AIBU to think that if a tradesperson doesn't want a job, they could just bloody well say so?

[SerenityReynolds]

We're looking to get a bit of work done in our garden - probably a couple of thousand pounds worth. Looked around on Which? etc and asked friends/family for recommendations and duly booked for 3 people to come and look/give us a quote.

Guy number 1 asks me to email him after he's been over so he can email me a quote. I do so. Never hear anything back.

Guy number 2 quotes for part of the work and makes some suggestions over a couple of back and forth emails about slightly different things to do with the garden. Very nice and enthusiastic. DH and I discuss his ideas, but decide we don't think they'll suit us, tell him we'd rather go with what we originally asked for. Never hear back.

Guy number 3 gives competitive quote for the work that we want. Email to confirm we'll go ahead. No response. 3 days later (today) I call and speak to him. He says he probably can't start for 2 months but will call me back when he has his diary. I have a sinking feeling I'm not going to get a call.

AIBU to think if they didn't fancy/couldn't take on the job, they should just say so straight out and not waste my fucking time? Or am I missing something? Four weeks down the line and we're still at square one!

Well guess what?....... waited in from 1.30pm to 4.30pm as agreed and he did not show up! No phone call, no text and his phone was switched off when I tried to call him. I cannot believe we will now be onto the third plumber since the original problem started! Three weeks ago I started getting quotes to replace a tap and flush through the heating system with the possibility of replacing one radiator. Still no further forward as they either don't turn up or cancel or just disappear! They were all recommended too. I guess it is back to the beginning then. Such a shame as we are going to have quite a lot of work done next year and a good plumber would earn a lot of money . Sigh.........

It was on Radio 4 yesterday. You and yours. It'll be on iplayer.

Oh Thank you, Rosie. That is kind of you. I will listen to it when I have a moment of peace in my house(!) Will be most interested to hear what is said.

Those from the other side saying you don't get paid - can I ask your advise.

We had a plumber come and fix our boiler, and then do a service. We were told he would send the invoice before he left via email.

No email arrived, we have text/phoned him to check he has the right email he does, we have emailed him from two different email addresses, we have checked junk mail folders repeatedly over the past 3 weeks.

We have asked at fairly regular intervals about the invoice - we have never been told the total cost. We still have no invoice!

We are getting nothing back but hate being in debt to him. Was a fab plumber but doesn't seem to want to get paid.

Any suggestions?

Noodle - as long as you have proof of asking him for his invoice (make sure you keep copies of your emails, etc), there's not a lot more you can do for now. Do you have a postal address for him (office or home)? Is it possible he may be ill or have a family crisis of some kind? How long is it since the work was completed?

DP sometimes dedicates entire weekends working out the pricing for his invoices, as he doesn't have time during the week and I then have a bulk-send out to do.

You can't do anything more than wait for him to notify you, TBH. Just make sure you have money set aside based on his estimate or quote so you're not caught short.

You sound a lovely customer.

It was completed the week after Easter.

We have recently asked him to do some more work, and has promised us a quote 10 days ago - still nothing on either fronts.

I know he is working and family is ok - I found him by recommendation off a local Mummies FB group and his partner is still recommending him and saying he is working.

We have in the end gone for another plumber to fix our current issue!

I have a tip - we've just moved from rented to our first own house and had lots of work done. I called our letting agency and got all the numbers of the plumber, electrician, handyman, carper cleaner, joiner, cleaner, decorator etc. that they use.
I've met them all already so know they are reliable and good - they wouldn't keep getting work from the agency if they weren't. They all normally do a day or two for the agency and freelance the rest of the time. Had no problems getting them to do stuff.
Get someone you know who rents from a good letting agency to get the numbers of their tradesmen.

We have been in a similar position. I went to the Which? website and found a local tradesman and they agreed to come and give us a quote for work. Turned up on time, very professional, took all the details and said would be in touch. Heard nothing. Phoned & they said they would call me back, never did. I went back to the Which? website and left a comment outlining what happened and the next day got an email from Which? stating that my comment had been removed as I had not used their services.

Tradesmen like that will therefore never get a review from someone who experienced no estimates/ never turned up to estimate / or don't listen to customers!

We got the husband of dh workmate to do the jobs eventually when they overheard him having a moan at work. Probably for a fraction of the price. Much more professional than the Which?s recommended tradesmen.

Well, after having listened to that Radio 4 interview, I can only say that it appears inconclusive. The debate revolved around one legitimately dissatisfied customer of (what would appear to be) a bad builder. The customer did not wish to provide her details however, so I'm not quite sure how Checkatrade could fairly deal with her problem. Checkatrade does not only have builders as members, so this appears to be a bit of a lop-sided argument.

We have had bad building work done by a company who was a member of the Federation of Master Builders. When this went pear-shaped with them, FMB did absolutely nothing to help. But we wouldn't tar all builders with the same brush - we were unlucky.

Also, for what it's worth - we had quite an in-depth and extensive interview, had to provide evidence of CRB checks, qualifications, a list of customers so that Checkatrade could ask them (at random) for their comments on their own experience with us. So trades members are vetted (although I'm sure a couple must slip through the net - nothing is 100% foolproof). At least it is regulated to a degree.

We have just had an email from Checkatrade though, saying that a customer wanted to leave a positive review for us, but despite reminders this customer hasn't validated his email address. I have told Checkatrade to let it go, as I see this as harassment of a customer, which is not what we want to do.

Gnome - we also had a client not paying. DF did the work. She loved it. Then refused to pay as said was sub standard

DF said he was happy to rip out and take away no charge and we she wasn't happy with that

Eventually got paid

Then more problems with property that DF did maintenance work on. Was an estate agent. Owed just over £2k !!!!

Sent Invoice after invoice and they apparently pay after 30days but came to that and excuse after excuse why they couldn't

From manager being out - the wife being ill (was preg) to need to check work completed - sure tenant would have complained if wasn't right - payment will be sorted out but bank person on holiday etc etc

Sure all the staff got paid regardless

Finally I flipped 2mths and sent DF son almost 30 into estate agency. Suited and booted and got him to hand over a letter stating if no payment within 7 days we would start proceedings

Then got an email from them in pained tones saying why has we done this - DF would get paid etc

Half the money came in 3 days later and was another 2 weeks till all was paid

I was about to do another letter stating 30 days to pay and then start court and ccj

So yes many on here may moan about the tradesmen - but some customers are bad at paying as well !!