Paid deposit for carpenter to do a job but still waiting after agreed date?

RandomGuy87

Sigh. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post.

 

In September, I asked for a quote from a carpenter for work on a media wall after being let down by another person. He came out to measure up a few weeks later (although on the day he was due, he didn’t show but turned up later that evening). He went away to create a CAD design and about two weeks later, after making adjustments, we said we were happy with the design and wanted to book him for the work.

 

We agreed to this on 11th October and he request a 33% deposit and said he was booked up until w/c 2nd December. So we paid the deposit on the assumption that work would begin w/c 2nd December.

 

Nearer this time, I contacted him to check he was still coming and work was going ahead as planned. He advised he would be out on 2nd to do a final measure up before they build most of it in the workshop and come out to install. I asked if the work would be done that week. On 2nd, he said he couldn’t come out because he had two workers off sick so it pushed him back and he’d come the next day. On 3rd, he messaged to say he was on his way and turned up as he advised.

 

At this point I asked him how long it would take to build and when would work start. He said he’d contact me over the weekend to confirm the build was done and agree an install date. I asked what the likelihood was of this being done w/c 9th December and he said about 80%.. He asked for the deposit (which he asked for twice) but I confirmed we’d already paid this.

 

Monday morning , I message for an update. He replies to say his van has been broken into and he’s dealing with the police to sort out insurance, give him that day or the next morning for him to get back in touch with me but he said on the message that he had us booked in for Thursday/Friday (today and tomorrow).

 

I followed this up on Tuesday evening, no reply to that email as of yet. But he did send a message on WhatsApp saying he would be finishing the doors off on Wednesday and wanted to confirm the style.

 

No further contact received or update on the build or when install would start. It’s nearly 10am and I expected a no show and so far nothing. So about 11am I will message him asking for an update.

 

At this point, I’m frustrated and annoyed that it feels like the work isn’t going to go ahead. I appreciate and understand some things happen that are outside of their control but it also feels like excuses that aren’t genuine? Am I within my rights to ask for an update and advise that I want the work competed by Friday 20th given that we agreed a start date (that was agreed in good faith and such a while ago). I don’t want to cancel but I also don’t want to be made to wait any longer at the risk it won’t go ahead. The deposit was a fair amount of money and I would offer for him to keep some due to coming out and doing the designs but unless I can see that work will begin, I believe I am entitled to ask for a refund for most of this as I feel that he has not held up his end of the contract/agreement? At which point, I’d consider small claims unless he pays it back?

photome

I would wait it out a bit longer..I had similar experience a couple of months ago. I paid someone 50% deposit for some work that was scheduled to start on a Monday, like you I was messaging and not getting replies. Work didn’t start on the Monday and I didn’t hear anything until the Tuesday to say it would start the following Monday due to issues with van, following Monday came and went with no communication. Eventually started on the Wednesday and everything worked out well in the end

some people are just a little disorganised and not good at communicating 

RandomGuy87

photome said:

I would wait it out a bit longer..I had similar experience a couple of months ago. I paid someone 50% deposit for some work that was scheduled to start on a Monday, like you I was messaging and not getting replies. Work didn’t start on the Monday and I didn’t hear anything until the Tuesday to say it would start the following Monday due to issues with van, following Monday came and went with no communication. Eventually started on the Wednesday and everything worked out well in the end

some people are just a little disorganised and not good at communicating 

I get that impression with this guy. Especially as I had to show him his design when he came out the second time. I tried to re-assure my wife that people like this are sometimes good with their hands but not so good at organisation etc.

Frustrating because this should have been done in August originally so it's taking so long to get done.