New Driveway Worries

Jeepers_Creepers

GB, take LOTS of photos so you have a record of everything not done correctly.

Also sit down and write a chronological account of the events; brief, factual, un-emotive. Note down the comments made, and also the manner in which they were delivered. Yes, include the 'tax' comments, and the seeming use of a personal bank account.

Just in case this goes pear-shaped at any point.

When it's all done and (literally) dusted, you have the opportunity to post a factual review. Again, that should be succinct, completely factual and un-emotive.

Meanwhile, with any other communications you have with him, don't get sucked or sidelined into any discussions away from the essential facts, and pass it back to him in the form of Qs so he has to address it rather than fob it off; "You have not finished the job, and yet you still expect full payment?!", "You expect the customer to complete your work for you?!", "As a professional, YOU would accept that standard of cement pointing on your driveway?!", "YOU'D be happy to accept having some bricks missing from YOUR drive?".

guitarbloke

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Well done Guitarbloke - Iknow it's not easy in these sorts of situations.

It also goes to show that reviews need to be taken with the requisite amount of reasoned cynicism; the comments I've read about him on Google are all about how the guy couldn't be more helpful/ fully understood my requirements/ excellent quality of work, etc.

I just don't understand how tradesfolk can behave like yours has done. How on earth can he not see how he's coming across?!

Incredible.

He went absolutely mad down the phone at me today because of the part-payment, despite all his paperwork stating payment on completion. 

I took photos of the areas I'm unhappy with today (in addition to the kiln dried sand issue) - I'd be interested to get your thoughts - http://imgur.com/a/KTSha8f  The cementing they did is atrocious - Apparently the guy that did it is new (aren't they always).  Please disregard the horrible green wire fencing - it's to be replaced (although not by this guy because he wanted £2k to do it!).  

They are coming back tomorrow and are promising to fix 'everything' - although I imagine that won't include the sand since the ground is still damp and it's forecast to rain again later.  I wish I knew where I stood with that - no doubt he will demand more money from me after tomorrow because it could theoretically be weeks before we have a few days of clear weather for the drive to dry out.  As it stands I'm holding back £1000 right now, so if he remedies everything else tomorrow I might hold back the final £500 until the sand is done.

victor2

guitarbloke said:

...
They are coming back tomorrow and are promising to fix 'everything' - although I imagine that won't include the sand since the ground is still damp and it's forecast to rain again later.  I wish I knew where I stood with that - no doubt he will demand more money from me after tomorrow because it could theoretically be weeks before we have a few days of clear weather for the drive to dry out.  As it stands I'm holding back £1000 right now, so if he remedies everything else tomorrow I might hold back the final £500 until the sand is done.

If he sorts the other things out and you can both keep relatively calm, use the applying of the sand by you as a goodwill gesture on your behalf. It really isn't difficult to apply. If he's supplied the sand, all you need is a soft broom to thoroughly brush it all over the drive and work it into the cracks.Probably take about 30 minutes at the most on a drive that size.

Jeepers_Creepers

I think a concern, Victor, is that the initial application of the kiln sand should be followed by a 'whacking' in order for it to settle tightly down into the gaps - at least according to guidelines I found online.

If they leave the sanding to GB, he won't be able to do that.

That cementing is atrocious. Are they actually thinking they can sort this? How? If they don't find a way, then they certainly don't deserve full payment anyway - it is simply not a good enough job.

The rest is sort of 'ok' - it'll be fine and look good - but the uneven gaps, misplaced bricks, broken ends - it's all "I really don't give a damn. I have no pride in my work. I'm doing this for a wage, that's all..."

Le_Kirk

guitarbloke said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Well done Guitarbloke - Iknow it's not easy in these sorts of situations............

He was due to send me his bank details last night.  I received a text from an unknown number with no message whatsoever, just a sort code and account number for a personal bank account.  The mobile number isn't the one on his paperwork.  It made me feel a bit uneasy, so I haven't transferred any money yet. 
I've asked him to send me a follow-up message specifically stating that the payment is for SP Developments in relation to the driveway at my address, before I send any money.

Remember that the latest anti-fraud measures instituted by banks (well most of them) require that the payee name should match with that held by the receiving bank under the sort code and account details that you try to pay.  Gone are the days of just transferring to a set of numbers - unless it's a swiss bank account!  Quite right too!

guitarbloke

Jeepers_Creepers said:

I think a concern, Victor, is that the initial application of the kiln sand should be followed by a 'whacking' in order for it to settle tightly down into the gaps - at least according to guidelines I found online.

If they leave the sanding to GB, he won't be able to do that.

That cementing is atrocious. Are they actually thinking they can sort this? How? If they don't find a way, then they certainly don't deserve full payment anyway - it is simply not a good enough job.

The rest is sort of 'ok' - it'll be fine and look good - but the uneven gaps, misplaced bricks, broken ends - it's all "I really don't give a damn. I have no pride in my work. I'm doing this for a wage, that's all..."

Thanks Jeepers,

The guy/owner of the company said he'll be coming in the morning to 'even out the concrete' ...whatever that means.  We shall see!

In all fairness, I'm assuming it's not the easiest of jobs because of those wire fences, but as the experts, I figured that would be something for them to figure out!  He's accepted that the concrete does indeed look bad.

He believes that the broken brick may have happened when he went over it with the whacker yesterday, apparently that sometimes happens, but he assures me he'll sort it out.

Strangely (or not!), his attitude softened tremendously once I transferred the £3k to him earlier!!

I do have a niggling worry that if for any reason I don't make the full payment, (or if I hold some back because the kiln sand won't be done anytime soon) that they'll just turn up and rip the whole driveway up - I think I saw it happen on Rogue Traders once, so it's at the back of my mind!

There's just a lot of little things which are adding up to become quite a headache.  

Thanks for all the support and advice on here so far, it's really appreciated.

guitarbloke

Jeepers_Creepers said:

GB, take LOTS of photos so you have a record of everything not done correctly.

Also sit down and write a chronological account of the events; brief, factual, un-emotive. Note down the comments made, and also the manner in which they were delivered. Yes, include the 'tax' comments, and the seeming use of a personal bank account.

Just in case this goes pear-shaped at any point.

When it's all done and (literally) dusted, you have the opportunity to post a factual review. Again, that should be succinct, completely factual and un-emotive.

Meanwhile, with any other communications you have with him, don't get sucked or sidelined into any discussions away from the essential facts, and pass it back to him in the form of Qs so he has to address it rather than fob it off; "You have not finished the job, and yet you still expect full payment?!", "You expect the customer to complete your work for you?!", "As a professional, YOU would accept that standard of cement pointing on your driveway?!", "YOU'D be happy to accept having some bricks missing from YOUR drive?".

That's a very good point - I'm now backing up any conversations with a follow up message on text/WhatsApp so that there at least some form of written trail showing his responses.  Up until now he's been reluctant to provide anything in writing (I even had to really push the point of asking for the quote in writing).

I took heaps of pictures today and I'll make sure I take more of any remedial work they carry out tomorrow!

doningtonphil

The website looks legit with an 0800 number and a 'local address' - until you realise when looking at google  streetview the address given is a 'Mailboxes etc' office and the 0800 phone number is probably diverted to the mobile in his  back pocket.
That, along with him knocking on the door offering to do your drive while he's in the area, give me the distinct feeling this guy is one of those that drives around in brand new vehicles and leads a 'tax free' existence.

Jeepers_Creepers

guitarbloke said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

I think a concern, Victor, is that the initial application of the kiln sand should be followed by a 'whacking' in order for it to settle tightly down into the gaps - at least according to guidelines I found online.

If they leave the sanding to GB, he won't be able to do that.

That cementing is atrocious. Are they actually thinking they can sort this? How? If they don't find a way, then they certainly don't deserve full payment anyway - it is simply not a good enough job.

The rest is sort of 'ok' - it'll be fine and look good - but the uneven gaps, misplaced bricks, broken ends - it's all "I really don't give a damn. I have no pride in my work. I'm doing this for a wage, that's all..."

Thanks Jeepers,

The guy/owner of the company said he'll be coming in the morning to 'even out the concrete' ...whatever that means.  We shall see!

In all fairness, I'm assuming it's not the easiest of jobs because of those wire fences, but as the experts, I figured that would be something for them to figure out!  He's accepted that the concrete does indeed look bad.

He believes that the broken brick may have happened when he went over it with the whacker yesterday, apparently that sometimes happens, but he assures me he'll sort it out.

Strangely (or not!), his attitude softened tremendously once I transferred the £3k to him earlier!!

I do have a niggling worry that if for any reason I don't make the full payment, (or if I hold some back because the kiln sand won't be done anytime soon) that they'll just turn up and rip the whole driveway up - I think I saw it happen on Rogue Traders once, so it's at the back of my mind!

There's just a lot of little things which are adding up to become quite a headache.  

Thanks for all the support and advice on here so far, it's really appreciated.

That cementing is simply atrocious - end of. It's been done by someone who is either devoid of basic skills or just doesn't give a damn - or both. It would have been easy to have left a neat border, either through skill using a small trowel or by shaping it with a straight edge when the mortar had firmed up a little - and that requires little skill. There is no excuse. I'm a DIYer and would have managed a far superior finish - as would most on here.

No, blocks should not break when laid properly. We've just had an extension built by a local builder who was simply superb. We found him when we walked past his house and he was laying his block pave driveway. This met the road at a very low angle, and I noticed that the last row of blocks before the end decorative ones were sliced at a ridiculous size to suit, with the smallest being something like 10mm tapering to 5mm, literally slivers. It was just immaculate. And not broken...

I don't believe he can legitimately/legally pull up your driveway; you have paid the bulk of the cost so the materials have been more than paid for. The amount you are withholding is perfectly legit.

Which I am beginning to fear does not apply to this gentleman. He has done a lot to suggest he is working off the books. I think some due diligence is required as you move on - the start was ensuring you didn't pay any monies into an account that wasn't connected with the actual company, and thankfully you insisted on a written quotation even tho' he was trying to avoid this.

I wonder if there's anything in what Phil says? Worth trying a bit of investigation, including asking your local Trading Standards officer whether they have him noted as a business in the area. Ask for further advice based on their answer. In fact, ask for further advice anyway - 'what to do if...', scenarios so you are fully prepared and not caught wondering how to react.

Le_Kirk

doningtonphil said:

The website looks legit with an 0800 number and a 'local address' - until you realise the address given is a 'Mailboxes etc' office and the 0800 phone number is probably diverted to the mobile in his  back pocket.
That, along wiht him knocking on the door offering to do your driver while he's in the area, give me the distinct feeling this guy is one of those that drives around in brand new vehicles and leads a 'tax free' existence.

Well, that is easily proven, just call the 0800 number when he is on your drive this morning!  See if his pocket gets a phone call.  Anyway, that only proves he doesn't have office staff and has diverted his phone because he has given them an early break for the upcoming festivities!