Builder demanding money early and now slowing job down
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.24 PM
We hired a building company to renovate our ground floor, including some structural work and installing 2 new steps outside the front door. We asked for a scheduled payment plan instead of what they proposed which was payments by date and not work based, which we received. The quote was expensive but we were happy to go ahead as we wanted the work completed well and efficiently. We paid £2000 deposit.
The first week of work went really well and we were happy with their work, however immediately after the first week the building company owner and his wife then asked for money early which did not align with the stage of work done in the scheduled payment plan we had all agreed. We then noticed they changed our deposit amount to £3000 and were including the extra in the new invoice amount which started setting off alarm bells. Our steps out front they have told us to do it ourselves even though it is included in the quote. We have tried to make this process as smooth as possible for them from our side and have communicated normally with them throughout (ie. we are not difficult customers at all)
We politely emailed them to say we would pay immediately once the work was up to date to the agreed schedule and the next instalment of money was due. Since then, over a week ago, we have had no more building work, our house is like a building site and our front garden is full of the abandoned building debris and with little to no communication (good cop, bad cop routine) from the building owner and his wife.
We have documented everything, we have asked when the builders are coming back with no response. We still want them to finish the job but get the feeling they have a bigger job and are not interested in our job anymore, but more than happy to squeeze as much money out of us as possible. The Deposit we paid doesn’t quite cover the work completed to date.
We feel they want to play games with us yet its clear we don’t want to play, we just want to be straight up and get the job done, the husband is unreasonably angry that his wife gave us a scheduled payment plan and we are now being punished for sticking to their agreement. Even though we have been on point, its still very stressful.
Can any builders out there help us figure out what is actually happening here and give us any advice as to how to handle this husband and wife good cop bad cop routine? How do we get the builders back on site? Any advice at all welcome!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Well it is unfortunate that this builder has let it get to this stage, firstly if everything you say is true then you have a clear case to get the work completed by them if you are still happy too or take the builder to court, if you have documented everything like you say you have an extremely strong case, HOWEVER it is one of two things happening the builder is either one going bust and trying to claw money in to pay off some reliable contractors or two he like you said is on a larger job and has lost interest.
I would suggest this:
1. Put everything in writing from day one to the current day what had been agreed and what work has been completed.
2. Ask the builder if he is still interested in carrying out the remaining work given the fact that they have not returned.
3.Make your own schedule and offer to pay an additional sum when this work is completed.
4. Always put everything in writing and copy your solicitor.
5> Do not give them any more money until you have the work agreed .
It may be that he is simply too busy which gives us reputable builders a bad name, but my advice as a builder is to negotiate if all else fails find another builder and explain what has happened.
Good luck. Regards Shaun
As a builder i sometimes ask for materials up front
Then to be paid in cleared funds every friday
This normally works well
If there is a disagreement then the builder doesnt lose out and the customer can look elsewhere.
Personally, I would look at cutting ties with this company. If you can justify the £2000 already paid as work done then I would move them on and get another builder in. It may cause some upset and delay things but this does not sound like the actions of a reputable builder. The first week is generally straight forward as its mainly planning out and ripping out. Like you said, adding an extra £1000 out of nowhere and asking for lump sums early without any justification is a huge red flag.
I hate to say it but it almost sounds like a scam. Get a lump sum out of you from the start and then ask for more money within a matter of days without any actual real work done. Now they've disappeared. No doubt onto the next person. Do not pay them anything more and do not let them in your house.
If you feel the £2000 paid doesn't reflect the amount of work done then seek legal advice.
Hi
I agree with most things the previous builder has written. I would just like to ask why such a large deposit? It sounds as though the works did not involve a large outlay of materials at the start of the job. I never ask for deposits up front unless we are buying materials I really fs to understand why clients agree to this. Stick to your guns. Pay no more money. Clearly you have a schedule to stick to. Get the guys to do the work then pay the money. I hate the way that so called professionals rip people off and tarnish our industry. I agree with the other builder speak to them and if they can’t behave decently threaten them with the local Trading Standards Dept and find a reputable builder who can behave decently. There are some of us out there
