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Original poster

Please help. I've been conned by my builder. Lots of money paid up front. What should I do?

89 replies

Helpmeplease2019 · 11/01/2019 14:34

I've just heard today that my builder is a con-artist who isn't coming back to finish my half-built extension. We've paid him lots of money up front Sad. What can I do to try to get my money back? I can't afford legal advice. I don't have the money to finish the extension.

Please be gentle, I know I've made mistakes Sad

(name changed)

OP posts:
Tiredeyes21 · 11/01/2019 14:35

Small claims court?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 11/01/2019 14:35

Who have you heard from? How did you pay?

Do you know the total amount you've paid? (That will determine which courts etc are available to you)

Tiredeyes21 · 11/01/2019 14:35

Report him to the police for fraud?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
Bombardier25966 · 11/01/2019 14:36

How did you pay, and do you have evidence of payments made?

Is it a sole trader or a limited company? Do you know where he is and if he has any assets?

Original poster
Helpmeplease2019 · 11/01/2019 14:38

I found him on mybuilder. Positive reviews, nothing saying he was going to run-off with the money. Apparently there are at least 13 of us in a similar situation.

I think my contract is with him personally but he has a limited company. There's no signed contract. I paid the money to his personal account (at his request) and some in cash.

I've got an address that is supposedly his home address.

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 11/01/2019 14:41

Have you checked companies house to see if there's any other information?

I've got a few minutes now if you want to pm me some details and I'll see if I can find anything out (anything to escape the tax return)

Original poster
Helpmeplease2019 · 11/01/2019 14:41

Got to do school run in a moment but quick answers:

Just over £20k paid out of £30k contract
I looked back at his reviews on mybuilder when I couldn't get hold of him and someone had posted and given their email address to contact for me info. I've spoken to him and he's explained about the other ripped off customers.

The limited company is still active at cmpanies house but he has resigned as a director.

I've got evidence of payments - some bank transfers and some cash.

The person I spoke to said another customer is already taking him to court for £48k and that he supposedly has no assets - house in father in law's name for example.

Just heard today. Absolutely devastated.

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 11/01/2019 14:48

This is a terrible mess.

You could go to small claims but if there are no assets then you won't see anything.

Because you paid by bank transfer and cash you can't claim any recourse via your bank. It is always a good idea to pay with a credit card, even a small amount would give you s. 75 cover.

You can report it to Consumer Line, and if they have several reports they will pass the issue to Trading Standards. TS don't take individual reports. They may (or may not) investigate and he may be prosecuted, but that won't get you your money back.

Sorry, I wish I could tell you something more positive.

Original poster
Helpmeplease2019 · 11/01/2019 15:43

Trading Standards are looking at it; the customer who I spoke to took it to them a number of weeks ago. I've spoken to the person there who has passed it on to the office local to the builder. He has said to go to the police (and wait to hear from TS).

He is still on mybuilder taking on jobs! Last one two days ago. The other ripped off customer has contact them already.

I can't get hold of him by phone or email. I wonder whether I should drive to the address he gave me and knock on the door.

listsandbudgets - I will pm you.

I tried the bank because I had heard about money being recovered when there is fraud involved but they've said no: something about there being an advert and a contract.

The other ripped off customer is organising a Whatsapp group of ripped off customers. He says average seems to be about £20k per customer x 12. Sad

I'm thinking I need to get my claim in against him but I don't know if his address is real, not sure about letters before action etc. Sorry, I'm just a mess at the moment.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 11/01/2019 15:45

This has happened a few friends of mine, so dont be too hard on yourself.

Cookmysock1 · 11/01/2019 16:08

Try your local citizens advice, they are usually very good with this sort of thing

jomaIone · 11/01/2019 16:15

Are you Warrington way op? I have heard of similar happening.

Original poster
Helpmeplease2019 · 11/01/2019 16:29

Thank you Wine

jomalone No the builder is from Swindon, Wiltshire but has been doing work in Newbury, Berkshire (where I am) and Chippenham too

His company has changed its name and as of 31 December appears to be under new ownership (owner stated to reside in India).

OP posts:
FadedRed · 11/01/2019 16:32

Have you got household insurance, Op? You might have some legal advice cover on that.

Oblomov19 · 11/01/2019 16:54

This happened to my friend. And she too found 12 other people that he conned £20k or so.
Nothing came of it in the end. It rarely does, I'm afraid! Sad

Tony2 · 11/01/2019 17:12

I'm surprised trading standards aren't more active let's say, maybe get hold of the local councillor and even MP to lean on them. Would have thought the plod would have been interested, it's clearly a pattern of crookery. You could give bad feedback to mybuilder, but having just looked at the site, it gives no indication that the tradespeople are vetted in any way, so at least if mumsnetters now know to stay away from that site, well. Testimonials from randoms, yeah right. Good luck anyway.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/01/2019 17:17

This was the second hit when I googled MyBuilder so clearly the site has caused some concern before.

SushiMonster · 11/01/2019 17:17

Nightmare :-(

wowfudge · 11/01/2019 17:18

If you paid him personally and he hasn't provided the service he was contracted for, you could serve him with a statutory demand for the money. If he doesn't pay, you can then apply to have him declared bankrupt. Might be worth a try to make his life as difficult as possible. He's a thief when all is said and done - bankruptcy proceedings with result in his bank accounts being frozen. If he has money in them, the Official Receiver has powers over that money as the trustee in bankruptcy.

KittyLane1 · 11/01/2019 19:12

OP,

Maybe try and contact Newbury Weekly News ? They may be interested in the story as it is in the local area and may affect other local people ( waves from Newbury)

There was a similar case on MN recently and the power of MN meant that the story really took off and the PP was able to cometo an arrangement.

listsandbudgets · 12/01/2019 00:40

I've had a look at the info OP gave me.

As far as I can tell he has had a string if companies all mysteriously wound up. One was dissolved after bankruptcy proceedings possibly instigated by an outraged customer or unpaid supplier.

I suspect he may be linked to another organisation using a slightly different date of birth.. but not sure yet

PersonaNonGarter · 12/01/2019 00:52

What documents do you have? Any drawings that he gave you? Price quotes? Even text messages?

You can have a verbal contract - that’s still a contract. The issue is demonstrating what it was for doing, what the sum was to be and when he was to do it.

Ideally, you have a contract with him personally. However, you need to check the name on the docs. Also, check with suppliers what name he gave if/when he ordered anything.

How much of the works is complete?

I am a construction solicitor and this story is very common. I’m afraid it is likely you will have to spend money on a lawyer if you want to recover. First find out if he is good for it though.

listsandbudgets · 12/01/2019 01:03

I've just discovered he has a criminal conviction for overcharging by £14000 from 2016. Perhaps this may mean the police would be inclined to show an interest?

Smotheroffive · 12/01/2019 01:03

Just to say sympathies, and hope you manage to nail the bastard, you have some good backing with all of you together, and what about contacting the tv, do they still run the builder bastards show chasing for exactly like yours.

Dom?

Every luck to you. Can't you name and shame on here and everywhere you can? Tell us his name, that you have a personal contract with? The company name and so on?

Smotheroffive · 12/01/2019 01:04

Why wouldn't the serious fraud squad be interested?