Builder /Landscaper deposit

Welshdude101

Hi, 
looking for advise & peoples thoughts on this, (Have I been stupid?)

we have been looking for someone to lay a large patio & fence an area in our garden 
& a few people on our Local FB group recommended a local Landscaper,
sent him a message, he responded & came round a few days later when he said he would, 
& his reasonable quote (£7,500) came through on WhatsApp a day later, All good!

he said he would need £500 deposit & materials paying for upfront (£3k) either to his bank account or direct to the local builders merchants (large UK wide chain) 
I opted for the later as it seemed a safer option,

red flags have been popping up as he has promised to drop off some stone samples at least 4 times & never shows, now he is saying he doesn't know when he can start,

So today I called the builders merchant to ask where I stand with materials as I think this is only going one way, 
to be told the payment was on his account & he is no longer trading with them, 
I've now spoken to the manager & he says he needs to speak to the area manager to see if they can do anything 

Why is it so hard to find a trades man that will actually do what they promise!!?? 

MikeJXE

FB is the last place to look for anything 

Welshdude101

MikeJXE said:

FB is the last place to look for anything 

Invaluable help Mike, thank you! 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

Sorry to hear, is the landscaper an LTD or just a sole trader.

Can you tell us how this payment to the builder’s merchant happened exactly? 

Welshdude101

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Hello OP

Sorry to hear, is the landscaper an LTD or just a sole trader.

Can you tell us how this payment to the builder’s merchant happened exactly? 

Hi,

he is a sole trader,
He gave me the bank details for the builder’s merchant via what’s app,
I called the branch to confirm them & they sent me an email with their company bank details on & the trade account details of the Landscaper,
it all matched so I made the payment for what I believed to be the materials for my job,
however what I suspect has happened is that the landscaper was in debt to the builders merchants & they used my money to settle the account & then closed it! 

Emmia

And you paid by bank transfer?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Welshdude101 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Hello OP

Sorry to hear, is the landscaper an LTD or just a sole trader.

Can you tell us how this payment to the builder’s merchant happened exactly? 

Hi,

he is a sole trader,
He gave me the bank details for the builder’s merchant via what’s app,
I called the branch to confirm them & they sent me an email with their company bank details on & the trade account details of the Landscaper,
it all matched so I made the payment for what I believed to be the materials for my job,
however what I suspect has happened is that the landscaper was in debt to the builders merchants & they used my money to settle the account & then closed it! 

Thanks OP, I assume you have his full name, do you have his address? 

Does the email from the branch detail what the payment was for or just the account details? 

Welshdude101

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Welshdude101 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Hello OP

Sorry to hear, is the landscaper an LTD or just a sole trader.

Can you tell us how this payment to the builder’s merchant happened exactly? 

Hi,

he is a sole trader,
He gave me the bank details for the builder’s merchant via what’s app,
I called the branch to confirm them & they sent me an email with their company bank details on & the trade account details of the Landscaper,
it all matched so I made the payment for what I believed to be the materials for my job,
however what I suspect has happened is that the landscaper was in debt to the builders merchants & they used my money to settle the account & then closed it! 

Thanks OP, I assume you have his full name, do you have his address? 

Does the email from the branch detail what the payment was for or just the account details? 

Yes I have his Name, business name & address, 
the email has a PDF which is a headed letter from the branch with my name & email on & their bank details on & also asking to use the Landscapers name & trade account number as a reference