Being harrassed by tradesmen over payment

8 replies

LOVELYDOVEY05 · 29/06/2018 13:11

When I booked the renovation of both bathroom and kitchen I was told it would take a week and cost c£5000 plus tiles. The price ended up £1500 more and not completed in a week.
The kitchen was still minus a part of the extractor at the start of the 3rd week. The kitchen guy kept telling me he had other jobs to go to .
The bath panels had still not been put on because the new floor had not be laid. Why? Because they had recommended one of their mates to do the flooring but when he came with samples it turned out he was on holiday!
I got requests by text as to when I would be paying their invoices to which I replied when the work was completed. Suddenly on the Tuesday of the 3rd week the kitchen man and some other men just turned up at my place and started threatening me eg to pull out the kitchen One of the men was the plumber but I did not have an agreement with him. The intimidation was witnessed by my decorator and a friend staying with me. The next day while I was out
one man turned up again and barged into my place demanding to know whether I had been to the bank to pay his invoice.
I later received an apology from him by text and a man was duly sent late the next day to do the extractor trim.
However later that evening another man appeared and walked into my flat again without appointment. He could see I was up to my eyes
with work as the place was being decorated. A friend with me at the time explained that the previous 2 visits had been very intimidating
and the current visit only inflamed things.
Obviously I do need to pay for the kitchen but what else to do?
Very very angry at their intrusion into my property and their questioning of invitees in my home

OP posts:

wowfudge · 29/06/2018 13:59

How did the third guy walk in? Is the bathroom still not finished?

If the bathroom isn't finished I'd probably pay a decent chunk of it, but given the way they've behaved, I can see why you might not want to. You could get the bathroom flooring and bath panel fitting priced up elsewhere, deduct from the total owing and pay them that to get shot - you'd need to tell them that obviously and if flooring has been ordered, can the order be cancelled if it isn't already onsite?

user1484247439 · 29/06/2018 14:00

Is everything finished now? Was it a quote you received or an estimate? Did you get it writing?

wowfudge · 29/06/2018 14:03

The OP has posted before - it was an estimate.

wonkylegs · 29/06/2018 14:11

This is why I insist clients use contracts or at least a basic written agreement

You need to pay for the work that has been done minus an amount for the work that is outstanding

Write everything down and your reasoning, leave emotion out of it and stick to facts and send with the payment. Give them a reasonable time limit to complete the work - include this in your statement and state that if the work isn't completed in this time you will use the retained amount to pay an alternative tradesman to complete the work.

It's annoying but you can't really account for being mucked around but you need to move to an end with working with this guy and sticking to the facts is the best way of doing it.

HeckyPeck · 29/06/2018 14:19

This is good advice. I'd also to consult with other tradespeople to get an idea of how much completing the work would be so you don't end up left short. I wouldn't pay anything until I'd found out how much finishing off would be.

Original poster

LOVELYDOVEY05 · 29/06/2018 16:07

Thanks for your help. I am very depressed and upset at being harassed. I hate men like this and to be honest I do not really see the point of their behaviour as it only draws things out. They have been told by third parties that they need to let things calm down.
The outstanding work is minor but still needs doing. Everything has taken longer than they said it would which is the main problem.
They have done me no favours so I do not feel like being polite to them. I have texted the older man yesterday explaining my anger.
No way do I wish to write to them a polite letter so I may ask a friend to do it on my behalf.
They are quick to add extras to my bill so yes I could deduct an amount like they do. It is the harassment that I hate

OP posts:

user1484247439 · 29/06/2018 16:45

Deduct enough to get the works finished and pay them the rest. Be prepared for them not to return though, could be a good thing if they are threatening though.

wonkylegs · 03/07/2018 09:59

As much as you don't want to do it an emotionless (doesn't have to be polite just not calling them what you think of them) completely factual letter is the best way of tackling these things it states your position firmly and clearly so it cannot be misinterpreted- getting somebody else to help you or at least read it before you send it is always a good idea.
Good luck

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