NC for this as if I do have to take legal action I don't want to have been seen to be bad-mouthing them all over social media.
So - two years ago we had an issue with some building work that needed to be done. We'd had a written quotation from him when we first moved in 18 months previous, but when he came out to commence the work he said it was considerably worse than he had originally assessed.
Sadly I cannot for the life of me remember who recommended him to me :-( but he was recommended by a neighbour, or a friend.
So basically "replace 8 tiles" turned into "you need a whole new roof".
This then turned into "oh no you've got asbestos tiles, I can either get rid of them for you, or you can hire a contractor to do it but I'll do it cheaper obviously"
I don't know what it looks like under the tiles as while he was working it was covered by the scaffolding and he managed to get it all on in a day.
He also did some work on the chimney, which is now defective - it's cracked right round the crown.
Water has been coming into our dining room for something like three years, I've asked him to come back twice, he's now blocked me on social media. I've requested (and never received) a written receipt. Every single professional who's seen the work describes it as (this is one quote) "a mess - its actually a water trap in places."
On the face of it, there's no reason I wouldn't take legal action: I've asked him to remedy the work and he's failed, and is now refusing to engage with me.
I don't know what I would get out of it though, I don't think he has any money, all his dealings were through his wife's bank account. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have insurance, and I don't want him back!
(These things are great with the benefit of hindsight, not so easy at the time.)
On the other hand, it might stop him ripping someone else off for ££££s.
Help....