What to do about this tradesman nightmare

[Eastie77]

Ok nightmare perhaps a slight exaggeration but I'm seriously annoyed.

I recently enlisted a local plumber / carpenter to do some work in my bathroom. He was recommended by a couple of people and also contacted me directly after I placed an ad on a local site. Came round to look at the bathroom, sent a quote and we agreed on the day he would start work. His quote was considerably lower than others I'd received (it is a fairly minor piece of work but in hindsight that should have set alarm bells ringing). Anyway, he said he would order some of the materials to be sent directly to my house. The day before he was due to come I messaged to confirm and he replied "I was just about to message and tell you I can't do tomorrow as the materials will not arrive on time. Can do next week" I said ok and suggested a day the following week. He didn't reply.

As it happened, the materials were delivered to my house the following morning. I sent him a message to inform him and he didn't respond. Chased again a couple of days later and he sent a very brief reply "Ok, will see you next Thursday at 9am" Not the day I'd suggested, but ok.

Early Thursday morning I messaged to confirm he would be here at 9am. He replied "I was just about to message you and tell you I'll be there at 11 as I'm running late". 11 came and went with no sign of him. I messaged him again and he replied "Eastie I was at your front door, literally about to knock when I received an urgent call". He went on to say his young son had been hospitalised and he had to rush to the hospital. He promised he would be back Friday at 9am to do the work.

Friday morning I messaged him to confirm and 3 hours later got the standard "I was just about to message you...". This time he couldn't come because his son was still in hospital and he had to be available to pick him up. He is now saying he will come around next week but has again failed to respond when I asked him to confirm a day. I told him Wednesday is our absolute deadline to get the work finished. No reply.

I don't know if the sick son story is true or not but I do not want to work with this tradesman any more. My hunch is he is working on other jobs and will not get around to mine any time soon. The problem is the material he has already bought, currently all sitting in my hallway. It was delivered brand new by a DIY store so presumably legitimately purchased. I haven't paid him any money. I'm thinking of messaging him I'll pay him for some of it (e.g. there is a new loo which I do want to keep) which we can get another plumber to install and just asking him to come and get the rest and forget about doing the work as he is obviously too busy. The problem is he won't reply to any of my messages?!

Sorry this is so long...

My dh is a tradesman and yes sometimes there's emergencies which mean he has to be home. But this guy is utterly taking the piss. Ask for a receipt for the materials to repay him while telling him to poss off.

Piss off*

Seems odd that he'd buy the materials, then not reply. Especially as you havent paid anything yet! In the past, I've been asked to buy certain materials myself before they even start!

More than likely he has another job, easier/quicker jobs to fit in, but no excuse for a brief text back to let you know! This sort of thing infuriates me. We are doing up a derelict house and having all manner of contractors to give quotes, do works etc. Some are much better than others.

Not exactly the same, but we paid for a specialist skip, and extra for their man remove roofing sheets for us- so all paid for. The 1st day, he had a look at the job, said his MIL was ill, called his wife, then said he needed to go. Agreed another day, but due to bad weather, he cancelled. Next week get a text that MIL had died and he didnt know funeral dates etc. Next date we organised was also cancelled due to weather! His texts were brief and ambiguous in terms of what time he'd come, if he would come etc!

Everyone said it was dodgy, scam etc. Finally, about 3 weeks after our initial meeting, he did complete the job though. I do think his MIL really did die and he likely was just juggling multiple jobs, whilst trying to support his wife. he also wasnt great at texting a logical reply!

Hopefully it does get sorted, but I too would be wondering what was going on. Does he have an email to contact or a company number?

Yes he has an email address and a company website but I doubt he'd respond to messages sent to either! I just wish he'd be up front about it and say he can't do the job right now. I will call him tomorrow, ask for a receipt for the loo so I can just pay him for that. I need him to collect all the other stuff though. Totally bizarre that he would buy all this material and then not turn up.

His claim that he was on my doorstep when he received the call about his son doesn't ring true at all.

Very odd! Keep us posted on the outcome.

just the non response to your messages would be enough of a red flag for me 🌺

Just ask him to send you the receipt for the material bought and pay him for that, get another guy as even when he does eventually start your job you will be to chase him up everyday until he's done! I had this problem and I ended up telling home to leave after being in day 14 of a 3/4 day job x

I used to employ someone like this. He was so flakey it became a running joke as to when he'd ever appear. Problem was when he did, he'd do an amazing job and not piss about once he'd started. He was also solid gold if you ever had a domestic emergency - he'd never leave anyone with a finger in the dam so to speak. So he got away with murder.
Have a firm conversation. Ask for a commitment on a start date and make it clear you've had enough. He'll turn up and if he doesn't you don't owe him a thing.

Tell him he needs to fix a date in the next seven days and turn up and do the work OR he comes and collects all materials in 7 days. If he does neither, you will dispose of the materials he’s currently storing in your property and won’t be paying him for them.

Honestly id jusy pay for the stuff and get someone else to do it. I dont have time for this sort of unprofessional behaviour.

Getting someone else in might be easier said than done. All trades seem to be really busy right now. Cut him some slack and he'll get it done. Especially since he's paid for items to be delivered to you already. Yes he's not been considerate, but if his child is ill that's going to be his priority.

Waitrose I understand he might be busy be he is completely unreliable and unresponsive.

The story about the sick child doesn't make sense. If he was literally on my doorstep when he received the phone call (what are the odds of that happening..) surely he would have knocked on my door anyway to explain before leaving or proactively send me a message/call me as he left my property. In any case I work from home, was in my front room all morning and would have heard the phone conversation outside my front door if his version of events is true.

He never answers his phone and still hasn't replied re the Wednesday deadline but I messaged him to say he will have to collect his material if the work is not done by then. I have asked him for a receipt for the loo and said we will pay him for it. No response (I know it's still early so giving him time...)

DP, who used to be a kitchen fitter, is just shrugging his shoulders and saying this is standard for tradesmen and I need to relax, the work will get done eventually etc

I would give it up as a bad job. He is totally unreliable. Put the materials in your front garden and tell him to come and collect them.

He has messaged that he will definitely do the job next week. But again, I had to chase several times and he only replied when I said DP would be in touch with him and wanted a receipt for the loo. I'm annoyed that he only responded quickly when DP was mentioned (and annoyed with myself for "bringing in a man" to deal with the situation but I had a feeling it would prompt him to reply). My friend has been Googling him and found a company FB page. He has been working on a huge renovation outside London, latest pic of completed work was 2 days ago. So he has been working on another job. I suppose the only saving grace is he seems to have a done a very good job, the rooms look amazing, and the property owner has written a positive comment about his work.

This is my frustration with virtually every trades I've ever employed the services of. They are amazingly talented, and I've never had to complain about their standard of work. Truly blown away by their skills. But when it comes to business acumen, people skills, time management and accountancy, I generally find they are very much lacking. I know it's a terrible sweeping generalisation, but surely during their training/apprenticeships they should get training in these areas? Do t take on a job if you have no intention of fulfilling the promise, get someone to help with your diary, with your accounts. don't lie, you will always be caught out. Pick a date and stick to it. Allow for emergencies within your working day/week. Just be better organised.
Every single time this happens.

Op, he's been caught in a lie. I would make it known that you are aware of the other project

Tell him to come and collect the materials.

They are not yours they are his. I wouldn't muddy the waters by changing that in any way.

Then look for someone else. The longer you go with this twit, the less you'll be able to complain when the inevitable happens and he leaves your job mid-way through.

It's a straightforward job that in theory should take a few hours and I can see on his FB page he has carried the same work in the bathroom of this renovated property. The before and after pictures show he has done a good job. If it was a big job I would definitely cut him loose now as he is so unpredictable.

@almostvalentines DP is an accomplished kitchen fitter and electrician. He is also the most disorganised person I have ever met and is incapable of effectively planning anything in advance. I would have hated to be on the receiving end of his 'customer service' (he works in a slightly different line of business now). He has done some work on the side over the years and helped out friends in the building trade when kitchen expertise is needed. Again, glowing reviews but I know he has frustrated some clients.

Did he do the job OP 🌺

@BlueThistles yes he turned up on the agreed day but over an hour late!

The job was supposed to take one day but ended up taking two as he abruptly left mid afternoon on the first day - probably to go to his other renovation job. I only realised he was leaving for the day when I heard him packing up his tools.

All in all he has done a good job but I'd never employ him again. Before leaving he told me he is rushed off his feet but doesn't have to advertise as all his work comes via positive word of mouth