You know that builder who knocked down the porch and conservatory he built because the customer didn't pay him?

[LittleBella]

this one here

Well one thing I've puzzled over today and haven't heard addressed, is why didn't he just take her to court? Is it because he didn't want to spend any more money on trying to get money out of someone who obviously wasn't going to pay up? Is there any real legal redress against someone who won't pay?

I do remember years ago taking a dodgy builder to court, winning and then never hearing anything again. So it was a complete waste of time. Is this still how it works?

the article says she falsely claimed her husband had died and also 'watched television in the front room' while the builder demolished stuff all around her. Sounds like she has a few delusional issues.

my son had to clear all that up as part of his job. i hope they re-charged the silly bitch.

yeah but she'll never pay will she?

no, she'll never pay.

she doesn't own the property, either, so there's no asset to get a lien on.

the council has said she has to pay to put the property back how it was, but if she's on benefits, who knows how they'll get that out of her.

they should have power to take some of the benefits off her to make her pay them for the damage to their property after she tried to scam this builder.

Message withdrawn

Is it it against the law to write a cheque knowing you can't cover that amount, I'm surprised the police weren't involved.
Poor man, I bet he wanted to knock the rest of the house down too with her in it.

He has got some of the materials back as he took back all the double glazing and parts from the conservatory. There was a clip of him taking it all to pieces bit by bit on the news.

some small companies cannot afford to go to court!! i know a builder who took away some ones back doors coz they wouldnt pay the customer was a doctor and needless to say paid in full when he realsied he had no back door or french windows!!!

the builder had warned this would happen several times but the doctor took no notice i think some ppl just realise that they can rip off small firms as they cannot afford debt collectors or courts

My sypmathy is entirely with the builder. I hope he felt some satisfaction. My DH, now retired after 51 years as a joiner was only caught out by non-paying customers twice - both biggish jobs for him - over 2 weeks of work and high cost materials - both well off and 'respectable' businessmen. He went to a lawyer who advised him to drop it, as although he would probably win at court and be awarded costs there was no legal means of making the customers actually pay. Both these non-payers were well aware of this, and had made it plain they would just 'brass neck it'.

The public do not realise that this non-payment is 'breach of contract' which is a CIVIL matter, no CRIMINAL' law has been broken. (Unless of course the builder takes back or destroys what he has built, which is theft or criminal damage!).

Our business did not founder, but both times there was much belt tightening, no holiday for us that year and a big hoo ha with the VAT man. But worst of all it left my DH so disillusioned with the law and distrustful of future new customers. He still gets into a rage if he talks about it now.

Judging from the brickwork, it seems like front and rear patio also went around the conservatory and porch. These days proper foundations have to be under a conservatory.