Is this builder's behaviour alarming?

toja

I have been looking to do various repairs around my house – 3 separate jobs (paving; pointing and painting bricks; installing utility) – total price around 6k.
I got several quotations separately for each job. Then a credible man from a credible window company recommended this builder who can do everything at once. He provided a reasonable price by email. He boasted a bit that when he does the job, my neighbours will be coming to ask references. He gave me several addresses to check out his work (all external and seen from outside), plus name of the owner of one of them so I actually rang the bell and ask about his work – she seems to be pleased and she trusted to leave him working alone.

His last visit was one week ago; he brought some bricks to choose from. Then where I got my suspicions. I asked how do we arrange payment. He said 5-10% before starting work. We agreed that he will start work in 4 weeks time. Then wen agreed on £750 (a bit more than 10%) and he said “you can pay now by cash or write a cheque”. I said I don’t have cash now and I am no good at using cheque – if he gives me his bank details, I can pay by bank transfer. He said that “oh that’s even better” but he does not have his bank details with him and he does not want to send it by text or email, so he will write it down and drop through my post box. One week past, he has not come back yet. I don’t want to chase I as am not keen on paying upfront.

There is a company registered in his name, but the address he provided in email was different from the registered address.

Some things strike me:
1) He came with an expensive car (not a building van), just wondering won’t people carry their bank cards with them?
2) Two times he came with his wife/partner (which he did not introduce) but she did a lot of technical talking.

If it was not for those references, I would think it is a scam, but perhaps I am being paranoid?

dandelionclock30

Dont pay him anything, your being scammed.
Get someone elce to do it who is a proper reputable person and registered and pay only on completion.I've never paid anything upfront and never would.

poet123

Not necessarily a scam at all. He may have a business account and only carry personal account details. Some builders do expect an upfront payment for materials. If he is just giving a quote it is not unusual to call in a car rather than a van. Maybe his partner knows what she is talking about too? I work in a college and we do have women on construction courses!

Of course, if you are wary you may have good reason. but the above detail is not necessarily indicative of a scam.

I would have thought if it was a scam his details would have been through your door pronto, he would strike whilst the iron was hot so to speak.

Doozergirl

Which bit do you think is dodgy?

Mu husband would bring his wife a couple of times and she would do some technical talking! Fact is, my husband, like a lot of builders, likes building. He does not like pricing quotes, invoicing, filing, emailing or chasing payments. He constantly uses my bankcard because he loses or breaks his own and would have no idea what our account details are. He would also work for free, given any opportunity. :mad:

My car is much nicer than his truck and cheaper to run. He often goes out to quote in it.

Registered offces are often the company's accountants - especially if the person is not an 'admin' type.

So, he sounds a bit like a typical builder. If you want more references, ask him for three telephone numbers, or knock on a couple of those doors.

We only ak for deposits on bespoke ordered items, but many builders do charge a deposit up front.

I would expect an invoice at least, there is a deposit due so the invoice should be produced before you make first payment. Maybe he needs to get his wife to produce it for you! If she is in the business full time, I might expect things to be a little more organised, but a lot of women who have husbands in the trades have their own jobs, kids to look after and his company books without having the time or energy to chase him to tell her who needs invoicing etc.

Marmaduke123

We have paid in the past for materials before the job has been completed (once they have been delivered) as cash flow can be a problem for small businesses. However I would want to see the invoice to be certain what they actually cost, and I wouldn't just pay an arbitrary amount in advance.

If its a scam he's a poor scammer as he hasn't come back with his bank details. I'm wondering if he's illiterate?

toja

I guess it worries me as he did not want to send his bank details by text or email for safety reasons.
I thought perhaps if he said the bank transfer is even better, but then did not show up, maybe he just wanted to cash in via cash or cheque as the bank details would give him out? So he dissapeared? (or he is just being busy)

Doozergirl

If someone was scamming you, they'd be a little more forthright about asking for money! Scammers don't play special mind games where they ignore you so you pay by cash or cheque. What's the difference in paying by cheque or bank transfer in security terms anyway?

He does sound like he's financially illiterate, at least. It's far from unusual in the trades.

trailingspouse

But the bottom line is - if you don't want to use him, you don't have to. It sounds to me that there was something about him that you didn't like, and you are trying to pin it down to something more concrete.

Get more quotes, and forget about him.

toja

Well, I have a trouble for finding builders for these works separately, so I feel he would be a good option. I probably thought it was safe to give bank account details over the email or phone. He probably though I am oversuspicious. I did ask him "what if you take the upfront deposit now and run away" and he said "Listen I did big job for this person that I knocked on the door and for her neighbours, everyone's happy". So perhaps he got offended that I did not trust him and run away?
Oh dear. What am I going to do?

Doozergirl

Post the job as a whole on the federation of master builders 'findabuilder' site?

At least the people on there have been checked by someone.

It's probably better as one job anyway. Cheaper for you, more lucrative for a builder.

[Deleted User]

trailingspouse wrote: »

But the bottom line is - if you don't want to use him, you don't have to. It sounds to me that there was something about him that you didn't like, and you are trying to pin it down to something more concrete.

Get more quotes, and forget about him.

Agreed - you wouldn't be making this thread (obviously) if you trusted the guy.

Go with your instincts, take your time and use someone that you are 100% happy with.