Builder won't give me receipts for material and receipt for money paid to him

Whilst it’s good practise to have a paperwork trail, you have asked him to do work without getting all the information beforehand, leaving you open to a surprise bill at the end of the job. As for his prices they’re reasonable, just because he’s not qualified doesn’t mean he’s free. Anyone can be a labourer etc. If you have received the invoice for the outstanding amount then it is owed. If you wish to take the matter further you would need to file with the small claims court at your own cost

Hi Rosie, I'm not a legal expert, but I can offer some general advice: It's essential to have documentation for any financial transactions, especially when dealing with significant amounts of money. In this situation, you could take the following steps: 1. Communicate: Try to communicate with your friend calmly and express your concerns about the lack of receipts. Explain that you need proper documentation for the payments you've made. 2. Request Receipts: Politely request receipts for the cash payment, materials, and services provided. You can do this via email or in writing, so you have a record of your request. 3. Mediation: If your friend continues to refuse to provide receipts, you might consider mediation or arbitration to resolve the issue. This can be a more formal process to reach a settlement. 4. Legal Advice: If all else fails, it might be necessary to consult with a legal professional or solicitor to understand your rights and options in this situation, especially if you've received a legal threat like the SD2 form. Remember that legal matters can be complex and vary by jurisdiction, so it's crucial to seek advice from a qualified legal expert who can provide guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.

Simplest way to sort this out is to get a 3rd party to sit down with him and agree a resolution. Sure, both parties were tardy in how this contract has been carried out but going to court will just cost you both even more money. Set your egos and tempers aside and negotiate is my advice.

Unfortunately you have instructed this work to be done, Provided it has been done correctly and you was not miss-led or miss-sold anything that you didn't require, your builder doesn't appear to have broken any trading standard rules. a builder can charge whatever labour rates they like and add whatever mark up to materials they wish to. However it may be worth obtaining some legal advice with as much factual evidence you may have if you believe you was kept in the dark over the project and feel that your builder is charging an unreasonable amount for works completed. Its a very tricky one I'm afraid

To be honest his rates are pretty reasonable I can understand your frustration with not having receipts but that should of been discussed before the job was done. Personally are you happy with the work he has done? If so that is the main thing and I would just shake hands and settle the bill.