Is my builder a rouge / cowboy builder?

crazyvish

Hi,

I am a first time buyer and I wanted to get my w/c redone into a shower room. As I have no one to recommend me a builder, I chose to go online. I posted my work on myjobquote.com website and I received 3 quotes. I opted the one which was at a reasonable cost and who promised in completing the work within 4 days. This was on 11th Feb 2019. It was to fit Shower tray, shower screen, electric shower, wall tiles, floor tiles, sink, toilet and electric radiator.

He wanted me to pay him upfront for all of the material so he can order them all in time to complete the work. This amounted for about 65% of the total quote. I paid him as it is going towards the material and that it is not going to waste. He came in one day, stripped the toilet off and asked me to pay some labour money. He later came, did some pipe work and claimed more labour money. This way, he took 90% of the money before I realized what he was doing. I then told him that I do not want to pay him until the work is 100% complete.

Its been over 8 weeks now and he had only completed 20% of the work so far. He makes false promises of coming and doing the work but keeps postponing when the day comes. He is in touch but at times asks me not to message him nor call him as he is busy with something!

I have learnt a lesson not to pay a builder upfront but rather to pay in stages! I spoke to Citizen Advice Bureau who suggested I write to him giving him a deadline. If the date is past and the work is not complete, its a breach of contract and that I can get the work done with someone else and get the rogue builder to pay for it through legal procedures.

Can someone please advice me on how I can proceed with this? Can you point me to any sample letters or some sort of law/act that I mention in the letter? Thanks.

Risteard

You've brought this on yourself. It was the cheapest quote and quickest finishing time with no question as to why. Also using some silly quote site.

missile

Not all builders are cowboys. Unfortunately there are many who are.
I hope you have his quotation in writing? Has he delivered the materials? Stripping out the toilet then demanding more money, certainly seems like a cowboy.

If he is then he will likely ignore letters. In any event, do you really want him completing this job?

I would suggest you take him to court to recover your losses. https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

crazyvish

missile wrote: »

I hope you have his quotation in writing? Has he delivered the materials?
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Thanks for your response.

The builder has a company registered, he emailed me the initial quote and invoice. He also forwarded me a copy of his insurance certificate, which of course only he can make a claim out of it, in the event of any damages.

Only material he had bought so far is some pipes & valves which he fitted so far.

Are you suggesting me to go to the court straight away before writing to him? If I write to him, I think he would either ignore my letter or acknowledge and tell me over the phone that he doesn't care. But I thought it would be better to write him a warning letter before employing someone. I was thinking of giving him a chance to either complete the work or at least bring my material before a given date. As far as I am aware, he has been doing other petty jobs in the meantime.

crazyvish

Risteard wrote: »

You've brought this on yourself. It was the cheapest quote and quickest finishing time with no question as to why. Also using some silly quote site.

I admit and I repent now. I am here to see if anyone could provide me with an advice on how to get out of this with minimal loss .

Mr.Generous

To supply and fit a Shower tray, shower screen, electric shower, wall tiles, floor tiles, sink, toilet and electric radiator I would suggest the labour would be more like 70% of the cost at least. Unless your buying very expensive tiles they cost far more to fit than to purchase. What was the overall quote for the work?

Doozergirl

What the CAB told you is correct. I would have thought if there were any templates, they'd have produced them.

Title your letter "letter before action"

Use bullet points to describe the timeline of what has happened and enclose the quote.

State that he has failed to work regularly and diligently on your project and that 8 weeks is unreasonable, given the original timescale of 4 days.

Give him 14 days to complete the work, at which time you will employ someone else to do the work and seek appropriate recompense from him through the court system. You will not be providing another warning.

Hoof_Hearted

Most reputable builders have accounts with suppliers and don't need money for materials up front.

Risteard

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Most reputable builders have accounts with suppliers and don't need money for materials up front.

Having an account doesn't help when people mess you about with payment, though, so your point is rather silly. Many may well require money upfront.

Silvertabby

Asking for payment for materials up front, with payment for labour after completion wouldn't ring any alarm bells with me - but a quote (or estimate) based on 65% materials /35% labour would. That's far too cheap. And the bells would have been clanging very loudly as soon as he demanded payment for labour when he had barely started the job.

4 days for a complete strip and refit including wall and floor tiles? No way, unless he's the bionic man with 6 arms.

missile

crazyvish wrote: »

Thanks for your response.

The builder has a company registered, he emailed me the initial quote and invoice. He also forwarded me a copy of his insurance certificate, which of course only he can make a claim out of it, in the event of any damages.

Only material he had bought so far is some pipes & valves which he fitted so far.

Are you suggesting me to go to the court straight away before writing to him? If I write to him, I think he would either ignore my letter or acknowledge and tell me over the phone that he doesn't care. But I thought it would be better to write him a warning letter before employing someone. I was thinking of giving him a chance to either complete the work or at least bring my material before a given date. As far as I am aware, he has been doing other petty jobs in the meantime.

Of course you ought to write and demand he completes the job in a timely manner per his original quotation. I am surprised you have not already done this. Has he left you for 8 weeks without a toilet?

I am suggesting you have wasted enough time and he is unlikely to respond to letters. You would be foolish to employ another builder before you go to court. It is not difficult or expensive.