Recovering payment from tradesman

Furts

brightontraveller wrote: »

If they are limited company then really your stuffed yes you can take them to court get into arguing the difference between works actually done the sub contractors removing fence etc and what you paid ? Down to what your contract says etc there ? There are procedure writing to company recorded delivery at registered address etc

Even if you win you may still get nowt or pound a week ? Fractionally more you can do if there sole trader have assets etc?

Establish what they are check if they known for it trading standards, google name telephone number etc Are you thinking moral issue/victory or that you wish monies back of both ? Way against the cost/time to do so against chance of successful outcome,,,

I back all this but would add matters are a lost cause. The clue is the mobile phone going "dead". The "contractor" will have a string of mobile phone numbers and names. It is most likely there is no fixed business address, no accounts ever get filed, and they will be part of a similar community working with them, around them and mutually protecting each other.

Historically, I did various contracts for such people but I always got paid. I found them both fascinating and honourable - within their own community. Those outside their community were regarded as outright fools to be fleeced for every penny possible.

Sorry OP but I suspect you are in the later category and do not realise what you are up against.

Keep_pedalling

Was the contractors name Smith by any chance? "Companies" without a landline number requiring payment up front (bet there was no VAT either) are an absolute no no. Any reputable fencing company will charge you on completion.

Drachenfach

Sorry for not coming back to this earlier, I've been in an internet black hole somewhere in Dorset.

I made a report to Action Fraud and have a crime reference number. Also sent Citizens Advice based letter to registered address and his email.

The business is registered at his home address (council property) and he still lives there. Track record appears good, no previous complaints online, no previous companies dissolved etc.

Lloyds are completely uninterested in the matter and did not want to take the crime ref number or indeed any notes at all when I spoke to them in person. I'll try the Fraud team at lunchtime today.

Thanks for the advice. I don't know my chances of getting money back, but they're certainly better if I follow the right procedures, and writing letters and so on is not much of a hardship to me!

Furts

Drachenfach wrote: »

Sorry for not coming back to this earlier, I've been in an internet black hole somewhere in Dorset.

I made a report to Action Fraud and have a crime reference number. Also sent Citizens Advice based letter to registered address and his email.

The business is registered at his home address (council property) and he still lives there. Track record appears good, no previous complaints online, no previous companies dissolved etc.

Lloyds are completely uninterested in the matter and did not want to take the crime ref number or indeed any notes at all when I spoke to them in person. I'll try the Fraud team at lunchtime today.

Thanks for the advice. I don't know my chances of getting money back, but they're certainly better if I follow the right procedures, and writing letters and so on is not much of a hardship to me!

You say the man lives at a Council house. Does he or has he sub-let it? Did he move away in the past but leave this as his registered address? Does the tenant at the house know the man? Is this the same person?

You may be right to continue writing letters, but the fact that the mobile phones keep changing suggests your letters will achieve nothing.

No previous companies dissolved, and all the rest does not instill confidence in me. You are dealing with somebody in the black economy, who at best would be deemed a sole trader. Hence no company accounts have to be filed. As for no bad feedback on line...i wish you well!

Drachenfach

His van is parked on the road and the subcontractor and the person who recommended him say he lives there. I'm not about to knock the door or trace him round town looking for a second home.


I may not get anywhere, but if we all assumed immediately that our money was lost without trace and there was no point following up at all, every single fraudster would get away with it.


There appear to be a number of other tradespeople (sub contractor and his labourers, builders yard) who have been stuffed over by him recently, so he's going to find it hard to set up again with that lot on his tail.


Subcontractor says that a family member is trying to pay off the debts and clear the slate. I'll believe it when I see the colour of their money, meself.

Risteard

Drachenfach wrote: »

he's going to find it hard to set up again with that lot on his tail.

I'm afraid there is any amount of evidence that does not impose much difficulty on starting up again (or phoenixing (rising up from the ashes), as it is known).

keith969

Put it down to experience, and in future don't pay anything until the job is complete and you are happy with it.

Risteard

keith969 wrote: »

in future don't pay anything until the job is complete and you are happy with it.

That's not always realistic. Many will ask for stage payments for jobs as they cannot risk not being paid for an entire job.