about a disappearing builder

[AWayToGo]

Builder who seemed okay to start with has disappeared - not been here for 6 weeks. Have phoned/ emailed etc and got no response. Thought he may have met with an accident but acquaintance on other side of town has seen his van.

AIBU to send him a letter demanding return of the the money paid out for materials - a few hundred pounds - and maybe threaten to report him to errr Trading Standards? Ann Robinson?

Also his stuff - some tools - are still here - AIBU to threaten to dump them?

don't dump them.
do you have the materials ?

it might not have been him in the van

Do you have an address for him,home or work?

If not do you know anyone else that he's been doing work for?They might know what's going on.

If neither of those have you tried seeing if he's on facebook?if he is and you can see his account(wall)you might be able to see from that what's going on.

Don't dump the materials either OP,especially if your the one that's paid for them.

Don't dump them, but reasonable to try and contact and if you see the van go and speak to him.

When we were building an extension we asked 4 local and well recommended builders to come and quote. 3 responded immediately, the 4th, despite several calls, never contacted at all. Turns out he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and was in hospital with his wife, who usually did the administration by his side as he wasn't expected to live.
Actually he did, and I now know him socially and in the normal sense he would never do that to anyone.

If you cant get hold of him,you can ask the financial services ombudsman to contact him.

Or even a solicitor.

You have been patient, given him a chance in case he was sick/injured.