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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to contact trading standards?

15 replies

TrixyTed · 18/09/2021 13:47

We were due to have a company come in to remove decking and lay a new patio. They should have started on Monday and we have already paid a not insignificant sum for materials. Monday came and some of the materials arrived but no work was started. Eventually the boss came to check to delivery but said they wouldn't start work that day because they couldn't get hold of a digger. No problem we thought. On Tuesday two young lads took the decking down by hand but still no digger. Wednesday... nothing at all. I get home on Thursday to a fully laid patio! Wow... except they hadn't dug anything out so the slabs were 3 inches above the original path and too close to the damp proof course. Oh, and the slabs were sloping towards the house. My husband was beside himself but I said we should give them chance to rectify it.

They turned upon Friday morning and we explained our concerns. The boss was very apologetic but insisted there wasn't an issue and suggested some bodge fixes. We insisted they lift the slabs and remove the cement, and once that was done we'd consider whether we wanted them to continue the job.

The boss promised a digger and skip would arrive by 12 today and that they'd come to start fixing it. As expected, they haven't turned up. The phone number now doesn't exist and th Facebook page can't be viewed. So, what do we do?! We've paid more than the materials that have been delivered and the labour that's been done but they're uncontactable. Do anyone have any advice or should I just contact trading standards?

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 18/09/2021 13:51

YANBU but you can't contact trading standards directly you have to go through the citizens advice consumer service, and they pass your report on.

If you have a trading address for the person/company, I'd go to small claims court if a letter to that address does not get results, but I think its pretty clear they've done a runner with your money and are trying to ghost you so I wouldn't be surprised if they are a sole trader with no obvious contact details.

Best of luck!

gardeninggirl68 · 18/09/2021 13:54

where did you find them?

TakeYourFinalPosition · 18/09/2021 13:56

Get someone else to check the Facebook page, so you know if you’ve been blocked or if the page is gone.

Page & number being gone would be concerning… in that case, I’d be contacting your credit card company if you paid using one, and also seeing if you’ve got or can get the details needed for a small claims court claim.

Original poster
TrixyTed · 18/09/2021 13:57

They were recommended on a local Facebook group but I suspect their friends were probably responsible for that! My husband went to see some work that they'd done locally about 6 months ago and those customers were happy...but again, maybe they're mates. I'll ring citizens advice on Monday. Thanks for the advice!

OP posts:
Original poster
TrixyTed · 18/09/2021 14:00

I can still see his personal Facebook page, it's just the business one that's gone. He's only been dealing with my husband and we don't have the same surname so he wouldn't connect me to the job. We paid by bank transfer and have asked him for receipts etc but they haven't appeared!

OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 18/09/2021 14:01

All CAB will do is log it and point you to some letter templates for starting the small claims process. Trading Standards aren't interested unless multiple reports are received, and even then it's rare they do anything.

YouTubeAddict · 18/09/2021 17:48

CAB definitely, trading standards might already know about them. I was sold a dodgy appliance about 5 years ago and they guy wouldn’t refund, loads of trouble with nasty texts etc. Anyway, I contacted CAB and trading standards called me within 24 hours, they knew exactly who he was! He’d conned more than 100 people in our local area out of thousands of pounds. I picked him out of an ID parade which helped in court and it was great being at his sentencing 😂

Elieza · 18/09/2021 18:08

I was told it helps to have a postal address for the person so they can send them the summons. Do you have that? Are they registered at companies house?

Original poster
TrixyTed · 18/09/2021 19:01

I've looked on Companies House for his name and the business name and can't find either. My husband was dealing with the communication (that was a big mistake!) and he's just told me that all the emails were from his girlfriend's account! We don't have a postal address but Facebook tells me that his girlfriend has a local business so maybe contacting her might be the way to go. Thanks for the replies. I feel like we've been a bit naïve!

OP posts:
Elieza · 18/09/2021 19:41

I know others will probably disagree but I’d try and work out the business address first before turning up at gf’s business.

Look on 192.com and see if there is anyone with their names on it at the same address (it will be blanked out, just google the name and town). It will show you a name for free but you need to pay for the address unless it’s been in the phone book or something years ago and they’ve not moved, I’m which case it’ll show up free.

Or, I’d get his address from friends.

Or even follow him or her home and just note down the address for future reference. You don’t want them to twig what you’re up to before you get their address for the court paperwork. You will need it.

Sole traders don’t need to register at companies house so it could be he’s not a limited company. Which I think is good as he can be made to sell his car, property etc if needs be to pay you back if courts demand. Unless he declared bankruptcy before then. So you do need to crack on with this.

YouTubeAddict · 18/09/2021 21:23

@TrixyTed

I've looked on Companies House for his name and the business name and can't find either. My husband was dealing with the communication (that was a big mistake!) and he's just told me that all the emails were from his girlfriend's account! We don't have a postal address but Facebook tells me that his girlfriend has a local business so maybe contacting her might be the way to go. Thanks for the replies. I feel like we've been a bit naïve!
When I was scammed this is pretty much exactly what happened to me. So infuriating isn’t it?! Sorry you’re going through this Flowers
Bootikin · 18/09/2021 21:41

Sorry you’re going through this but your husband was negligent giving your money to “business” like this without carrying due diligence. The bank transfer and no proper email is classic scam!

Facebook is the haven for dodgy traders and you had loads of red flags.

Treat it as an expensive lesson or try small claims? Trading Standards are utterly useless alas.

Original poster
TrixyTed · 19/09/2021 07:07

You're absolutely right and he's berating himself now but we are where we are. He spent the whole of yesterday digging up the cement before it set hard and trying to rescue the hardcore from underneath so we can reuse it. We haven't received all the materials we paid for and we do have an itemised list of the things that should have arrived. Maybe that's the route to pursue if we do go anywhere with this.

Josh Widdecombe talks about allowing yourself a dickhead tax every year where you lose money through bad decisions. I think this is our dickhead tax for 2021!

OP posts:
Perching · 19/09/2021 07:11

Are you in North Bucks by any chance? There is a ‘landscaper’ that has scammed many people, also using gf account.

Original poster
TrixyTed · 19/09/2021 07:23

No, we're in Yorkshire. but maybe that's where he got his inspiration!

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