What would you do? Decorators hidden charges...

samantha241

Hi

Should I knock money off for the following:

1) Completing the work in about 6 weeks instead of 10 days (and 7 different decorators!!)?

2) Receipts for paint but no visible tins only the ones I bought.

3) Receipts for dust sheets?? I thought all decorators provided these?

3) Radiator damage - person left the radiator outside, I told them to put it inside, it has got wet and insides are all rusted, they say this is fine and it will work fine also. Is this true?

I was given a labour only charge and I would have to buy materials, which I have but says there were other things required and they were needed. I do understand most of these things, as I have the remnants.

Or, should I just pay up and shut up? They are a lot bigger than me!!

Thanks
Sam

samantha241

1) Although I didn't have days off, I had a lot of hassle of whether he would turn up on certian days and also the disruption of being shut in my bedroom every evening/weekend as the whole of downstairs was being decorated (and the stairs too so a lot of interruption at weekends while trying to sleep) Also I had to arrange for keys to be left with neighbours etc...he dissapeared for over a week saying he was going away for the weekend!

2)I was here first thing in the morning and at least for 2 hours each day before they left, he asked me to provide more paper, glue, dust sheets etc...but never any paint, so I was surprised when he said he had to buy more paint, I gave him 40 litres for a large living room, stairs and hallway and a small study. Now, there is about 20 litres left, my tins are open but hardly used?? But I never saw his ones. I can't take my ones back now, either.

3)I thought the dust sheets thing was a con, so he can use them for his other jobs, I did mention that other decorators I've used usually provide their own and he seemed annoyed and kept insisting he'll buy them but for me to pay for them - I have yet to see the dust sheets receipts. Also I bought a massive pack of them, as requested at the start of the job!

4) Yes, the radiator has been out in the rain - its leaking rust in the inside but its the outside of the zig zaggy bit, so when you peer on top of it, as you do when you come in from the cold, you can see all the yellow marks.

Oh no, I wouldn't knock off money without discussing it, I have mentioned the radiator though and he has just ignored me and said he'll be back to put it back on the wall another time, as he has lost parts of it.

He's also broken two curtain rails too!!

Lets see what happens...will keep you posted!

Yes!! I'm not recommending him to anyone!!

misgrace

Please please say that you still owe him money, cause if you have paid him up there you will have a poor chance of getting any money back of him.

You have every right to see any receipts for dust sheets, and what sort of decorator is he if he doesnt provide any sheet :mad:
And you should see receipts for the extra paint he bought so he says.

I dont know your measurements, but if you have had it all painted the same colour, magnolia for example, then it should have been between 15-20 lts paint used, and I would go as far to say nearer the 15, if it was a good quality paint.

Have you got any estimates in writing?, and have you got any details of him, ie his full name, address and tel number.?

A neighbour of mine has just been stitched up by an exterior painter, Part of it is her own fault, as I pointed out things to her, and told her not to pay the full amount till everything was completed.
But no, cause he 'seemed nice and genuine' she has only gone and paid up, then realised that the things I pointed out to her havent been done, he has now turned nasty, she asked him for a receipt/bill, and he came out with waffle that he doesnt give receipts cause he is not VAT registered etc.

I told her its a load of ****, as I am not VAT registered but I still give bills etc, I then said to sort of blackmail him as the chances are he is a hookey decorator, claiming, and working on the side and not paying taxes.

I dont know if she has confronted him over this as I havent seen her for a few days, but I dont think she will.

You can contact the trading standards people, or make a phone call to the tax office, or even the DSS, as these people cant be allowed to get away with ripping people off.

It makes me so angry :mad: that these cowboys spoil it for the genuine decorators, I get so embarressed at times, knowing that I am in the profession, and I am geniune, and yet these parasites take the pi55.

Please keep us informed, and dont let him get away with it.

samantha241

1) Good News - I still owe him money, but only just! I have kept about 20%. I am happy with the end result as a whole but the little things have let him down. He said I had to pay him everything as he needed the money, well he scarpered for a week and then I guess he never needed it!!

2) Dust sheets and oh I supplied all rubbish bags too!! He asked me for them at the start and I took a couple from a cupboard and he just helped himself...oh and he used my own vacuum cleaner a brand new Dyson, when I asked him not to! It will take ages to clean that out. He has used my new dustpan and brush and long handled sweeper and that is ready for the bin also!

3) Paint - yes all was painted in white Dulux as topcoat (20 litres) and an undercoat of Trade Matt (20 litres).

4) Bad news - I only have the dates I paid him and a signature scrawled next to the dates. He never gave the estimate in writing. I know where he lives though - he was a neighbour in my old block of flats, I helped him out when his car window was smashed!!

I feel sorry for your friend, there are too many cowboys out there!! I will let you know what happens...there are genuine people out there too, like us and we should be on guard next time...thanks to MSE!!