Howden's family and friends scam

IKS

Thanks silver surfer they have left the kitchen units but not the washer all fitting incomplete. Just noticed the left one leg off a unit.

Anyone know of a decent surveyor to value the work so far?

Doozergirl

I don't think it's worth the cost of a surveyor. Photograph it as it is. When you go to small claims, make sure that the next person breaks down what is left to do and ensure your photos demonstrate it.

Send the letter that I suggested at the beginning and send it by email too. Add that he has stated that he will not be returning. You need to keep to that 14 days to allow them to finish if they haven't put in writing that they have walked off, but anyone worth their salt is not going to available in the next 2 weeks.

Then ask someone to quote on the rest. Is it mainly just carpentry now?

When people are unreasonable, phoning them constantly just makes them more so. They'll start to blame you. I'd have left it to Monday, but I understand your agreement was Sunday.

Can we see the emailed contract you have at the moment?

Doozergirl

JEN22 wrote: »

Id get a solicitor lined up. Also these rated sites aren't worth the paper they are written on


always go by word of mouth reccommendations

They don't need a solicitor. The cost will outweigh the gain. The OP has £1000 in the pot which should get them some way given the size of the kitchen.

It's a great luxury to have recommendations, but many people don't. These sites have some worth to those people as long as people do their due diligence. It is essential to check references.

Furts

Doozergirl wrote: »

They don't need a solicitor. The cost will outweigh the gain. The OP has £1000 in the pot which should get them some way given the size of the kitchen.

It's a great luxury to have recommendations, but many people don't. These sites have some worth to those people as long as people do their due diligence. It is essential to check references.

I go with this. If OP finds a local carpenter, typically on recommendation, or through a local/parish magazine, or church, or WI or whatever social groups exist, a lot of work could be done for £1000 to sort out the kitchen. Depends on location but say 4-5 days work.

IKS

Jobs left to complete:
electrics fitting.
Tiling floor and splash back.
Fit the door frame on entrance.
Fit the kitchen.
Move and put in new plumbing.
Paint the kitchen.
Install electric cooker and fan.

Annie1960

IKS wrote: »

Thanks jen22.

Update: have just received a call from the builder saying stop calling my brother and the work thats been done so far equates to what I paid. I said that he agreed to complete the job and all the jobs stated in the contract are incomplete. He then states he thought I was rude which is not accurate at all and started to create situations which did not happen. Anyway the outcome was he stated in a round about way the contract signed is not worth nothing and he will not be completing the job, if i apologise and take liability for the situation he'll maybe think about it and stop calling his brother and head office of howdens and put the phone down.

Clearly he is dishonest, creating situations which did not happen/occur, was quite argumentative, I only ever spoke to him when he was doing something that was not in the works of our contract such as disposing of building waste on my property and he continued to refuse to listen to a word I had to say.

sounds nasty. think about local press. stories about cowboy builders are usually popular , and it will warn others not to use them.

IKS

Doozer girl I can send you the contract private email?

IKS

Yes Annie1960 I am thinking about press, but still gathering everything together and reviewing options. Slight state of shock as something like this has never happened to me before but you live and you learn so the more advice I get the better. Wished I'd done this before taking on these builders! Just trusted then and they turned out to be extremely dishonest.

IKS

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

littlerock

Well if he is running his scam out of Howdens using his work email address he should he easy enough to trace, unless that is a fake? Also as I understand it, Howdens deal with the trade, so he will have ordered the kitchen for you? In which case he must have an account with them or his brother must.

You definitely need to tell Howdens head office.

Did they just sneak in and take away their tools and how did they know where the contract was? Do you have a copy of the original on your PC?