how to find a good kitchen fitter on a low budget

keystone

bodmil wrote: »

How would a trial work? He anticipates it being 4 days work, I don't fancy him ripping out my kitchen and then either of us deciding that not to go ahead! At present he wants 50% on the day he starts work (I plan to do this at the end of the first day...)

A trial won't do you any good watsoever. Poster that recommended that had his kitchen on day rate. Your circumstances are totally different. 50% is a lot of commitment on your behalf but then again 50% of £200 won't go very far but 50% of £8k is a big risk A first payment (thats contractual so call it that) is an element of trust building on both sides. Don't call it a deposit - thats non-contractual. If its only 4 days work then nit realkly should be payment on completion.

I have a few phone numbers for previous customers but I'm not sure I would go to the extent of visiting other people's homes to inspect the work, is that usual?

Well I'd certainly ring them up. And why not go and have a look if its close by and they are happy for you to do so. Has he shown you a picture portfolio of the ones he has given as references? You could also take the opportunity to discuss with them payment arrangements that worked for them with him.

Cheers

bodmil

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nickj_2

Furts wrote: »

Hi Bodmil
Have you checked with his previous customers? Have you personally inspected the quality of the work and made sure it was done by him?

I know of one contractor who put forward names of satisfied customers - it was a scam, they were on a back hander from the contractor.

Basically, be streetwise. I mentioned I trialled my fitter for a day, but you could visit his home - does it look like a tip?, does it look like he has a pride in his home/workmanship. Even his van, his appearance...the list goes on

i would imagine if you judged tradesmen by their own house then you wouldn't use anybody , i'm sure most have a bit of skirting that they didn't get round to fitting , the radiator that's sitting in the hallway waitin to go on a wall, the front door that's been undercoated and is waiting for a coat of gloss . etc , i'm sure most tradesmen know the score , the last thing you want to do when you get home , is to start doing what you've been doing for a living all day .
if someone's got time to do their own house then maybe they aren't that busy becoz they are no good

Furts

nickj wrote: »

i would imagine if you judged tradesmen by their own house then you wouldn't use anybody , i'm sure most have a bit of skirting that they didn't get round to fitting , the radiator that's sitting in the hallway waitin to go on a wall, the front door that's been undercoated and is waiting for a coat of gloss . etc , i'm sure most tradesmen know the score , the last thing you want to do when you get home , is to start doing what you've been doing for a living all day .
if someone's got time to do their own house then maybe they aren't that busy becoz they are no good

I did not say go inside their house... I know the reality...but if the outside looks like a tip...

bodmil

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keystone

bodmil wrote: »

But where does that leave me?

Sl;ightly in the soft and smelly stuff. Are you sure that this sparky hasn't been near your house?

I've now found an electrican through a family friend who's got a lot to lose if he is anything less than reliable so I'm confident that any work or testing that needs to be re-done can be,

You'd best get an Electrical Installation Condition Report done on the whole lot. That will tell you what needs doing, if anything, to have a safe installation. Your friend of a friend won't be able to give you any Edn 17 paperwork as he didn't do the work and an EIC is the next best thing. Your Part P Certificate has long vanished into the ether because your contractor won't have notified it because he can't. Once your friend of a friend has done the EICR he will be able to tell you what needs doing and give you a price.

I don't expect to get anything out of the fitter now. I could take a long lunch and pop into the CAB place in the week to see what my rights are regarding a potential refund but is this likely?

He's broken the law from what you have said. CAB will advise TS which you can get into contact with via a part of CAB called Community Legal Services. Its easier to ring than pop in. In the firstbplace though I would suggest a signed4 letter to the offending fellow threatening Trading Standards and a Claim in the County Court against him, requesting his proposals to reimburse you for the money you paid him to do an incomplete job and subsequent costs including costs of rectification. If he doesn't respond to that then contact TS via the route above and issue a Letter Before Action (also signed4) laying out the details of your claim. He has 28 days to respond to that then you can do it via Moneyclaim online without further notice. Just the threat of TS should make him behave.

:mad: Really not doing well at this home-ownership stuff!

LoL. We all have to start somewhere and never ever stop learning.

Cheers

bodmil

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keystone

Trading Standards.

Cheers

bodmil

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