Labourer has disappeared with my £550

deaston

We were recommended a local landscaper who would build us a rockery/water feature. He turned up, dug a large hole, left a lot of mess and then said he needed £550 for materials which I duly handed over.

He has since disappeared. We've been in touch over email and I've heard every excuse going (his father died, his van was out of service etc.) but he's not been out our house for nearly three months. I suspect we'll never see him again.

He's done a total of two days work (at £160 per day). Do I need to pay him for those?

DCFC79

I wouldn't pay him for them 2 days work but that's me, I'd wait for other posters who may know more.

marlot

Don't pay him any more!

Let him sue you if he wants to get it.

irishjohn

Has he actually bought £550 worth of materials and left them at your home? If not then I would say you have already paid him £275 a day for each day of work

coffeehound

So basically you're £130 down? Could be worse.

deaston

coffeehound wrote: »

So basically you're £130 down? Could be worse.

I'm £550 down. And have a pile of rubble and a big hole to sort out.

We've not seen any of the materials he needed, but I'm just wondering, if I managed to get the £550 back, do I need to also pay him for his two days work? Or can I argue he hasn't completed the work in an acceptable timeframe?

deaston

In fact, do I still have to accept the materials if he suddenly decides to deliver them?

boo_star

deaston wrote: »

I'm £550 down. And have a pile of rubble and a big hole to sort out.

We've not seen any of the materials he needed, but I'm just wondering, if I managed to get the £550 back, do I need to also pay him for his two days work? Or can I argue he hasn't completed the work in an acceptable timeframe?

He needs paying for the work he's done, even if it's only part of the job.

photome

deaston wrote: »

I'm £550 down. And have a pile of rubble and a big hole to sort out.

We've not seen any of the materials he needed, but I'm just wondering, if I managed to get the £550 back, do I need to also pay him for his two days work? Or can I argue he hasn't completed the work in an acceptable timeframe?

If you take the £320 you owe him for 2 days work off the £550 , you are £230 down and I suspect you will never see him again

Geoff1963

We were recommended

I'd be following this lead :
Was this a friend / relative ?
Can they contact the builder ?
Are they still recommending him ?

If I'd paid for new heart, and the surgeon left me on the operating table with half my chest hanging out, I wouldn't pay them for the work.

KeithP

Geoff1963 wrote: »

If I'd paid for new heart, and the surgeon left me on the operating table with half my chest hanging out, I wouldn't pay them for the work.

That really is a strange comparison.