Decorator not doing any work/ leaving unannounced?

[Cocomandarin]

Basically I have paid a (very expensive) decorator to do some rooms in our house. I’ve set this week and next week aside for it to be completed. He said it would take 6 days. He came Monday and Tuesday and said it was too hot, fair enough. Then yesterday he text very early asking if it was cooler in my house. I said it was? But I don’t know how cool it needs to be to paint etc. it was 17 degrees. He came and done a primer coat then left. This morning he arrived and sat in his van. I took kids to school and when I’ve come back he’s not here? Left house unlocked for second time and not text. We’ve paid him a deposit but I’m really doubting he’s going to do this work. It’s the forth day and he’s barely done anything. He could have prepped the other room yesterday but just went home. It’s really stressing me out as our house is upside down and we’re sleeping on the floor as we’ve cleared the rooms. AIBU to cancel him now? He seems to have some T&C’s in the ‘contract’. I just don’t know where I stand with it as I’m guessing he would try and claim the total of the works. Help!

Why are you being a pushover?

Tell him not to come back, to take a payment proportionate to what he has done and to not come back.

We’ve paid him nearly 600 pound as a deposit. He has done nothin. It’s a lot of money to lose and don’t know where I stand?

Just ask him when he is going to complete tell him you need to see some progress because of your current living conditions and if things don't start happening cost up what you think £600 worth of work looks like, get that done then terminate the contract. Have you read all the small print? You need to voice your dissatisfaction often and loudly or this will drag on if he thinks you are a pushover. We have just had our hall, landing and stairs painted and a large bedroom repapered and painted, took two men 4 days to strip prep and complete the job, including woodwork and ceilings.

Hopefully he gave you a price for the job and is not on a daily rate?!

Haven’t you called him to ask him where he is?

Have you spoken to him, if he's on checkatrade etc the threat of a bad review my spur him into action.

What have you agreed about doing the work and to what timescale? Whatever it is, it is clear that he is messing you around and not turning up and getting on with the work, as would be a reasonable expectation of a paying customer.

And he has some of your money which is even worse, as you have kept your side of the bargain by paying it upfront and he hasn't kept his, by turning up and getting on with the job - a breach of contract.

You need to read what is in the contract but the contract itself must be reasonable and can't have unfair terms. It can't absolve him of liability to keep his side of the bargain and act fairly towards the customer.

You have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:
[From the CAB website]
"There are now also new, clear rules for what should happen if a service is not provided with reasonable care and skill or as agreed. For example, the business that provided the service must bring it into line with what was agreed with the customer or, if this is not practical, must give some money back."

Here is a link to CAB with phone numbers if you want help:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information/the-consumer-rights-act-2015/

However you need to confront him and not be afraid, telling him your reasonable expectation that he turn up and do the work as agreed (in 6 days) and that as he hasn't done so, at both great inconvenience and substantial cost to you, paying a deposit in good faith and against the promise to do 6 days' work) you are terminating the agreement, paying him for what little he has done and require the deposit money back (minus the payment for the little work) and you will contact local Trading Standards if he refuses.

@Abitofalark @AnchorWHAT @Goldengirl123 @Jabberwok @Move22 @TheSwarm thanks all x

so i messaged him to ask if he was coming back today, to which he replied ‘I would say yes but my dust sheets have been damaged and I’ve gone to get new ones’ baring in mind dust sheets were in our ‘materials cost’ he brought old ones covered in paint. They weren’t damaged. I drafted an email stating all I had issues with and asked for some of the deposit back OR the materials he has bought with receipts as we still need to do the work.

he very quickly agrees and said he would settle it tonight.

I think he just didn’t want to do it and was waiting for me to cancel him or he would have had to pay me back in full?

im so surprised as this guy as hundreds of followers on his page and so many excellent reviews.