Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Think we might have been ripped off here… or are these valid excuses.

26 replies

Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:02

We need to get some trees removed and had a few people round to quote.

All of them were recommended on our local Facebook group and I’ve often got tradespeople from there and never had an issue.

Happy with the price we booked it in. He then messaged asked for 50% transferred so he could hire the tree stump machine. This sounded reasonable to we transferred it.

Then he didn’t show up. When I chased he said they were out of machines and so he would come another day. Agreed a day.

On that day he didn’t show up. I had to message him and then he said again he couldn’t get a machine.

He was supposed to come today, he messaged this morning saying his daughter was unwell and he had to wait for childcare. So it’s midday now and my DH tried to call him and he’s just ignoring the calls.

I don’t have a leg to stand on to get the money back do I?

or would you trust that this has been bad luck and he will come when he can?

OP posts:
CaroleSinger · 02/10/2023 12:07

I think by doing a bank transfer you've shot yourself in the foot and lost the money unfortunately. Report him to the police and or expose it on the Facebook page.

Taketurn · 02/10/2023 12:08

Yeah sorry OP, he played you.

Original poster
Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:12

How should you pay if not by bank transfer though? I know credit card is safer but most tradespeople don’t take them.

ugh I’m such an idiot. It’s hundreds of pounds too.

OP posts:
CaroleSinger · 02/10/2023 12:14

But it's not the tradesmen the machine is being hired from. I'd have asked where he was hiring it from be ause they will take card payments. Sorry, I think he's robbed you 😞

StarlightLady · 02/10/2023 12:15

Sorry OP, l agree with other’s comments above. Most businesses should have sufficient capital to cover the cost of plant machinery used on a regular basis. In addition, look for companies which take credit cards as credit cards offer greater consumer protection.

It might pay you to contact a local law firm and see how much it would cost to send a solicitor’s letter. Sometimes these can put the frighteners on people.

MyDogsPaws · 02/10/2023 12:15

I think you need to message him and tell him you just want the money back and to cancel the job before you start writing anything negative about him defrauding you. However My ex p is a tree surgeon and always had credit accounts at hire places to hire equipment so it’s unusual that they needed cash upfront.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 02/10/2023 12:25

MyDogsPaws · 02/10/2023 12:15

I think you need to message him and tell him you just want the money back and to cancel the job before you start writing anything negative about him defrauding you. However My ex p is a tree surgeon and always had credit accounts at hire places to hire equipment so it’s unusual that they needed cash upfront.

This. There is still a chance he is merely flaky and will come in the end if you nag him. Fingers crossed.

ohtowinthelottery · 02/10/2023 12:29

I think you've been had. Last tree guy I used to take a large tree down did the job in a couple of hours, including grinding the stump, sawing up the logs, shredding the branches and clearing up. Didn't pay him a bean until he'd finished at which point I did a bank transfer.

towriteyoumustlive · 02/10/2023 12:34

Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:12

How should you pay if not by bank transfer though? I know credit card is safer but most tradespeople don’t take them.

ugh I’m such an idiot. It’s hundreds of pounds too.

You don't pay until the job is complete.

Tree removal requires experience and training, and those in the trade that do this on a regular basis will have their own equipment and not need to hire it.

If they do need to hire the equipment, then it's up to them to pay for it, not you.

Do you have any other details for this person? An address perhaps?

Original poster
Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:40

No, obviously proving myself even more stupid, I only know the company name, number, email and website.

Just an expensive lesson I guess. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for the rest of the day and see if he replies to me and keep everything crossed, but I think you’re all right unfortunately.

OP posts:
blackpear · 02/10/2023 12:59

Keep all messages and think about small claims court. You have proof of paying him.

travailtotravel · 02/10/2023 14:37

Hmm. Request return of money or you'll issue small claims court process and make sure people are aware that he'd tried to defraud you. He could still come through though!

jenpil · 02/10/2023 15:00

travailtotravel · 02/10/2023 14:37

Hmm. Request return of money or you'll issue small claims court process and make sure people are aware that he'd tried to defraud you. He could still come through though!

Yes, this.

towriteyoumustlive · 02/10/2023 15:04

Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:40

No, obviously proving myself even more stupid, I only know the company name, number, email and website.

Just an expensive lesson I guess. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for the rest of the day and see if he replies to me and keep everything crossed, but I think you’re all right unfortunately.

Name, number email and website are a good start. What you need to do is start digging. See if you can find any company details where he gives his home address.

It's amazing what you can find out online!

A friend of mine used Facebook to track down a rogue builder. She found his profile on FB, then could work out where he lived from posts he had made. A quick drive by one evening and there was his van in the driveway... A quick letter and her deposit was refunded! It did take her a bit of time and effort but she got there!

The power of social media is excellent for things like this. Perhaps even start an online post with his photo saying you've paid £XXX to get some work done, but you now can't get hold of him and does anyone else have any other contact details as you want to check he is ok.

Oysterbabe · 02/10/2023 15:10

I think you should ask him for a refund and see what he says.

Original poster
Jessforless · 02/10/2023 15:11

I’ve found his home address actually - the wonders of the internet!

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 02/10/2023 15:22

Don't give up op, go around to his house and ask him.

griegwithhimandhim · 02/10/2023 15:56

Any decent firm of tree surgeons would already own a stump grinder and all the other necessary equipment.

You've been had, sorry.

blacksax · 02/10/2023 16:02

Jessforless · 02/10/2023 12:12

How should you pay if not by bank transfer though? I know credit card is safer but most tradespeople don’t take them.

ugh I’m such an idiot. It’s hundreds of pounds too.

You really shouldn't pay a tradesman for anything like that up front.

melj1213 · 02/10/2023 16:04

Have you actually asked him for a refund?

It's not clear from your OP whether you've actually told him you want the money back but in this situation I would be saying "I need the work doing asap, you have cancelled three times now so please refund the money advanced for the equipment hire by the end of the week as you have not held up the agreement and I no longer require your services."

Only if he starts trying to put off sending the refund would I start looking to leave negative reviews/take legal action etc to get the money back.

Limoncellotape · 02/10/2023 16:11

If he does not respond to your request for a refund then contact your bank. I felt similarly foolish after doing a bank transfer for an expensive item online from a small business only for it to never arrive and for them to ignore my persistent emails. When I contacted my bank to report it they somehow arranged to freeze the other account until the money was returned. I was then refunded promptly. Months had passed since I'd made the payment, too. I did however have an invoice and company details etc. I also don't actually think they were fraudsters, just useless.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/10/2023 16:14

The power of social media is excellent for things like this. Perhaps even start an online post with his photo saying you've paid £XXX to get some work done, but you now can't get hold of him and does anyone else have any other contact details as you want to check he is ok.

///

What an excellent idea! I'll remember this for future tradespeople.

ScepticalPerson · 02/10/2023 16:16

Ask, politely but firmly, for a date of completion and add you will otherwise be requesting a refund of your deposit within 14 days. Failure to pay it back and you'll be taking him to small claims court.

Bobbielikespeas · 02/10/2023 16:32

I had some works done on protected trees recently (a lot of works, worth roughly 3k, all of them agreed to payment on completion), never ever pay up front, always get them to agree to payment on completion in advance.

Is it a limited company? Check details on companies house. Threaten to report him to the insolvency service as well as everything else, for investigations and then follow through if he doesn't respond: https://www.gov.uk/complain-company

Complain about a limited company

Complain about or report company for breaking the law or committing fraud, running scams, or selling faulty products of services

https://www.gov.uk/complain-company

WereYouListeningToTheDudesStory · 02/10/2023 16:35

Sounds like you've been had.

You can get a refund on a bank transfer. I got scammed a few years ago and the bank gave me it back. It took a few months for them to investigate but I got it in the end.