please someone help with the tradesman from hell

[changingjustnow]

changed for this long so bear with me

so we had a builder start some work (to a house inherited i rent out) last year - turned into a nightmare when we found a leaking pipe under the house and he tried to quote 7 grand for fixing it - so got the insurance involved and they sorted the job (for about a grand instead of 7!!)

he wouldnt accept he was off the job though and kept phoning to ask when he could finish the work (he even attmitted he ws doubling his costs s thats what he does for insurance jobs) he reckond if he kept hasseling me hed get the job from the insurance despite me saying numerous times send me an invoice for what hed done but he just wouldnt.

so he also kept the keys id lend him and must of let himself in and as suddnly he sends me an invoice (probably for a vastly inflated price) after 7 months (the job actulloy took this long as was complicated) and 2 days later he demands were his cheque is i told him i was sorting it and pointed out i only got his invoice 2 days before so he phones me 3 days after that and i tell him i am sorting it (was waiting for money to transfer between 2 accounts) so he phones me the next day asking were his cheque is and saying hes coming round to get it that day (bear in mind 8 days after i got the invoice). i told him i was still wating for the money to transfer but he insisted he wanted a cheque that day as he had bills to pay.

i am 7 months pg and dh was away so obv this was intimidating i sent him a cheque telling him not to cash it before the day after as it wouldnt clear (but he had the cheque as he wanted) so suprise suprise he cashes the cheque that day and it bounces

so bank say we will cancel that cheque and send the guy another one - so no0w he has two cheques he cashes the cheque and it goes through

but the first cheque somehow bounces again as bank never cancelled it as they said they would - sorted that with them but anyway

the important thing is the cheque left my account (the banks sending me proof) and as far as my banks concerned went to him

however hes been phoning and txting 3 times daily since yesterday saying he hasnt got the money and wanting it sorted AS SOON AS apparently his bank say the cheque has bounced back to me

i know hes talking crap i can see the money has come out of my account online 3 people at the bank has confirmed it and they are sending me proof

he has just phoned again (half 9 at night) saying to my oh that he wants cash or hes taking us to the small claims court and charging intrest nd will get court charges
aparently the plumber he used is raging at not being paid and he is pushing for this as hes not as "diplomatic" worst of all he wont give the keys back to the property and im scared of whats going to happen there witht the keys in his hands

im hevily pregnant and sick of this , hes harrasing me, has my mobile no. so phones me and then txts when i wont answer

what can i do not only for myself but to protect others from this cowboy?

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

I would get your locks changed. And speak to the police tomorrow about his behaviour - he is harassing you and TBH, it sounds like you gave him the money because of his threatening behaviour.

Court case would go nowhere when it becomes clear you have paid, so don't worry about that.

[warthog]

you have paid him and you can prove it. he hasn't got a leg to stand on.

i think you can warn him that you have proof he has paid and if he continues to harass you you will go to the police. i'd actually tell the police anyway. he may be known to them.

def get your locks changed asap.

[changingjustnow]

yes thats exactly why i gave him the cheque before the money had transfered into my account ( i have 2 joint accounts and 2 singles but only one with a cheque book thats why had to transfer the money as dont keep a grand hanging about in that account!) i was worried at him turning up at my home whilst i was on my own wid a toddler.

im just worried he could some how hide the cheque money so it looks like it left his account and came back to me ? bank say this isnt possible but hes so pushy - my dhs been dealing with him and i dont think he likes that as e cant be as rude and pushy

im tempted to rig the plumber and explain the situation to him tommorow but dont know if that will do more harm? hes never contacted me about this so i dont know what is really going on

argghhh its just the last thing i need right now

[changingjustnow]

would the police do anything - i mean is he breaking any laws ? dh has a mate whos a police man so might get him to phone him tommorow

and yes will get the locks changed asap

[changingjustnow]

and it cost me 4 quid in charges to get the proof from the bank plus the 35 quid charge for him cashing the cheque before it was ok to do so

there should be some kind of builders regulation body or something!

[Resolution]

This sounds familiar - have you posted about this before?

The plumber isn't your responsibility of he was a subcontractor.

[LittleMissHissyFit]

This is clearly harassment. a criminal act in itself. Get CAB help, speak to your Police friend and Tell the bank that this guy is demanding money with menaces.

With a bit of luck they might be able to get the money back from him.

Change the locks, and tell him you will pay him what is agreed, not the unauthorised work and if he doesn't like that to sue you.

[ThisIsANiceCage]

Call your local trading standards (google). Mine were really enthusiastic and helpful, and iiuc they can work with the police to arrange for prosecutions.

This is exactly the sort of person they exist to deal with.