Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pursue this cowboy? Or shall I leave it?

13 replies

Florence4170 · 06/04/2023 10:10

I had a shed built by a local person a couple of years ago. Within a couple of days the window cracked. They came and replaced it and did a pretty poor job. The shed leaked and leaked and leaked. They came a few times to try to sort it and eventually after several visits removed the window and built a whole new side. This was after many many phone call which he ignored and ignored. Eventually he explained that he'd been in a bad place, his marriage had broken up and things had gone badly wrong for him. I was very sympathetic but said that he really must communicate with customers. Anyway - all seemed well.

A couple of weeks ago after some heavy rain I realised that it was leaking in another place. Really bad, at the back - in hindsight, because there was stuff at the back of the shed it may have been leaking all along, I don't know.
I have been phoning and messaging for a few days, no response. I have asked very politely for him to contact me as a matter of urgency, Finally said I did not want to take it further but that I would have no choice if I didn't hear from him.

So - aibu to pursue this? I don't know how - small claims court appears to be for money rather than for workmanship. I have spent so long trying to message and phone, I think he has blocked me now, on Facebook and WhatsApp so the only route I can think of is a legal one,

What do you think?

OP posts:
DontEatThePlaydoh · 06/04/2023 10:14

I'd leave it. It was a "couple"(?) years ago that it was badly built in the first place. However, there's no proof that it was the way it was built that has now caused this new leak. Structures move in high winds etc. Something could of fallen in the shed & created a gap for water to leak into. There's no way you can pin this on the man from a couple years ago.

Besides, would you want a bodger to 'sort' it again or just get it sorted properly once & for all?

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 06/04/2023 10:19

I'd leave it it was a couple of years ago. Winds & weather may of well damaged it, surely it wouldn't be under warranty now anyway.

purplecorkheart · 06/04/2023 10:29

I think after a couple of years you will not be able to follow it up. You cannot prove it was leaking since it was first built. It easily could have been caused by storm damage etc.

Original poster
Florence4170 · 06/04/2023 10:36

They fixed the window in Feb 22. So yes, a couple of years ago. Not a "couple".
Waaah! I wanted you all to tell me to hunt him down with a steely knife or something 😀

OP posts:
LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 06/04/2023 11:02

I’d leave it.

But I’m disappointed. From the title I thought you had your romantic eye on an actual cowboy and were wondering if you should go for it. That would have been much more exciting!

tuvamoodyson · 06/04/2023 11:09

To be blunt, I’m not really interested in my tradesmen’s personal problems. I’m a customer, I expect him to do the job I’m paying him for and to do it properly. He’s obviously gone for the sympathy vote. I think you’ll have to chalk this one up to experience unfortunately.

Razberryberet · 06/04/2023 11:30

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 06/04/2023 11:02

I’d leave it.

But I’m disappointed. From the title I thought you had your romantic eye on an actual cowboy and were wondering if you should go for it. That would have been much more exciting!

Haha me too!

CapturedLeprechaun · 06/04/2023 12:01

Yeah if you've had the shed for over 14 months and only just noticed the leaking now, you're wasting money & energy trying to get anything back, there's zero proof you haven't damaged it yourself at some point in the past year, because a Judge will assume if there was an issue you'd have got it fixed at the same time as the window etc. Leave it, chalk this one up to experience.

Poochypaws · 06/04/2023 12:08

Yes I don't think you will get anywhere now and will just upset yourself trying. It's horrible though when you feel ripped off by someone so you have my sympathy. Perhaps a good joiner could fix it for you so that it's permanently fixed. Sounds like this cowboy does not know what he is doing. I think I would get another tradesman to look at it and hopefully get it repaired once and for all.

weddingdaydancet · 06/04/2023 12:17

It’s too late now, anything could have caused the leak. I’m sorry.

Hoppinggreen · 06/04/2023 12:19

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 06/04/2023 11:02

I’d leave it.

But I’m disappointed. From the title I thought you had your romantic eye on an actual cowboy and were wondering if you should go for it. That would have been much more exciting!

That’s why I clicked too.
I definitely don’t have a cowboy fetish oh no, not me
(it’s the boots)

Isheabastard · 06/04/2023 12:30

As you have only discovered this leak now and it’s been two years, the onus may be on you to prove it is due to the original poor construction.

I am a member of Which Legal and they have helped me in the past by providing template letters to use. A couple of companies that I had been dealing with for ages rolled over on getting the letters. One was pursuing a 2 for one spectacles offer which they said had lapsed, the other was about a faulty sofa cover. I think you can just Google them for free.

It may be worth getting a quote from someone else to see how much it would be to fix this problem. Then you can see if it’s worth pursuing.

Otherwise you may have to put it down to experience.

GoodChat · 06/04/2023 12:34

Florence4170 · 06/04/2023 10:36

They fixed the window in Feb 22. So yes, a couple of years ago. Not a "couple".
Waaah! I wanted you all to tell me to hunt him down with a steely knife or something 😀

Ha! Sorry OP!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread