Cowboy Builder

fezster

OP has been naive at best. Benefit of the doubt, I admit.

It's easy to forget when one is well versed with what is entailed in building work and dealing with tradesmen, that everyone else is or should be just as clued up. It simply isn't the case. When a tradesmen says "i'll have to pay VAT if you don't pay cash", average joe public who has no idea about the tax system isn't thinking "I can save some money if he commits VAT fraud". Yes, it's obvious, but it's only obvious if you know (or even care). IME, average joe does not. And for those implying OP has broken the law - they are showing their own naivety. The tax system puts the burden of paying the right taxes on the tradesman in this instance. It is not (nor should it be) OPs job to ensure the right taxes are paid by someone they employ.

As far as saying that OP is "flipping properties" and "knew what they were doing" - you're doing yourself a disservice Doozergirl and are better than this. I get it - you're in the building trade, and take exception to the use of the term "Cowboy builder". But making up fantastical stories to try and explain your position is beneath you. Perhaps you are right - who knows? At the moment, you're just coming across as someone with a vested interest in trying to prove you are right. I'm sure that's not the case, but it's coming across like that.

OP hasn't responded (nor will they it seems). We'll never know the full story here. So just leave it be.

frogglet

The moral of this story is don't involve friends and money. 

williamgriffin

fezster said:

OP has been naive at best. Benefit of the doubt, I admit.

It's easy to forget when one is well versed with what is entailed in building work and dealing with tradesmen, that everyone else is or should be just as clued up. It simply isn't the case. When a tradesmen says "i'll have to pay VAT if you don't pay cash", average joe public who has no idea about the tax system isn't thinking "I can save some money if he commits VAT fraud". Yes, it's obvious, but it's only obvious if you know (or even care). IME, average joe does not. And for those implying OP has broken the law - they are showing their own naivety. The tax system puts the burden of paying the right taxes on the tradesman in this instance. It is not (nor should it be) OPs job to ensure the right taxes are paid by someone they employ.

As far as saying that OP is "flipping properties" and "knew what they were doing" - you're doing yourself a disservice Doozergirl and are better than this. I get it - you're in the building trade, and take exception to the use of the term "Cowboy builder". But making up fantastical stories to try and explain your position is beneath you. Perhaps you are right - who knows? At the moment, you're just coming across as someone with a vested interest in trying to prove you are right. I'm sure that's not the case, but it's coming across like that.

OP hasn't responded (nor will they it seems). We'll never know the full story here. So just leave it be.

When a tradesman wants cash to avoid paying vat it's quite clear what's going on.

Doozergirl

@fezter, the OP broke the law by not obtaining Building Control Approval.  It is the homeowner's responsibility, not the builder's. 

I don't think it is fantastical, there are gaping holes in the story that aren't filled at all by the story of a naive homeowner.  That is a fact.  I've said what I think it reads like; whatever happened, it was completely enabled.  

xxAndiexx

Very briefly.

Since September 2023, I have had workmen here.

This was to add a single storey extension 8mx4m, with 2 metres added to 2 small bedrooms. I was able to do this following mums death.

The house is a mess, the garden is a mess as I was promised that this would be completed by December 23rd 2023. 

The posing architect who is actually a draughtsman, made a huge error to the measurements which meant that a new application had to go into the council, steels had to be moved. This caused a delay but was rectified. New applications into the council brought the  builders back on january 8th and I'm still with an empty build. They have taken all the money and refuse to speak to me. 

They have had other building work and many a time, dashing off to others, leaving me hanging.

The boss was apparently robbed of multiple thousands by a man named Mo and then, this  whole thing turned gloomy. Things were changing. 

The full amount was 75000. This had to be paid in 3 installments. One at the beginning, one half way through and one at the end. Instead, it was paid differently as I was threatened by an employee call Adam. He said, if I didn't pay, then this would not be finished and they'd walk away."It would not commence".

The first monies were paid by transferring into Mr Jones personal bank account. My bank then said that they were not paying it any more into the personal account and I'd have to pay cash.  The last installments were cash payments of 5000, 7500, 7500, 5000.

I could see the work dragging out and taking forever so I decided to ask Mr jones about his robbery and what's going on. With that, he SCREAMED in my face, "What does it take to get you out of my !!!!!! face?!" I was mortified but I did shout back, "Its not my fault that you've been robbed and this is taking forever. I had been  asking for an action plan/schedule as they had no timetable for me. This is still not given. They have made up lies about  me, even sourcing out family members on facebook to ring, in their place of work asking about me.

They have accused me of calling one of their men a paedophile which is a lie. The man came to see me and said its all a lie.   I sent a message from my phone which said, robbing your own is like  a paedophile taking a  child's innocence, it's sick and should never be done.

Since then, things have gone from bad to worse. I have been threatened, I have been told I'm being arrested.

I had a man attend my home with the builder. He told the lads to collect their tools and jib the f***ing job.

He said that the lads don't work in this environment. I told him that the builder had been paid in full and I needed it complete. He then said, "what youve paid is not enough" and that this build was underpriced.  The builder is the builder, they know how much things cost. 

That's not my fault. The builder gave me the quote and said that it was mates rates as my mum had died. 

I'm absolutely terrified. I'm a woman on my own here and I've had enough of Bullys.. I have tried to resolve the issue and it's been 6 months. 

The builders have walked away and I'm not feeling positive. I have only bricks and mortar. I believe that I was purposely underpriced so that  I would agree to it. I also believe that this was intentional and they knew exactly what they were doing. I've been conned. 

Please help.

I really need help to put this out there as this may happen to someone else. 

Thank you.

Kind regards.

Doozergirl

Are the 2 metres being added to bedroom on the first floor? 

Do you have pictures of where you are at with the build now?  

Are building control involved? 

I doubt this is the case, but is the builder a member of the Federation of Master Builders? You can search by company name or postcode here https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder.html