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Gardening & Landscaping

Has my best friend been ripped off?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.07 PM

My best friend, who lives with his elderly Mum who has dementia, told me today that yesterday afternoon a builder called to their house whilst he was at work and offered to do some paving work in the garden for his Mum. She said she would be happy for this and asked them to call back in the evening and speak with my friend. Please note that this work has needed to be done for the last year and yet he hasn't made a decision during all this time. However yesterday evening when they called back he said that he would like them to do the work and they quoted £9,000. Unbeknown to me he had agreed the price and asked them to come back and start this morning. I am absolutely incredulous....Please can you help. I am really more than concerned as they are both vulnerable.

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2 Answers

NOSKI Construction-Landscaping

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Bury St Edmunds

£9000 does seem alot of money to some people but depending on how large the area is the quality of slab your friend has chosen does have a big effect on the price.

Answered9 May 2014

Anonymous user

Mmmmmmm. sounds very dodgy. £9,000 is an incredible price for 'some' paving work (without seeing the job I say this) Also for someone to turn up unannounced is as we all know through the press and 'con' stories, not the done thing. Grey area is that a verbal agreement has been reached between client (your friend) and the 'builder', if as you say your friend is vulnerable, then a 101 call to the police or your local police officer should be made and discuss the situation with them, or is there someone who is deemed an appropriate adult for the vulnerable persons who could tell the builder that they have changed there mind? IE social services? If however the clients are positive they want the work done, then there is not much you can do, however the police would intervene if your friends are classed as vulnerable people according to the law and the 'builder' was charging an extortionate rate for the services and found to be taking advantage of their vulnerability. Be careful of approaching these people yourself, my advice would be don't. Hope this helps with your anxiety over the situation.

Answered9 May 2014