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Original poster

Should I challenge builder?

35 replies

WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 17/01/2018 21:09

We're currently getting quotes from builders for a big refurb and one of them really impressed us, to the point that we were poised to offer them the job. However, because I'm concerned paranoid about being ripped off and pissing thousands up the wall, I've done some background checks snooping online and it looks like this builder has lied about being a member of the FMB. There's no record of him or his business on their site. What's more, I checked Companies House and he's only been director of the company under its current name since November, whereas a previous, similarly named company was dissolved in 2010. Alarm bells!

I should add, to avoid drip feeding, that we found him on MyBuilder, whereas the others we've approached are word-of-mouth locals who we're STILL waiting to send us a quote. The thing is, I really liked him - he had no ego, offered up tons of solutions and did a really detailed, professional quote. I also spoke to a previous client who gave him a glowing review - although I've checked this person out since and can't find record of him anywhere online, no social media, no Electoral Register mention Hmm.

Should I ask the builder for an explanation about the FMB at least before we sack him off completely?

OP posts:
tuttifritti · 17/01/2018 21:18

Tread very carefully as the wrong builder could do your finances in and wreck your property value. The lying is a massive red flag. I know it's annoying and hard to engage builders but better nothing than paying for a botch job then trying to source someone to sort a botched job.

Angryosaurus · 17/01/2018 21:20

I would just forget about him :(

Believeitornot · 17/01/2018 22:06

We found builders to quote by making a note of all the builders signs up in people’s gardens.

Have you tried that?

As for the glowing client - ask to see more references.

MrsZippyLake · 17/01/2018 22:08

I would forget him. We used bad builders as we were in a rush and the stress it has entailed has been awful. If I could do it again, I would have waited another 6-12 months for a decent builder.

munchkinmaster · 17/01/2018 22:10

Sounds like all the other builders are busy and this guy has time to chase work.....

Laquila · 17/01/2018 22:11

Totally reasonable to ask for more info on his FMB membership. If you’re uncomfortable just asking outright about that, could you ask about insurance? I’m assuming he’ll need something kind of coverage whilst working in your home, or that you’re expected to let your insurers know you’re having work done (tools left overnight etc). You could say that your insurer will give a discount for FMB members and could he please send confirmation of membership...maybe?!

TeamRick · 17/01/2018 22:15

Don't offer him the job!

My ex builder had the FMB logo all over his website, quote and invoices but sadly we didn't check until things started to go wrong!

He also provided the most detailed quote, volunteered to come to our house to talk us through it and offered suggestions & things we hadn't thought of!

A 16 week build turned in to 7 1/2 months at which point we sacked him! He lied, didn't take responsibility for a single thing!

Believeitornot · 17/01/2018 22:18

What difference does FMB make? Our builder wasn’t FMB (just checked, hadn’t occurred to me to check before!) and neither are many of the firms around here.

We looked for recommendations.

Believeitornot · 17/01/2018 22:18
Original poster
WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 17/01/2018 22:23

Oh god TeamRick, that sounds awful! You poor thing. It's pretty much the same scenario ours has followed so far - detailed quote, ultra accommodating, etc etc. I'm sorry you had such an awful experience but you may well have saved us going through the same.

I also think you're right Munchkin - he texted me a couple of days ago to nudge us about making a decision and he said he could start in a week. If he was good, he wouldn't need to chase work.

Also, interesting what you said about insurance Laquila. I've just checked the MyBuilder site again and they haven't been able to verify his policy, whereas other builders have copies of theirs uploaded. Another clanging alarm bell!

Really starting to think we might've had a lucky escape!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 17/01/2018 22:27

We've been told that if a builder is a member, the FMB will step in if anything goes wrong or there is a dispute. They supposedly vet everyone they recommend and members must adhere to a strict code of conduct. It's a professional accreditation.

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Rudgie47 · 17/01/2018 22:28

Forget him now.
Get someone who is registered properly, can show you insurances, his qualifications and proof of address like the council tax bill.
So many tradespeople have tried to rip me off. I think you need to be really careful because there's a lot of cowboys out there.
Too many red flags walk about now, with your money.

QuiteUnfitBit · 17/01/2018 22:32

Should I ask the builder for an explanation about the FMB at least before we sack him off completely?
I would ask him, just to see what he says, and then report back here. Smile I'm sure he'll have a credible excuse. However, don't believe it, and don't use him under any circumstances.

auberginesandcourgettes · 17/01/2018 23:03

Don't hire him. We have had two builders - both on personal recommendations from close friends. We sacked the first one after he had taken a year to do about half of the build (originally quoted to be 16-20 weeks), and we found out a lot of his work was shoddy.

Second builder was hired to finish the project. Had built a friend's fancy house from scratch so thought we would have no problem. Did a good job, but after we hired him he was really intimidating - shouting and swearing at us. The original couple have since had him back to do some further work on their house, and have been really disappointed. They had money disputes with him and said they wouldn't hire or recommend him again.

In the process of getting our build finished to a decent standard, we went about 25K over budget (I think, it was too depressing to ever calculate exactly).

My point in this long-winded post, is to say that even with good recommendations, you can still have problems.

Original poster
WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 18/01/2018 06:41

I'm so sorry and am horrified to hear of your experience Aubergine. To have one builder go rogue is bad enough, but to have two must be so, so stressful. As for the second one swearing and shouting at you, how on earth did you deal with that?? I appreciate there might be some butting of heads during the build, but I wouldn't want to deal with that.

Our work sounds like it's on a smaller scale - downstairs reconfiguration, no extension - but thank you for the warnings. I really do appreciate it.

Quite, I don't know if I'll bother going back to him. We're not going to hire him, so there seems little point now. So disappointed though.

OP posts:
sparklepops123 · 18/01/2018 06:51

We had somebody to install something in our house, chose them as was local company,seemed nice etc turned out total cowboys , no end of grief ,be very careful

greendale17 · 18/01/2018 07:22

I wouldn’t use the builders either- they have already been dishonest so I wouldn’t trust them.

Can’t you not get recommendations from
friends and family?

Original poster
WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 18/01/2018 07:29

greendale We've mined recommendations from friends and also people we know in our neighbourhood who've posted on our community website, but those builders are taking ages to get their quotes to us and we've been itching to get going so the refurb is done by the summer, hence why lying builder seemed a good prospect. But after reading PPs' horror stories, we're now happy to wait it out!

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OneMoreOne · 18/01/2018 07:38

I wonder how they get started, builders. Agreed that it sounds a bad idea to go with this guy

flumpybear · 18/01/2018 07:39

Walk away he's lying!

OneMoreOne · 18/01/2018 07:40

Posted too soon. I wonder how builders get started, they can't all do their first job with recommendations and members of the FMB.

Not suggesting you use that guy but maybe he's doing his first big build and that's why he's available. Although I guess they would normally work with a more experienced builder for a while before going on their own and that's how it works.

Original poster
WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 18/01/2018 07:59

I'd agree with you OneMoreOne, except this guy has been in the business for 20 years, according to his website. We're in London and he's operated in a different part to where we are, apparently.

I don't know if I'd want a first-timer to do the job anyway. I'd happily try someone new out on smaller stuff, but not a refurb.

OP posts:
whiskyowl · 18/01/2018 08:39

Walk away now. You simply cannot judge, in one short meeting, that someone is decent - and you have a lot of evidence there to suggest there are red flags against this guy. I'm really impressed you've done all this diligent research, by the way, it's excellent.

I would add that I've been very unimpressed by people on MyBuilder. It may just be my area, but it seems to be a haven for tradespeople who are dodgy or not good enough to get jobs through word of mouth. I'd go for a personal recommendation, from someone I knew well, any day - I'd also like to see the work the person had done before choosing them. With my current builder, I did a tour of the local area looking at houses he'd worked on.

whiskyowl · 18/01/2018 08:40

I just wanted to add that, while rick had the most awful experience, her build also showed that you CAN come through a disaster with a dreadful builder and still have a wonderful house. She really fought it out, and while it sounded like the biggest stress ever at the time, she did brilliantly to sort the problem and get things backon track.

munchkinmaster · 18/01/2018 08:58

My friend set up his own building company. Don’t know the ins and outs fully but had loads of contacts and good will from work as a brickie which led to work. Used other contacts (neighbours; pals) to get first small jobs. There was no desperate touting, all word of mouth.

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