To worry that the gardener is going to do a runner with our money?

[RicktheBrick]

So we moved to a new house earlier this year and the garden is not safe for our 3 kids. We got some quotes and found a guy via Facebook, proper company, lovely pictures of his work. He was a really nice guy too and is able to give us what we want within our budget. It's a massive project, and we are also getting the driveway widened. We booked in for Easter holidays and paid half deposit upfront, said it would take 2 weeks, great we thought. Now I'm really starting to worry that it's either not going to get done at all or it's just going to just drag on and on and take months.

Day 1 - they turned up at half 9 with a mini digger and cracked on and ripped up all the slabs on the patio. But left before 3.

Day 2 - turned up before 9, and again cracked on, dug up the rest of the patio, and leveled it out ready for slabs. Left at about half 4.

Day 3 - simply did not turn up. No text to say they were not coming, and it was only when DH text him, he said he was sorry and his child had ended up in hospital (doubt that this is true now) and that they would be here the next day.

Day 4 - 1 lad turned up at half 8 (in the bosses car), did about 2 hours work cutting back some hedges and then left for the day. Whilst he was here he said the boss would be coming too but obviously he didn't turn up.

Then it was the long bank holiday weekend so they were off from Fri-Mon.

DH text on Monday night confirming they would be here all week, he said yes they would be on the job until complete now.

Day 5 - again, no show. At about half 11 DH text asking where they were. He said they were loading up the slabs and would be bringing them after. But, you guessed it, they didn't turn up.

Day 6 - turned up at about half 9, one of the lads started digging out part of a wall and he was grafting tbf, but the boss and other lad left for about 3 hours, and came back with 2 packs of slabs. They then bought 2 trailers of sand, dumped it on the driveway and clocked off at half 2 because of the rain. Said they would be here at half 8 today and would get cracking with laying the slabs.

Today - 4 of them turned up before half 8, so I had high hopes. BUT they all left again about 5 minutes later and have been gone over an hour now.

This isn't good is it? What do we do? DH has already had several conversations with him about communication and just letting us know what is going on, but they just turn up and leave when they please without a word, they don't even knock on first thing they just come straight round to the garden.

I'm worried that we've paid over £7k to this guy and that hes just not going to complete the job. The money we have remaining is all we have and won't be anywhere near enough to pay someone else to finish it. How on earth do people run businesses like this?

Where did you check his company reviews: across multiple channels I hope?

Di you get the quote (for everything) in writing and itemised?

Just an Idea, but you should be keeping a log of daily activities in a diary. Every day when they finish/go home, go out and take pictures from every angle so you have evidence for a claim. No evidence, and there's no way to claim any money back.

Make sure you don't get their backs up by being confrontational or causational

Just be polite and ask them if they are having problems with the schedule. Ask them if they will still be finished on time? I know the weather where I am in Kent, has been horrendous the past week. Not good weather for patio laying. Perhaps this is the problem.... ask?

Keep communication open. Tell him you have friends who are dying to see the completed work, as they too are considering extensive garden makeovers. Perhaps this will prompt them to complete the work.

If anyone is interested, we are going to be heading into week 7 (after being quoted 2 weeks) and the garden and driveway are STILL not done. We've had many more no shows, issues with vans and delays with materials he'd told us he'd ordered weeks before the job even started.

Not sure if he's going to bother finishing the job, as he's avoiding DHs calls and texts for the past few days. They've barely done 2 full days work this week.

I'd say the work that has been done so far is equivalent to what we've already paid, and we can get the rest of what needs doing finished for the money we have left. The patio is done but there's a few wobbly slabs. The "lawn" currently has no turf but has all been leveled out etc. The driveway is missing half the stone. There's little finishing bits that still need doing.

This is so extremely frustrating and I had a feeling after the first few days that this is how it would go.

Find a family friend or someone a friend knows to finish the job if you say you’ve paid half and what they have done has covered it! Possibly small claims courts? I’ve heard people have done that (but that’s with shit unfinished jobs) see if on check a trade and write them a shit review!

I wouldn't give any money upfront other than paying an invoice for MY materials with the delivery address on my property and maybe the sum of first day's wages (if it's a big job).

Stage payments afterwards.

⬆️ I can't swiz them and they can't swiz me.

I'd say the work that has been done so far is equivalent to what we've already paid

At least that's something OP, though you may have future problems over the quality and discovering through others that they're shysters who constantly change names was no surprise

If they've "used up" what you've already paid, obviously don't give them any more - they'll almost certainly press for this to complete the job - and in future make sure that any materials ordered and paid upfront are delivered to your premises not a tradesman's

If you feel that you have had your moneys worth to this point I'd be tempted to text him again laying out all of your issues, and let him know that you are terminating the agreement for any further works. Let him feel the consequence to his bottom line.

Alternatively, you could say the above and see what he comes back with. If he assures you that he will finish the works in a timely fashion, ask him to agree to financial penalties for every day that they are not on site or run over schedule. If he is confident in his work, staff and abilities, it shouldn't be a problem.

Think you have 2 choices.
Cut your losses providing all materials are actually on site, and get a new company in to finish the job.

Block them in every time they turn up so they can't leave.

Sorry you are going through this OP.

I have been stung before. Now I won't have any work done by builders unless they are a member of Federation of Master Builders. Always check with FMB and dont rely on use of FMB logo. I pay the Federation insurance (paid to Federation of Master Builders). It costs 1% but the protection you get is great and I have needed them to step in twice.

No advice I’m afraid, as you’re at their mercy now, and if he hasnt got a good reputation, then I guess you might have a fight on to get your money back. My Dh is in construction, self employed, and never asks for money upfront, unless for materials as the job goes on. Can’t imagine the £7k is just materials though?

Id take all their van keys on arrival. And anything else and say they'll only get them back when they've done 8 hours.

You have no way to know this, and no way to know that the project covered.

Our patio is approximately 150m2, the lawn is about 350m2. The driveway has been tripled in size from a 1 car driveway to 3/4 car drive so I'm sure you can imagine what the cost of just materials is.

And no I won't be blocking anyone in or confiscating anyone's keys. Surely people don't actually do that?! Can imagine it's easier said than done and you wouldn't be that brave in real life!

When they're here, I'm on my own with my kids, what if things were to go south if I decided to do the above??

It’s very annoying isn’t it. So many builders promise the earth and then don’t deliver in a timely manner or cut corners. The ones who did my garden were never here before 9 and never worked past 3pm and that was when it was light nights. In the end it worked out ok but it was very frustrating along the way.

No you wouldn't 😂

absolutely right, how can you decide she's been ripped off?

my landscaping was 33k in total- lawn of 660sqm- turf alone was £4k, topsoil( garden was competely destroyed by builders), patio 120sqm, skips etc and then a large driveway.

luckily this bit went well, but my builders? there's a snaglist as long as my arm and works ended over 9 months ago

glad you wouldn't.

people give some advice and I shake my head. resort to self help? What if he destroys her home? hurts her children.

just be consoled that you didn't lose money. hope all works out and you get to enjoy your garden this summer

I am sure others have said this but take dated photos and videos of the progress and issues.

Put everything in writing, even if you phone follow it up with an email or text.

Give clear dates as to when you expect things done by. Snags are expected, but should be resolved within 2 returns.

You may be able to work out cost of materials and an hourly rate and determine if that equates to £7k if it does, ok, if you don't want him to return you need to make it clear you are cancelling the contract as he has not met his side by completing in 2 weeks even with 2 weeks leeway.

Do you have anything signed with cost breakdown/time with terms and conditions?

If you have any doubts looks at CAB website.

If you don't think he has done 7ks worth of work/materials and can prove it then you can consider the small claims court... its not easy... I have been there with building work.

I hope it gets resolved in the easiest way for you.

Just remember have everything in writing and keep everything noted.

I had a similar situation 5 years ago. Paid over 3 grand for garden landscaping. Bloke did the off with our money after weeks of excuses about broken down vans, illness etc. Took him to small claims and got the ccj. Trouble is I didn't have an address to send the bailiffs round so the whole thing was pointless. I can't even mention his name... My DH is still so angry.

Also I had a written quote and had checked references etc. I thought I'd done my due diligence but still got screwed over.

I’ve had 3 large pieces (£45k + for one ) of work done in my house, we didn’t pay a penny up front. We didn’t know the workmen either.

Apparently he is coming tomorrow and will be here "all day". DH is fuming as the driveway is all muddy and boggy as it's rained this week and they keep tipping stuff from the cement mixer out there and it's ruined his favourite trainers. If they don't finish the driveway tomorrow DH is going to tell him not to bother finishing the rest of the work as we feel we have been more than fair and they have taken the absolute piss.

And to whoever asked yes we have everything in writing, it's a proper quote/contact document.

Don't breach the agreement take it over to legal you might have to take them to court to get a portion of your money back

If they don't return tomorrow see if another tradesmen will give you a quote for completion then you will know how much to sue for