Hi everyone,
I've just had an awful experience with a painter and decorator. I'm home alone DH is out at work all day and relies on me to arrange painting work done on the house and I feel when they see a woman on her own, some workmen just take the $%%. When I initially spoke to the him on the phone he agreed I would pay by bank transfer after the painting work was done. He arrived and immediately started the hard sell, saying my gutters were leaky and all sorts of other roof work or I would get dampness etc and quoted ridiculous cash prices for them. I already had a bad vibe from him. When I said I didn't want this extra work done he wasn't happy visibly. I wasn't particularly happy with his finished painting work but he gave me bank details then I input them for the amount agreed. He kept texting me until this was done and I felt very stressed and rattled by him. He then phoned immediately to say he hadn't received the money and he wanted it in cash straight away or he would come back with his workman and undo the work! I felt so threatened as I am home alone. I checked and due to all the stress I hadn't clicked the "pay now" button on the online banking which I have done now. I let him know straight away that the money would be in his account straight away. I am now worried he will come back and strip off the work or hassle me by phone more. The final insult was pressure from him to leave a 5 star review! I am worried if I don't write him a good review he might retaliate, this is causing me so much anxiety, he really doesn't deserve anything but a 1 star! Please can anyone advise? I am so sick of workmen lately, I have had a few awful experiences. I feel if I leave a bad review there might be consequences but I want to warn others about this awful tradesman. Thanks!