I have been ripped off

[noddyholder]

Basically I gave 500 pounds to our plumber as a deposit for a downstairs loo The toilet was delivered 2 weeks ago the vanity basin wasn't.Every day he had a different excuse not to start but there was a lot going on so I didn't mind He was supposed to start today and didn't show.I rang the shop who supplied the loo to see if I could pick up the basin etc and they had no order for a basin.I planned to get the goods and get someone else to fit them.I rang his mobile endless times and his wife said he was in spain (a lie)and told me to basically f off and said he had done some work here so owed me nothing He has done nothing yet!I am now in a position where I have to tell dp we have lost 500 less the cost of the toilet and have no basin unit either I feel sick tbh but what can I do?

[Flossam]

DP says not worth while contacting police, DP says (PC). Best to go via a small claims court with (preferably) a solicitor. A letter from a solicitor is likely to shake him up IMO. I don't know about your medical cond. NH, but can imagine that the paper would be very interested as they have said. Get your DP to ring (withhold the number) and tell him that the local paper are keen and that you are preparing to go to small claims with your solicitor (even if you don't get one - sounds better). Please don't let this situation stress you out too much, there are definately ways of making your money back. HTH.

[Freckle]

Trading Standards should be contacted immediately. You should also contact the police and report the threats. It doesn't matter if they don't do anything. They will have a record if someone else rings complaining of the same thing and may take action then. And sue in the small claims court.

[charleypops]

NH, I feel sick for you. However, I would report his threats to the police, if only so they have a record of it. He probably does stuff like this to people all the time and if the police get enough complaints, or if he ever acts on his threats with anyone, then surely they'll need all the evidence/witnesses they can get to make a case?

They might even go round to warn him against intimidating you. Then if he phones you to threaten you afterwards, call the police again etc.

Did you get a receipt at all for the cash?

Good luck with it - please keep us updated x

[miggy]

noddy-I think you are in brighton? is it the bathroom shop in hove (naming no names!) that always advertises in the friday ad. Just wondering as I have bought stuff in there and seen him being aggressive to someone and when dh went to pick up the stuff he was horrible to him. just wondering as he must have a "record" with trading standards ,if so and might help your case

[noddyholder]

Hello all dp is home now and fuming!He has tried to call him but he is not answering his phone.I will go to the small claims court and pinkmama I would love the name of your plumber I need the loo as we are having students and I have to have access to a toilet as I often have to run for a wee due to my transplant!Not good at waiting.It wasn't in hove but I'm sure these cowboys are everywhere Look forward to going to the tindrum that really has cheered me up

[pinkmama]

Hi Noddy
I now can't find her number. I wil track it down and get it to you asap. She is very good, family friendly, reliable and reasonable! Hope you and dp manage to calm down. YOu must be both so angry.

[MABS]

Nods, God you poor darling. If you want to email me his number, I know some 'large ' Brighton lads who would LOVE to meet him . x

[Cam]

Noddy, sorry to hear this, you absolutely must report it to the police as it is fraud and they will be interested. Plus the threats must be mentioned as well.

The police won't be able to help you to get your money back, that will be an action in the small claims court as has already been stated.

But fraud is a crime and is an actionable offence and the police will take it further.

Try to stay calm, and don't feel bad, he obviously does this stuff all the time (wife primed to say he's in Spain etc)

[noddyholder]

Thanks I am calmer now he eventually phoned back last night and told dp where to go and said I should take him to court and give everyone in the court a good laugh Every time dp tried to speak he just laughed ansd so I will go to court It isn't the money just his attitude Dp oesn't want me to pursue this as he says plumber is nasty and could do something silly but I am having trouble letting it go, feel a bit better this morning but feel like I'll never trust another workman again

[Twiglett]

don't think you should let it go - because there is no way this is the first time he is done this and won't be the last

did you call the police and report his threatening behaviour

take him to court and expose him in the local press, it will take lots of guts but I think you can do it

good luck

[noddyholder]

I am going to do those things today.If I don't get any luck in the court I will cut my losses and go to the paper as I really do want to warn others of this b***d I am at home alone today and hope he doesn't come here!

[gggglimpopo]

Are you going to go to the police? I really would. If you tell them what is going on, and then he later turns up (doubt he will, but you never know) then they will send someone pronto, as you will already be on their records.

Best of luck on this. He sounds a right b*stard.

[acnebride]

Really feeling for you noddyholder. Aggression is always horrible but to have it in and around your home I would think must be even worse.

A plumber who doesn't think people should have toilets installed - duh?

Very best wishes with all your efforts to hold him to account.

[noddyholder]

thanks for all your support it has really helped as i have really let this get to me.I have some bricklayers at th house and have told them what happened They have advised me to let it go aswell They said i could go to court and send round police etc but they think it may come back at me in some way as they agree he is a lunatic i have told them everything he said and they say they have never heard anything like it.I have showed them his card and quote and they said the address is in a v dodgy part of town and they wouldn't be surprised if he did get someone to smash my windows or worseI don't think I can cope with all that

[Twiglett]

just out of interest you can get a cloakroom suite for £200 in B&Q

[yoyo]

What a situation to be in! He sounds particularly horrible and I don't think I'd want to take him on but wouldn't want him to get off with it either.

There are so many dodgy plumbers about though. We have lost £180 getting one to fix our toilet. He replaced a valve which leaks so water runs through constantly and as we are metered costs a fortune. We now have to turn the water off every time the toilet is flushed - not good when you want to sell. We've phoned him countless times, have now written to him threatening further action and have informed the company who recommended him. We know we'll end up paying for someone else to correct the work though.

Hope you manage to sort something out.

[charleypops]

Noddy - where did you get his name from? Was he recommended to you? Or was it just from the ad in the newspaper?

[noddyholder]

I got him from the yellow pages He has a v smart van business cards etc the whole team wear work sweatshirts etc It all seemed the most above board of all the companies we had round I have decided to leave it for a few days as ds was really upset seeing me crying and I don't want to ruin his weekend I am going to get a dvd tonight and have a nice meal etc with dp and try to put it behind me Thanks for all your replies it has helped just to get it off my chest and learn from me NEVER hand over money no matter how legit they seem xx

[charleypops]

Poor you. Who knows though, this experience may save you loads more money than £500 in the future as now you won't be hoodwinked so easily. There are thousands of people who've lost out to w*ers like these. We've certainly lost quite a bit from trusting "tradespeople" in the past - not asking for full estimates, broken down invoices or to see their merchants receipts etc.

I hope you at least inform trading standards etc, and you could tell the Yellow Pages too, although I'm sure he changes his business name every year.

Hope Mamaplumber does a lovely job for you!

[Cam]

Dear Noddy

I just tried to CAT you but you are not CATTABLE, can you CAT me with your email address so I can email you?

Love Cam xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Cam]

Thanks Mabs for sending Noddy's email address.

[tamula]

Havent read all posts so forgive me if i repeat stuff.

But I would make a formal complaint to where you aquired his services in the first place.

I would also call every hour god sends, fill his mailbox with messages so he cant get new ones, call both home and his mobile or anywhere else you have a number for him, i know its a tad tideous and stressful but bug him, he may just give in and pay you back. Leave polite messages though, no swearing or threats incase he turns it round and tries to report you as some kind of nutcase, in all messages repeat what he has done, so if he does try to turn it round anyone that listens to them knows the story.

If you feel malicious enough report him to the police, say that you paid him, he done nowt and he has now threatened you with actual physical harm if you dont shut-up and go away.

From a devious Tamula

[tamula]

Saying all that, I dont think thats much use to you, we're both very different I think!! I'd take him on no problem

But I dont think it'd be best for you, I'm just so angry that people can be so mean and vindictive. Really sorry you had to go through this.

[noddyholder]

UPDATE I have had a phone call today via the builders merchant from another lady he did the same thing to but he took 1500 from her We are going to the police tomorrow All the time he wasn't at her job he was telling her about the lovely job he was doing for me!!She knew all about my imaginary vanity unit He has got wind of this and has phoned me but I have decided to go to the police and thats that Don't feel so scared now that I have other support

[emmamama]

Good on you Noddy!!!!!Who knows how many others he has done this to?