Worried about chasing tradesman

Robertson74

A few weeks ago I made a thread about contacting a joiner last Easter about supplying and fitting two double glazed windows and him disappearing after I gave him almost one thousand five hundred by bank transfer last June and meeting him in November and him saying he would do it before Christmas, but not coming and myself cancelling the work till spring because of short days and bad weather and him charging me storage fees of two hundred pounds for February and April and saying he would come with better weather and still not coming.
I didn't mention at the time that this tradesman was drunk outside a pub in November when I met him and that he appeared to be drunk on several calls I had with him and last year I saw him outside the pub loads of times and lots this year. Also he sent an wrong estimate for triple glazing instead of (which I corrected)double and this wasn't lowered on the second estimate.
I am very worried as to what to do next as I don't like the thought of forcing someone who may not be well to do a job in case something bad happens, but I am equally worried about losing that amount of money. Should I just let the money go?
I feel really angry now - a year on with the windows not in, lots of dry weather, but still he wont come. I don't want him to come if they aren't done by Autumn now. I am also worried that if get the windows I will have to find someone else to fit them and that would be another year with them not in.
I really wish I 'd not started this.

Voyager2002

You can certainly write to him saying that he has not performed the work within the agreed timescale and so you would like your money back. If he pays you, well and good. Otherwise you could probably get a court order, but then what?

MysteryMe

Have you taken any of the steps that were suggested in your last thread? 

It is important to tell your bank and it is important to log a complaint to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.  The more complaints are made against a trader the more likely they may look into it further.

He was sober enough to take your money and sober enough to tell you that you needed to pay for storage charges for the windows. Do you think he feels bad about taking your money and not installing the windows? 

You only really have two choices, you start the formal complaint process perhaps by going into your local Citizens Advice Bureau for support. You may be successful in obtaining an online money claim (small claims) judgement, you still may  not get your money back. You may need to incur more expense getting bailiffs involved.  There is no anonymous or "socially polite" way of taking civil proceedings. You will need to write to him and tell him you want the windows fitted or your money back otherwise you will take him to court. Likewise, you will be stating your case against him on the online court documents which he will see and be entitled to respond to. 

If you don't wish to go down that route then the only other alternative is to draw a line under it, accept the money is gone, cease attempting to contact this man, move on with your life and get a reputable tradesman in.  I know how difficult it is to come to the realisation that you have to cut your losses, and it is a lot of money to write off. It is natural for people to try and hang on, in the hope that the rogue trader they got involved with will come through, but they don't. 

There are a lot of people who have found themselves in a similar position to you so please don't think you have been stupid or blame yourself. Your trust has been taken advantage of.

Your local Trading Standards or Which have accredited trader schemes. These are proper schemes where traders are visited and vetted. They are not to be confused with other online trader sites which claim to have vetting procedures in placce.

Age Concern or the CAB may be able to point you in the right direction if you don't have family, friends or work colleagues to ask for recommendations.

Bigphil1474

If you fail to get your money back, could you at least ask him to give you the windows? Paying someone to fit will be a lot less than paying someone else to supply and fit.

Robertson74

Thank Voyager2002, Mysteryme and Bigphil47, the reason I've never done anything is I don't know what's going on with this person and I don't like thought of forcing someone to to the job when the might be unwell now, but I  think I will do the steps you suggest.
The reason I got him was the concrete sill next to the window- I was worried that a fitter  woudn't know how to repair it if it got broken during installation and a joiner- builder would.
One other thing he did was turn up at my house with his bank details ten minutes after a phone call- I wish I hadn't been so quick in transferring him the money, but I thought they'd be done in six weeks.
I'm a bit worried about CCJ as I read that even though they go through you might not get your money in the end and getting baliffs would cost me more money in the end.
Bigphil474 I will try and find out if he has the windows- I just wish I had got someone else to do the job.

Phil4432

Hope this gets resolved.  I've been there with dodgy traders, its one of the pitflalls of home ownership.

Best thing is get rid of him, and get as much money back as you can.  There may well be some loss.  Many of us go through this.

Then look forward; get a trader of good reputation, perhaps someone that has been recommended by friends/family. 

Robertson74

Phil4432. I have been away and just saw your post, so I just thought I'd say thanks.
I really hope that I can get it resolved. I could really see this going into next year. I just wish I hadn't got him, as the money could have paid someone else to do them..

Slinky

I seriously doubt the windows exist, seeing as he hasn't been chasing you for 'storage charges' since April. That was just another excuse for fleecing you for more bar money I fear. Sadly I think you've been had.

Robertson74

Hello Slinky. Thanks for your comment.
I am beginning to think this now- I don't how these people feel good about letting down customers. 
I am going to go to various places and try and get this resolved, but I really feel I have lost my money, which is a pity because I could have used it to pay for more windows from someone else.