MyBuilder / RatedPeople

NewToTheUkAgain

Hi All,

I hope this is the correct section.

I posted a job through RatedPeople website back in Feb as I knew in 4-5 weeks I would be moving out the property and wanted to put it back to original condition for the landlord with some painting and fillings where we had wall mounted TV’s to ensure we fully got our deposit back.

I was contacted by one of their builders who was rated 5 star from 25 reviews, so seems solid. He gave me a quote (£150) which seemed fair enough and asked a deposit for materials, hesitant at first I checked there site in which a deposit is normal and within an hour it’s paid (£50) and he confirms it via text.

Forward to later that night (and this is where I should of ended things) he gives me some story about he’s on a big job right now and hasn’t been paid and if I’m willing to give him another £50, then that’s it job paid and I save myself £50 and get it all done for £100.

So what’s going through my mind here is I’m already £50 in and not really wanting to fall out with the guy over another £50. I would assume he wouldn’t really risk messing up his solid ratings for £100, so I pay it.

Afterward I have a horrible gut feeling so stay in contact via text. The job was meant to be done yesterday and just the night before that he confirmed he was still coming.

So my partner goes to meet him at the house as I’m at work at the agreed time of 09:15, half hour drags out and she calls him and after 5/6 calls he answers half asleep we’ve clearly disturbed him. He makes some excuse his van isn’t working and says that he text the night before (he hadn’t), and said am I meant to be doing your ceilings today? ...... so doesn’t even remember the actual job.

So further to this I quickly google his and just in the last two weeks he has had two bad reviews on MyBuilder for doing the exact same thing. I therefore call him and ask my deposit back or I will be reporting the issue to the police by the end of the day.

Anyway he asks one more chance will be out by 12:00, he promises, even says he will do the job for free. I said if he comes out I don’t want the money I just want the work, it’s not about the money it’s about being messed around so much and left at the last second not fulfilling my duties as a tenant.

Scroll on 1 - 1.5 hour later, a call to my partner he’s not coming and send bank details he will refund £200 for the inconvenience and it will be there by 3pm. I was initially not wanting to give this at all but I have an un used account where the card is locked and give this.

You won’t be surprised by this point to learn that no money came through to me. When questioning him as to where my money is, he has the audacity to start threatening me asking me where I am, asking why I can’t have sympathy for him as the truth is he’s got a broken heart from his relationship breaking down etc....

This guy is dangerous in terms of stealing money and possibly causing himself or someone else harm. I reported this to the police (Action Fraud) and have a crime ref number.

What I find disturbing is I have reported this to both MyBuilder and RatesPeople and yet they still have him listed up. He’s seriously going to hurt someone. Despite the crime ref number, all my sms with him to back up what I’m saying and his other negative reviews. It’s not fair to put a consumer in that position.

Im not fussed about the £100 at all, sure it would be nice to have it back, but put it down to a life experience. I have someone else who’s already done the work last night and was super all round.

I guess what my question here is, do they have a responsibility to protect the customer it’s ethically wrong to keep him listed.

Thanks

Bermonia

You will have to check the t&cs of their website... please keep in mind people can and do make spurious claims at times so it would be reasonable for them to undertake some kind of investigation before taking action, obviously you can also leave a rating as that is what the system is designed for.