Painter/decorator left the place in a state

Jeepers_Creepers

I think the 'grey stuff' is the paint the 'decorator' applied. 

MalMonroe

That's awful and that "painter/decorater" should be ashamed of himself for taking your money for coming in and making a big mess. 

Although I know that you are in a rush and don't want to have anything to do with that person again but here is some advice from Citizens Advice : https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-youre-unhappy-with-building-work

Also from Which : https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-youre-unhappy-with-building-work

I hope you will at least feel able to report him to Trading Standards, even if you don't want to try to get your money back (but couldn't you just try? It's such a lot of money to lose). Any potential customers do need to be told about this person, he's a menace to society! So sorry about what he's done to you in what looks like it is going to be a really lovely home. 

AskAsk

Norman_Castle said:

jimjam83 said:

 We hired a painter/decorator to strip the wallpaper throughout and repaint. He quoted us £3,500 to remove the wallpaper, skim the walls and repaint.

Why would a decorator skim the walls, that's a plasterers job? What's the grey stuff he's covered the walls with? I've tidied up some tatty walls for painting but if a decorator considers them too bad they should leave it to a plasterer or advise papering.

I'm no professional but is spray painting the woodwork in a Victorian house right? Its seems like a lazy bodge to me.

It's not clear what the grey stuff is, some fillers sand easily. If money is tight I'd try a mix of sanding and filling then papering over.

the quote could include skimming even if it was from a decorator as he could outsource that part of the job out to a plasterer, or he himself may be multi skilled.  the problem with this quote is that it is too low, and unfortunately, the OP should have had at least 3 quotes to compare and realise that this is not achievable for 3.5k.  that is too low.

shinytop

OP, we paid a decorator to wallpaper with lining paper and paint our living room.  Mrs S paid him before he had finished and I was working away.  The result of his work was of a similar standard to yours so we took him to small claims court .  We engaged (for nothing; he was a friend) a qualified person to write an assessment and presented it with our evidence; quote, invoice, email exchanges, pictures, etc.  I felt a bit sorry for the guy as he had done no preparation for the case.  The judge tore him to pieces and awarded us all our money back.  The verdict was based on that fact that the end result of the job was far below the quality that would reasonably be expected.    It's worth a shot; it doesn't cost much and is very easy. Quite good fun too actually - think Judge Judy ...

jimjam83

shinytop said:

OP, we paid a decorator to wallpaper with lining paper and paint our living room.  Mrs S paid him before he had finished and I was working away.  The result of his work was of a similar standard to yours so we took him to small claims court .  We engaged (for nothing; he was a friend) a qualified person to write an assessment and presented it with our evidence; quote, invoice, email exchanges, pictures, etc.  I felt a bit sorry for the guy as he had done no preparation for the case.  The judge tore him to pieces and awarded us all our money back.  The verdict was based on that fact that the end result of the job was far below the quality that would reasonably be expected.    It's worth a shot; it doesn't cost much and is very easy. Quite good fun too actually - think Judge Judy ...

This is very interesting......! We reached out to the "decorator" and he's come back saying he now feels bullied. That has flipped a switch in me now. I was gonna let it slide but he can f*&k right off now! 
He has offered to come back "fix-up" but we don't want him anywhere near the house again. We've just had new floors put in throughout and....well, you've seen the mess Would the fact that we won't let him in to fix what he's done count against us in court?!
I should also add that he told me his wife is a solicitor....I'm calling BS on that too. 
It pains me to add this tidbit of info - we paid him cash.

shinytop

jimjam83 said:

shinytop said:

OP, we paid a decorator to wallpaper with lining paper and paint our living room.  Mrs S paid him before he had finished and I was working away.  The result of his work was of a similar standard to yours so we took him to small claims court .  We engaged (for nothing; he was a friend) a qualified person to write an assessment and presented it with our evidence; quote, invoice, email exchanges, pictures, etc.  I felt a bit sorry for the guy as he had done no preparation for the case.  The judge tore him to pieces and awarded us all our money back.  The verdict was based on that fact that the end result of the job was far below the quality that would reasonably be expected.    It's worth a shot; it doesn't cost much and is very easy. Quite good fun too actually - think Judge Judy ...

This is very interesting......! We reached out to the "decorator" and he's come back saying he now feels bullied. That has flipped a switch in me now. I was gonna let it slide but he can f*&k right off now! 
He has offered to come back "fix-up" but we don't want him anywhere near the house again. We've just had new floors put in throughout and....well, you've seen the mess Would the fact that we won't let him in to fix what he's done count against us in court?!
I should also add that he told me his wife is a solicitor....I'm calling BS on that too. 
It pains me to add this tidbit of info - we paid him cash.

OP, it sounds like the same guy I had! He tried to make out he was the victim.  He even said in court that the judge was taking our side, which did not do down well with her.  We never even considered asking him back and he never offered. If he had I would have argued that because the whole job was a complete mess he was not a competent decorator and we therefore did not want him back.  Your job looks like mine in that it can't be fixed up, it would have to all be done again.  The fact that he has offered is already an admission though. 

jimjam83

Hi all, after discussing this with the Citizens Advice Bureau, we've decided to report him to the Trading Standards and they will open a case against him. We've asked him for a full refund of the labour and materials costs so that we can hire a professional to come and fix what he's done. I don't believe he'll oblige. 
We need to initiate the process by sending him a registered letter. The problem is we don't have his address and I cannot find it online. Does anyone have any advice on how to get his address? We have the company name but it is not a PLC so is not registered with Comapnies House. Will keep you all updated!

Jeepers_Creepers

If Trading Standards are opening a case against him, they should be able to find this? Or ask on your local Facebook page (but don't mention why - for the moment at least...)