I recently advertised a job on Checkatrade to have our kitchen worktops replaced. A tradesman contacted me and we exchanged emails. He seemed very legit - his company was real on Companies House, good reviews for him and his previous company which he had rebranded, a 'guaranteed' account on Checkatrade, an active Instagram account for his companywith lots of pictures of similar jobs, and he seemed keen to help out and answered lots of my questions. I provided measurements and a specification and he provided a quote which I was happy with. I paid a small deposit and for the materials as the tradesman agreed to buy the worktops for me, to have them delivered to our home.
Two days before he was due to arrive the worktops had not been delivered. I contacted him and he said that he had been very ill and was catching up. The installation date arrived - no worktops, no tradesman, and no indication that he would not turn up. He has ignored several Whatsapp messages (unread) and not responded to an answerphone message and several emails.
What should I do? Have I been mugged off? How could this be a scam - it all seems perfectly legit - he is a real person with a real reputation. I have his home address through Companies House...seems a bit mad but I could visit in person? (he is local).
Feeling sick that we might have lost what little, hard-earned and -saved money we can afford to spend improving our home.