Text i sent to gardener

[AdoraDearheart]

Me and my brother are currently helping my dad he had a stroke last year. The house and garden need work my dad has basically left them to go to ruin we have all ways told him things need doing but he doesn’t until it’s absolutely necessary, doesn’t like dealing with things. We contacted a gardener that was doing work at my brothers job, gardener works for the council but does jobs on the side. This was the end of march he gave us a quote and we paid a deposit for materials over a thousand pounds. My brother texted and phoned him when we heard nothing he said sorry was busy at the moment. He then gave us a start date and came and cut the grass which was overgrown then left but didn’t come back to finish the job, hedge to be planted round the border, trees to be taken out and new gate. Should mention not a big garden. Brother text him and he gave a date he would come back but didn’t show up, he did this twice. After that nothing wouldn’t answer text. Finally texted back middle of august can’t talk busy now. Brother let him know his job times, works part time, so he could speak in person. Nothing, so today i used my brother phone to text said what going on, when are you coming to do job as we have been more than patient and if he doesn’t respond we will take legal action.
Now the aibu my brother said i went to far by saying we will take legal action i have probably pissed him off and made it worse. I disagree but now I don’t know he has made me doubt myself. I am with my dad during the dad taking care of him so see the garden all day so i end up thinking about it a lot and it is frustrating. Also we are having similar problems with a plumber who was supposed to fix the heating and do the bathroom. So i keep getting angry about the situation. Was raised with our mum who had mental problems, total narcissist, so spent childhood walking on eggshells and not standing up for ourselves. Which has gone into adulthood so either avoid these situations or don’t know how to handle situations like this. Don’t know if it was to far. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks

Go straight to his Employer, and tell them it's theft.

Glad to know i wasn’t unreasonable, going to give him till tomorrow to reply if he doesn’t will text he either starts the work or returns the money. If he still doesn’t will contact his employer, never even thought to contact them.

How did he pay for a private job by card?

Claim it back through your bank and cut the contract with him

He works for the council?
Report him to the council...

You have a card payment to this council dude? That’s a good start unless I have misunderstood and you mean you only paid the plumber by card not the council homer guy?

If it’s the homer guy that’s brill.

Had to google LBA would we be able to send that as a text?
He had a card reader, thank god as i think my brother would have paid by cash

We paid plumber with card as well i made sure to get receipt as well as list of what work and materials we were getting with a start date

Whatever you do don't let them him now say he will do the work. Defo have the money back. He will either keep putting the date back or do a shit job. Threaten with letting employer know as others have said.

If it was paid on a credit card, your brother can claim it back through the credit card company: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-youre-protected-when-you-pay-by-card

Sounds promising you have evidence. Totally claim it if it was paid by credit card. I don’t know what LBA is but if it’s like PayPal the credit card trick above my not work as PayPal are a third party, ie the money rests in their account for a few seconds before being transferred.
I’d be making an appointment at the citizens advice and seeing what advice they offer. Interesting the guy has a card reader. That shows he must do homers all the time.
So if trading standards are subsequently involved by you in this matter I imagine they will investigate and may uncover a lot of earnings which tax has not been paid on.
However if citizens advice get roped in they may be able to phone the guy and make him shot his pants and he may well be out sharpish to get your work done as he will then know his arse is parsley if he doesn’t. CAB will tell you if they can help and probably refer you to trading standards if they can’t.

They can tell you if you still need an address for the tradesman. For them to serve the papers to.

I don’t know how you’ll get that.
If you know his full name you could go on 192.com and pay a couple of quid for address details of all the joe bloggs (or whatever he’s called ) in a ten mile radius. Followed by a drive by of an evening to see if his works van is ideally parked outside. Job done.
Bit that bit of reconnaissance can wait until you are sure you need it...!