I'm not sure where to start really or exactly what I hope to get out of this - I just wonder if anyone can offer any insight into my situation or advice on how to proceed. I'll try to be brief.
We had an extension built Jan -April this year. Throughout the build the relationship with the builder broke down completely as he got furious with us for ever questioning or complaining about anything. At the end of of the build he sent us a final invoice but we sent back a snagging list and also the requirement for a building control inspection (having found out he had not organised any of the interval inspections with building control).
He went mad at us and started making threats if we don't pay him all the money and has carried out some of these threats including contacting my place of work and telling them I am mentally unstable and have post natal depression and am aggressive and volatile (our second child was born during the build and we also have a 22 month old), he contacted social services and told them the same, that we were a risk to our children and my husband is abusive. He contacted the GMV and told them I was not safe to see patients (I am a doctor). He has threatened to contact my husband employers with similar and also my Dad's. He has threatened to send bailiffs round. He has told us he wants us to lose everything including our home. Just for the record there is absolutely no basis to any of his assertions about our character.
I reported it to the police over a week ago and they said they would serve him with a harassment notice but they still haven't done it, the harassment is ongoing and they told me to log it all with 101 which I do but I'm worried I'm in danger of harassing them about it! I haven't heard back from the original officer who is supposed to serve the order.
Yesterday a surveyor came around and basically it turns our all our worst fears are realised and the builder has cut lots of corners, it is going to costs a significant sum to fix and there is a chance he hasn't dug the foundations deep enough in which case it might all have be ripped down and started again. The builder doesn't know this yet but he will in due course. You would think it might stop him going on the offensive but I'm not so sure.
We have a solicitor and he keeps mentioning 'my solicitor' in his emails but he clearly hasn't got legal advice because we have never received anything from his solicitor, he has ignored repeated requests for him to tell us who they are and there is no way any solicitor would condone the things he is doing.
I'm so worried on so many levels but my main concerns are:
If we need to try and recover a significant sum from him to fix it all, will he be able to just dissolve his company to avoid paying the debt? The contract was with his company but the money went into his personal bank account if that makes any difference.
My solicitor is talking about defamation proceedings to stop his constant attempts to destroy me professionally - has anyone ever been through this - is it expensive? Lengthy? I just want this man out of our lives. I feel so stupid for ever letting him in - I think we have made every mistake in the book.
Does anyone have any advice, comments, been through similar? I know no magic bullet can take this all away but I would love some reassurance that there is a way out. Thanks