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Extensions

Builder not turning up

I'm having a small single storey extension done, which my builder said would take about five weeks. We are now eleven weeks in, and the builder keeps saying he's coming but doesn't turn up. I've been voicing my concerns constantly but he's only worked three days in the last seventeen. I have paid a substantial amount of money, 65% of the quote, including £3k which he said was to pay for the roof lantern last Friday. I didn't want to pay it, but felt I'm being held to ransom. I contacted trading standards, who suggested a time of the essence letter which I sent by email giving three weeks to complete the work and he read it. He text to say he couldn't believe I had contacted trading standards, didn't want a row but would be here in the morning and still didn't turn up. I need the work completing by 7th July in order to a have a floor laid and kitchen installed for housesitters on 23rd July. Any advice would be gratefully received.

4 Answers from MyBuilder Extension Builders

Best Answer

Well you given him chance after chance he is taking the micky sounds like there a lack of communication and clarity, ring him up and tell him to be real with you.

human to human man to man yeah and just tell him you want the gods honest truth to why his avoiding your job tell him the situation from your point of view and then ask him for his situation from his point of view.

He might have personal life issues going on if so give the bloke a break, maybe his seriously under priced your job and trying to earn some money to fund your job or keep himself afloat ?

If this is the case bare with him we’re all human and sometimes personal life matters stop up from preforming our best you can’t predict these things either or if you can’t bare with him just be honest and say look I’m
Gonna have to terminate your contract here and you no long have the job.

Ask him to pick up his tools and what ever else of his property his got there.

Make sure your not out of pocket but also make sure his not out of pocket you can’t expect people to work for peanuts or for nothing. Make sure everything you payed for has been done or if half finished asked for a % back also make sure all materials you payed for are on site too like that roof lantern.

You wanna be fair but stern you don’t wanna end up in court mind you neither of you want that trust me best to be civil and fair with each other.

I feel like you come here looking for legal advice but unfortunately nobody here can give legal advise we can just give you a view/mindset from a tradesperson.

It can be very upsetting for both parties when stuff like this happens nobody wants to do a bad job or avoid customers but there usually a good reason for it usually personal life matters and unfortunately some people (most people # generation snow flakes) don’t know how to deal with them or be honest with people about them.

I hope you get this all sorted.

I’d start ring up new company’s and explain the situation and ask them to come round and quote to prepare to take over and finish the works too.

2019-06-20T16:42:06+01:00

Answered 20th Jun 2019

I think BT has written a very good and comprehensive answer... however even as a tradesman myself, I am a little less understanding to the tradesmen. Everybody in life may have personal problems, the client in this case has a problem with their builder for example, but this is not an excuse for being unprofessional and leaving your client hanging. In projects of any nature, communication is key. If you have personal problems then explain them, if you’ve under quoted and can’t complete the project, explain this to the client so they can make the best of a bad situation. There is no excuse for a communication breakdown and failing to turn up when you said you were going to and without providing an explanation. If you’re embarrassed then send an email. If you have been contracted to complete a project, it is your responsibility to immediately communicate with the client any problems or delays with the delivery of that project. Even if some one has died, it just takes an email to say someone has died and I need a few weeks. It’s not hard.

I would provide a final warning and without a suitable response in a specified time frame, cancel the contract, get multiple quotes to complete the works and take the contractor to court if there is a significant amount of money that you have overpaid versus the state of the project.

2019-07-19T20:45:02+01:00

Answered 19th Jul 2019

Basically B T Roofing have given an excellent response🤙🏿
Because as tradespeople the saying could be,” He who is without blemish let him cast the first stone.
For the reasons he (B T ) stated it could happen to any of us.
I also am sad for the customer.
Legal remedies only benefit the Legal profession

Kassa

2019-06-28T17:40:03+01:00

Answered 28th Jun 2019

Good answer provided so far, however, week eleven on a five week build is what is concerning me. Alarm bells should have been ringing much earlier. Without all the details, it’s difficult to give any advice. If there are personal reasons for not turning up, you need to find out. Give the builder the opportunity to explain. If they decide not to take you up on it, then it’s the legal route I’m afraid. I do feel that you should have done this before contacting trading standards though.

2019-07-12T14:50:02+01:00

Answered 12th Jul 2019

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