Let down by tradesman

dlk

I'm assuming there's nothing I can do about this but thought I'd check with advice on here.

I had a joiner booked for today to do quite a number of jobs. New internal doors, replacing dodgy floorboards, fixing an external gate and a kitchen cupboard. He didn't turn up. 

I texted him and he said he's got other work on and can't do it anymore, not even a postponement but just can't do it at all. My problem is that I've bought all the materials and they're currently crammed in the corner of my room. It was so hard finding anyone to do it first time that I've had him booked for over 2 months. 

I'm sure i can't do anything but is there at least a trade body to leave scathing reviews on as I'm now stuck hundreds of pounds out of pocket with a load of doors and timber filling my room.

FaceHead

Where'd you find them? You might want to tell them. If it was CheckaTrade, google reviews, facebook etc. you might want to leave something there, or if it was a friend/family, perhaps tell them to stop recommending this person. 

Being unable to do the job is poor. Getting a more lucrative job and not honouring the previous commitment it very poor, but to simply not show up is just awful.

Ella_fella

I had a similar incident two weeks ago. Arranged for bathroom fitter to come round and replace suite, purchased the majority of the items on day before work was meant to start to avoid clogging up my house, I couldn't have left it any later. 

Then about 6 pm the same day the texts come to say his plasterer had another job on and his tiler had allegedly hurt his ankle. He said he could start the work but couldn't then guarantee when it would be finished. I literally went up the wall and said why are you telling me this at 6pm the day before. He then pretended to get the hump with this reply and said if that's your attitude I'm not going to start at all. 

If someone can't commit to doing a job then they should be open and honest and communicate this, I deliberately left buying all the materials to the last possible moment to avoid this but still got my fingers burnt.

dlk

Yeah I was exactly the same Ella fella, had everything delivered yesterday. He was due at 9am this morning so I texted wondering where he was at 10:30 and only then did he tell me he wasn't coming

Ella_fella

dlk said:

Yeah I was exactly the same Ella fella, had everything delivered yesterday. He was due at 9am this morning so I texted wondering where he was at 10:30 and only then did he tell me he wasn't coming

It's really poor. The list of excuses come straight out of the book of dog ate my homework which I found doubly patronising. I guess at least he gave me some crap excuses why he wasn't going to show rather than not show at all if that makes it any better. 

I spoke to one bathroom fitter whose taken bookings for the next 12 month's to avoid running out of work. Am not sure how you can even manage that far in advance as if one job gets delayed than that dominoes to all subsequent jobs. 

I'd put posts on Facebook about his behaviour and keep refreshing them periodically. Facebook groups post for recommendations for a tradesman in a certain area you can do the converse when one comes up and say I would not recommend this person because of so and so. Have seen similar posts before. 

Doozergirl

Since Covid, *everyone* is now a

main contractor.  Well established and respected firms with loyal labour are losing it as that labour sets up alone, bolstered by massive government grants alongside not being told to stop work.   

Those subcontractors were the people that you might get to hang your doors for a day or fit your kitchen for a week.  The rest of the time, they were vying for regular, well paid subcontracting work.    

Now they're taking big jobs themselves because there is so much demand.  I have no idea where they are getting their labour from.  

There is a massive skills gap, a peak of tradesmen between 50-65 about to drop off a cliff and no one wants day-by-day piecemeal work as a way of life. 

This problem is not going to improve. 

I know of three great firms where the directors are folding up because it's easier to subcontract than it is to scrabble
around for rapidly rising labour and material costs.  

You're better off signing up for a DIY course.  

 

Gavin83

Doozergirl said:

You're better off signing up for a DIY course.  

 

This is essentially what I’m doing. I’ll do everything I can myself, while knowing my limits. However I expect for big jobs (anything structural, new boiler, extension building, etc) it’ll be easy to find a tradesman because they’re the kind of jobs they want. 

I expect it’ll get to the point where it’s impossible to get a tradesman in for a small job, if we aren’t there already.

twopenny

I had a similar incident where the 'reputable' plumber who'd been good to that point, didn't turn up and the words 'did I say October? (laughter) then grumpilly 'have you got all the materials'..........well no because I didn't have a definite date or space.

I was also told by the local building supplies that I can't get a handyman because they've all got signwritten vans saying they are trademen due to the amount of work at the mo,

It's a jungle out there!

Yep. Started doing what I can myself.