Builder Money Claim

greengal27

I have made a money claim against a builder for the deposit I paid to him. He didn’t show up on the day agreed and when I followed up he told me there would be a 7wk delay. I told him the job needed completing before that time and so I’d need to find someone else and requested my deposit be returned but he hasn’t returned it or any correspondence since then. I now have a CCJ request against him and assume I’ll need to try to enforce payment via one of the options. I wanted to check which is the most likely to get me my money back. I believe his business is registered to his home address and that he has tools and a van, he is still posting his work on social media under his business name… in which case is bailiffs the best route? I’m aware that there are costs to me and I know builders have ways of getting out of these things. The claim is for £1500, not life changing money but more than I can afford to lose… 

DullGreyGuy

greengal27 said:

I have made a money claim against a builder for the deposit I paid to him. He didn’t show up on the day agreed and when I followed up he told me there would be a 7wk delay. I told him the job needed completing before that time and so I’d need to find someone else and requested my deposit be returned but he hasn’t returned it or any correspondence since then. I now have a CCJ request against him and assume I’ll need to try to enforce payment via one of the options. I wanted to check which is the most likely to get me my money back. I believe his business is registered to his home address and that he has tools and a van, he is still posting his work on social media under his business name… in which case is bailiffs the best route? I’m aware that there are costs to me and I know builders have ways of getting out of these things. The claim is for £1500, not life changing money but more than I can afford to lose… 

Is he a sole trader or a limited company? 
Did you issue against his name? His limited company name? His trading style?

The bold bit is worrying thing coming from someone who's already litigated.

Who does the paperwork identify as the legal entity you were in contract with?

Has he just ignored the claims form so you got a judgement in default or is the process ongoing?


The problem is people are often careless when doing their first court action and dont identify the defendant properly and so waste their money because they issue against a trading style which therefore is unenforceable. 

greengal27

Hi @DullGreyGuy
Thanks for your response. He is a limited company, I originally issued against both business and individual (as that was given as an option) but had the form returned to say I had to choose one so amended to be his business. This is the point I am at so the process is ongoing. I was told on the phone that the paperwork was sent to him 6 weeks ago, so yes I believe he has just ignored it. And I understand my next step would be to use one of the methods to 'enforce the judgement'. I have never had to do anything like this before and so I don't know which is the right enforcement to choose, and I worry that I will spend more on the fees for this next step but that he'll still find a way around paying me back. I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean about the bold part. I believe the address listed on Companies House and on his paperwork to be his home address. The only paperwork I received was a quote on his business headed paper. Thanks for your help.