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Original poster

Builder ran away with my money but left some tools

55 replies

vik2017 · 14/11/2021 13:52

Hi, I am really gutted and wondering if someone has had the same experience. I hired a builder from MyBuilder (with 97% positive feedback) for garage conversion and he started the job week later than agreed but I did not bother much and just had a casual chat about it. Then work progressed a bit but after taking over 10k (to buy material, windows, doors etc) he disappeared, I have tried to call him, text him but no luck. Work is around 40% complete so, I am still losing more than 5k.
I do not believe he will return but he has left some of his tools so, my question is could I repossess his tools against the money I have paid. Do I need to inform police before that and explain the incident? How will police react if I repossess his tools without informing police?
Some of you would suggest small claims court, I found a year-old tread about the same person that someone tried this route but got nothing from him because he owns nothing.
Could someone please advise, I am fuming and gutted at the same time and cannot believe these horrible people damaging the society running away with hard earned money Angry

OP posts:
KathleenWho · 14/11/2021 20:41

I'd lock the tools in my house and deny ever seeing them. What can he do?

Original poster
vik2017 · 14/11/2021 20:53

@MadeForThis they are in outbuilding (garage) and yes, they can easily be taken away by anyone because even the door (builder never installed) is not locked.
@WhatAWasteOfOranges I personally would class this as theft but highly likely police would say civil. I am gonna ring them tomorrow to explain and to get some advice.
@PoshWatchShitShoes I am really gutted, they are horrible people...
@Naughtynovembertree no trust left indeed. When he wanted the job he was the nicest person but how quickly he turned into evil. These people have no remorse and not sure how bloody they see themselves into the mirror after stealing hard earned money. I have been really low since I have realised someone stole my money and do not know what I am going to do now and how job will complete.

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 14/11/2021 20:55

You need to let people in the area know what shit he is OP.

Facebook is a good place to start

Naughtynovembertree · 14/11/2021 21:00

Yes definitely pass the message on and try and go to small claims court. I posted for traders and some of people who came in with a name, I'll make one up but let's say David.

Then I got several private pms, don't touch David with a barge pole, he started work, didn't finish it, has been on rouge traders and several people have claims agaisnt him and its his family putting his name forward.

wertheppl · 14/11/2021 21:05

What tools he didn't leave any tools 😉

Try to get someone in that doesn't take any money upfront. I had my garage conversion done very recently and paid on completion when I was happy with everything.

ChateauMargaux · 15/11/2021 06:25

Give negative feedback on the My.Builder site and if you can, link to the the information you have found regarding the other cases where he had taken money and not completed the job.

Send a solicitors letter.

Move the tools so that he has to contact you to get them back, it is not stealing, you are keeping them safe. Hold them to ransome in return for giving bcan your money.

Good luck.

BritInUS1 · 15/11/2021 07:15

Do you have his address?

WickedWitchOfTheTrent · 15/11/2021 07:29

What tools he didn't leave any tools 😉

I was just going to say exactly the same thing.

At the very least lock them away so if he does come back for them he can't take them.

Hope478 · 15/11/2021 07:31

I'm sure it can't just work like that with small claims. The defendant doesn't have any money to hand, so he doesn't have to pay back what he stole? You've heard half a story. Use the small claims courts.

MadeForThis · 15/11/2021 09:50

He would get a ccj against him or his company. Unfortunately if he is a Ltd company you can't pursue him or his personal assets. He can simplify fold his company.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 15/11/2021 13:28

Hope the police do take some sort of interest. It’s not like you gave him the money as a gift…

And those saying not to give money upfront, it’s fairly standard for builders to take a deposit for materials where I am and then payment for Labour on completion. So telling the op she shouldn’t have done that could well be unrealistic and also a bit mean as it’s already done…

Original poster
vik2017 · 15/11/2021 20:01

@ChateauMargaux that's probably I am gonna do so he just won't take them away.
@BritInUS1 I think it is in the invoice but not sure if that's correct. I am planning to drive around to that address to confirm.
@Hope478 I would definitely try this but if he does not own anything then you gotta send bailiffs which you again would have to pay for. Altogether, it is not a great experience but again, I cannot let anyone take my money like this, I would do whatever I can, even I will try to find his address and confront him.
@MadeForThis ironically this is true Angry
@WhatAWasteOfOranges I am going to put his tools away so he would not take them back easily. I have had work done many times in past and most builders do ask for upfront money but fortunately never had any problem.

OP posts:
DiamondBright · 15/11/2021 21:02

Most trades, in my experience, will ask for a deposit, equivalent to at least the materials they need to start the job upfront now, so if you cancel they're not out of pocket or they'll ask you to sign a contract.

I'm having building work done early next year and have had to pay a 10% deposit just to make a booking.

NewHouseNewMe · 15/11/2021 23:42

@Anordinarymum

No decent builder worth his salt would ask for the money for the materials upfront. This should have been a massive red flag. Did you give him cash?
I think this depends on the size of the job. Particularly in these days of shortages, I’ve known builders to ask for a lot upfront to order steels, wood and tiles in particular. Otherwise they could be £50k out of pocket.
GreenLunchBox · 16/11/2021 00:19

MyBuilder are actually really good in situations like this. I had to get them involved when a tradesman did shoddy work and they intervened for me and got the guy to come back and sort it out. I think he got a lot of work through them so he couldn't afford to have them angry with him. And MyBuilder care about their business model so they really do help you. At least they did when I had my issue.

Bogeyes · 16/11/2021 01:30

Tools? What tools?

GreenLunchBox · 16/11/2021 01:58

@Bogeyes

Tools? What tools?
Exactly. I don't understand why people are saying you can't take his tools 🙄🤔
Anordinarymum · 16/11/2021 02:13

Getting a good builder or plumber/plasterer etc is always a bit of a gamble.

I try to use people recommended by word of mouth but they always seem to be so busy so unless you are prepared to wait for them you have to look at adverts.
I have used 'rated people' and 'my builder' and looked at the reviews.
It's all a bit hit and miss.
I will not use these websites again. I will always ask around and get people who have done work for friends/family.

The last guy I employed to build a fence asked for money up front. He had a business card in a local shop. He came to see me and seemed like a solid nice guy. He told me he had recently returned to the UK from France and was short of funds and I trusted him.
He bought the materials with my money and gave me the receipt. It was the work he did that let him down. It was shoddy and not what I asked for. Then he sent us a bill for the work which was not completed.
The work was so bad we had to ask him to come and do it again. We sent him a letter explaining why. My partner brought his surveying equipment from work and sent him measurements and details in the letter explaining why it needed tearing down and redoing.
We never saw him again.
We did not pay his bill for the awful work but we were stuck with the fence which we still have now.

Netaporter · 16/11/2021 05:09

@vik2017 did you pay him anything via a credit (not debit) card? If you did, consider a section 75 claim. A part payment on cc makes the cc company liable for the whole amount lost including the cash you transferred providing the whole contract totals less than £30k. Worth a try? Also check your home insurance policy in case you have legal cover for his type of dispute. All the best to you getting it all back. Flowers

ElftonWednesday · 16/11/2021 05:14

It's not a red flag that a tradesperson asks for some upfront payment for materials.

Get in touch with local trading standards.

Original poster
vik2017 · 16/11/2021 14:58

@DiamondBright - exactly and I never had any problem in past but this time he happened to be an evil.
@NewHouseNewMe - he took the money to buy doors windows etc which did not sound unreasonable to me at all.
@NewHouseNewMe - I am not gonna let him take them back easily.
@Anordinarymum - to be honest, it is always a gable even if word of mouth. Someone in the same thread mentioned about being ripped off by someone known. These little scumbags Angry
@Netaporter - unfortunatly it was a bnk transfer Sad
@ElftonWednesday - one of the thing in my list. I am feeling so low and cannot believe people can run away with your money with no remourse.
@GreenLunchBox - I will give it a go to see but these scumbags care for nothing.

OP posts:
watchingrnfire · 16/11/2021 19:04

Can you contact Mybuilder, and also leave a negative review so others are warned.
Definitely repossess his tools, after taking off with your money I very much doubt he would go to the trouble of claiming his tools.

watchingrnfire · 16/11/2021 19:05

And how will it be theft, how can he prove that he actually left any tools at your house? He can't. So do as you please.

Original poster
vik2017 · 23/11/2021 17:07

Just to update everyone, that scumbag turned up this morning before 8am to take his tools away, loaded up everything and was trying to run away without my knowledge then I blocked his way with my car and asked him about my doors, windows etc which he could not respond in a professional way hence, became bit aggresive. Also then he put my stuff into his car that he bought for my project with my money (switches, heater etc), I then called the police and reported theft. Same time contacted couple of other people who were conned by this con man in past (great people, they turned up very fast despite living >20miles away and were working). All arrived, first police told I cannot block his way and should remove my car as it is civil. We all explained to the police that this is not his first time and he is being doing it for long time. By now scumbag did not want to speak anymore and left the site. Police officer then got more police to attend the scene to assist the matter, we requested police to run some checks on him as he is a fraud, surprise! he is not allowed to drive legally, car had no insurance and was written off. Next, he ran away, police impounded his car and he has got police record now. I also got a call from mybuilder about the complaint I lodged, his account has been suspended and will be removed permanently based on the police incident this morning. He is also not allowed on my property anymore or police will remove him with more charges.
What a great day! I know I will not get my money back but satisfied that he lost it (car, tools etc) as well and now have a police record. Phew! Smile.

OP posts:
ChateauMargaux · 23/11/2021 17:45

Hurrah for the little guy!! Even if you don't get your money back. I would still take it to the courts and get a country court judgement against him.

Good for you for standing up to his aggression. How fantastic you were able to call in the cavalry and that the police did agree to look further and actually found something to charge him with!

GO VIK!!