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How much would you pay for builder who’s gone AWOL part way through job

16 replies

TwizzleB · 21/07/2021 09:19

Hi, what do you suggest in this scenario:
I booked with a builder to do 1 job. He provided quote and I was happy with it so he turned up and did the job (said the room was bigger than he thought despite me sending multiple photos and actual measurements..! So I think this was just salesman tactics. Anyway, he said he would still honour the quote and do it. He did well and I paid him exactly what his quote was.

Whilst doing job 1, he noticed new toilet parts I had bought for another job (en-suite loo) and offered to quote for that despite me not asking him too. He thoroughly inspected the parts and the room in person and offered me a quote to do the flooring of the small en-suite and remove current loo and install in my new loo. I was happy with quote so I took him on for that too. He did say he was busy so there will be slight delays - I said that’s fine.

Whilst finishing up job 1, he had become increasingly flirty (not touchy or creepy but very chancery). I said no I wasn’t interested in him like that and he said ok I respect that after really trying it on heavily.

After that, when he came to start job 2, he seemed much less friendly, and again claimed that he quoted too low for job 2 (despite seeing the room in person twice before quoting..!) and insisted I had to buy some of the materials for him to do it at that price even though that was all included in the original quote he told me. I bought the items costing like £20 and he started doing the floor. He would leave several weeks between each visit and now there is only 1 more visit to actually install my toilet) floor of very small en-suite he’s done. He hasn’t turned up for 4 weeks and is now not even responding to my texts nor phone calls despite seeming a little warmer towards me on the last visit.

I’ve not yet paid him for job 2 (he quoted about £110) for the labour of laying floor of the tiny 1m2 room and fitting the loo (I bought all materials) and he would not separate out costs for the 2 things.

If he doesn’t respond, what do you suggest is a fair price for laying just over 1m2 of floor (tiles) but not doing the main event (toilet install) for £110? Also, he needs to take the rubbish from job 1 (that he said he would do after job 2 is finished…) literally only 1 visit left and he’s no longer responding to me.. to put in context, he quoted me for job 2 in April this year. It is now July (3 months in..!) and it’s still not finished for a job that only takes 1 day in total maximum..!!! I don’t want to pay him the bulk of £110 when the main part of job 2 (toilet install) isn’t even done yet)

But I don’t want to get into a massive argument with him over how much I should pay, nor pay him a big % as the main task (installing loo) is not done.

OP posts:
LongTimeMammaBear · 21/07/2021 09:24

Had he actually contacted you for payment? If not, have someone else install the toilet and stop trying to contact him. Then block him

Should he send a letter for payment then only pay for the work completed.

CagneyNYPD · 21/07/2021 09:24

Pay for job 1. Pay for job 2 when completed.

TeenMinusTests · 21/07/2021 09:25

Surely if he isn't in touch you don't pay him anything?

If you get someone else in to finish the job, and the chap eventually bills you, then pay him the difference between the quote and the charge from tradesman #2?

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Eleoura · 21/07/2021 09:25

Did he say how long job 2 would take? £110 seems very cheap IMO, unless it was a few hours work. I would have told him where to go after completing job 1. He has likely latched onto and flirting with his next customer!

Sorry, I can't help, but a hopeful bump.

TwizzleB · 21/07/2021 09:32

Thanks everyone so far.
@LongTimeMammaBear I’m just worried about how much of the £110 he’ll portion out to cover what he has done (the tiny floor) VS the bit he hasn’t done (the toilet install). I dread to have a row about it but don’t want to pay him a big % when he hasn’t done the main event (toilet install) nor taken the rubbish from first job. (I’ve fully paid him for first job around £240 already)

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 21/07/2021 09:38

How much would you pay for builder who’s gone AWOL part way through job

A big fat zero!

He hasn’t finished the job and he hasn’t tried to claim payment and he hasn’t responded to you contacting him.

Hire someone else to finish the job. Pay them. Get a detailed receipt. If original builder contacts you again for money or to finish the job, tell him that the job is complete and you are willing to pay his original quote less what you paid someone else to finish.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 21/07/2021 09:39

FYI - call a handy friend and watch a couple of youtube videos. It is possible you can do the toilet yourself. It really isn’t that hard.

Iwantamarshmallowman · 21/07/2021 09:42

I wouldn't give him a penny

TheUndoingProject · 21/07/2021 09:48

I’d pay him nothing! If he wants paid he should have shown up and completed the job in a reasonable time frame. I’d give him notice that if he didn’t complete the job in X days you’d be contracting someone else to complete the work though.

MiloAndEddie · 21/07/2021 09:58

I’d pay him nothing. I assume if he’s not getting back to you he’s also not chasing for money?

DoubleTweenQueen · 21/07/2021 10:02

@TwizzleB Hello :) This guy gave you a quote for a job which he hasn't completed, so he doesn't get paid until it's completed.

If he quoted low, that's his lookout. He should know what he's doing. And if he wants to get paid he needs to find some time to finish off. And if he's not responding, what are you supposed to think?
Not that hard to install a loo - my DH has done a couple in this house

I would look for someone else to finish off - a good handyman or plumber? Recommendation preferable - or local plumbers merchant might be able to suggest someone?

Send your builder a text that you will give him a certain amount of time to get back to you and do the job, or you'll assume he's no longer intending to do so/changed his mind, and you will give the job to someone else. Then wait to see if he gets back to you, while you find someone else. Don't mention any floor work.

Only pay him for the completed job 1.

Reallybadidea · 21/07/2021 10:03

I would be astonished if he gets in touch now, even to ask for payment. As a pp said, I would pay someone else to finish the job and if he does ask for payment in future then just give him the difference between his quote and what you have to pay someone else.

RestingPandaFace · 21/07/2021 10:04

Give him 7 days to complete the work or you will get someone else in. Use what you haven’t paid him for 1 m2 of flooring to offset the cost of taking the rubbish away from job 1.

Done and dusted.

Paq · 21/07/2021 10:18

@RestingPandaFace

Give him 7 days to complete the work or you will get someone else in. Use what you haven’t paid him for 1 m2 of flooring to offset the cost of taking the rubbish away from job 1.

Done and dusted.

This.
justasmalltownmum · 21/07/2021 10:20

Don't pay until it's complete. Coming from someone who paid and has an unpainted bathroom door.

TwizzleB · 21/07/2021 11:08

Thanks everyone so far

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