.

justjohn

Your pushing it.....i would much rather deal with a sole trader rather than a company.(well a sole trader that i know has assets LoL)

Companies can just fold and start up again. Oh and BTW they prob have assets but too much hassle for insolvency company to sell.

Never give cash until works done. Never pay upfront. Your not a bank. They need dosh upfront then thats there prob.

Building trade is full of dodgy people, cowboys and guys making high profit. (popcorn)

Best bet is talk too the insolvency company you may be able to get him banned as a director. However thats useless as he will just use a wife/friend or anyone else he can get to be the director

markelock

personally I would just hound him. follow his actions, make sure he's not telling anyone he's a member of the FMB. Keep them informed also, so they never re-register him.

It would be good if you could hold him liable and get him banned as a director, the system just seems wrong here. really wrong.

I honestly don't know how they sleep at night. Something went wrong in their childhood...