To feel really bloody stupid

[Lovelycupofcoffee]

So I’ve recently moved house and asked a local person to come round and quote for a small bit of fencing in my garden . He asked for a small deposit as he’s had a few customer cancellations. He left me his address bank info . He’s now ignoring my calls and texts . I can see he’s been on line quoting for other work / replying to people asking for quotes . I feel like at least putting a message online warning people about him.

How long are we talking here? Hours? Days? Weeks?

Have you asked directly for the deposit to be returned? See if he responds to that, otherwise perhaps write a Google review then offer to delete it in return for a refund.

Comment publicly whenever he does. Just say you’ve paid a deposit for him to come and have a look, not even do the work, and since then he has ignored you. He’s taken the deposit for the appointment and ran off.

@Mrsttcno1 so he came round Sunday to look at the job he asked for 450 . I then paid a deposit and as yet he’s a no show despite texting me to say he’d brought the materials, I’ve been calling him since Tuesday and sent messages no reply .

@TartfulRidesAgain2 i did ask for the money back or materials to be given to me but no reply . I’m now doubtful he’s brought them

Tell him you will be taking him to the small claims court unless your deposit isn't returned in 24 hours. Give him your bank details.

@Ivehearditbothways I will definitely do that as it may also stop other people being ripped off

If he really has done a runner it's a hard lesson learned, OP, but in future never pay for materials upfront unless they agree for them to be delivered to you and not them

That way at least you've still got the goods if they disappear, and it makes this slightly less likely anyway as they can't use your goods for someone else's job

I would drop a message basically saying that he has pissed off the wrong customer, as you will hound him on social media.
That is, if you're certain he's not going to step up.

@Puzzledandpissedoff I have never done anything like this before and yes I’m really annoyed with myself for being so trusting , the odd thing is he left his address ? If I knew a big strong man I’d be brave and go round there. I doubt I will get the money back . He even sent a bloody picture showing the gate he was getting

Totally call him one last time, say you've not heard from him, and need to know what's happening. and if he doesn't respond the same day you'll take it that he's a rip off and post bad reviews.

It may not be his address, Lovelycupofcoffee, and if it's any consolation I felt just as daft when it happened to me years ago

In fairness we shouldn't have to feel silly over trusting tradesmen to do what they've said they will, but sadly there are just too many like this these days, and even if you go after them they'll just pop up again calling themselves something else

Check him out on the NextDoor app, and leave a post there. If he's on it you can read what other people have said, and if he's not on there, your post will warn others. https://nextdoor.co.uk/

Where did he bring the materials to? Can you go to his house?

Report this to the police.

To do this, look up Money Claim Online, if you're sure his address is legit (you might need to do some digging)

Aren't the police more likely to say it's a civil matter?

not if its a con and he did it never intending to turn up

How much of the £450 have you paid as a deposit?

Just keep messaging him on SM (is it a community page?) and ask him when he's going to do the job

That'll warn everyone

That's true about the police pursuing it, godmum56, but then the guy's almost certain to claim he has every intention of getting back to OP, only his grandma's died/the van's broken down/all his tools have been stolen and they'd have to prove he was lying

I guess it's possible in theory, but TBH I can't see them bothering

I'd send a friendly message on one of the posts he's commented on, 'Hello Bob, you don't seem to be receiving my phone calls as I've been trying to call you about the fence you said you'd do for me, is your phone broken? I hope you've managed to get the materials you needed by now, please can you confirm when you'll be round to do the work? If you can't do it please do return my deposit asap so I can ask someone else. Thanks!'

Thanks for all the feedback I’ve just sent him one final message so let’s see if he replies

How much deposit did you pay him? Has it been less than a week since you heard from him? Did you get a receipt? How did you hear about him? Was it on checkatrade or any of the other tradespeople websites?

Tradesmen are notoriously slow to respond to clients once they've got a bit of your cash or an order so he may still come good.

In future only use tradesmen that are recommended to you either personally or you've seen their reviews etc via a trade website. Generally if a tradesmen can start work straightaway 'due to cancellations' there is an issue. Good trades people are very busy and cannot slot anyone in straightaway.

Get a receipt for any money you pay. Legitimate trades are not avoiding paying their taxes and will supply one.

The police will not be interested and if you try to go to court you won't win anything and it will cost you more in the long run. If he has absconded with your deposit it is a lesson learned. Don't feel silly it happens a lot.

In my experience he’ll almost certainly reply eventually, and tell you his van has broken down and is out of action for the foreseeable future.