Would you warn a tradesman before leaving a bad review?

[LisaVanderpump1]

I had my bathroom completely re-done back in Feb/March. I'm having issues with the floor and bath and I've been calling/texting the builder that did the work for the last month to try and get him to come and put it right. He answered the phone once and asked me to send pics (which I did) but has ignored me since.

Got in touch with Checkatrade (where I found him) and they've said if I leave a negative review, this will trigger an investigation to try and get the issue resolved. My DP is pretty insistent that I should message the builder and let him know that I'm going to leave a negative review (although it won't show until the investigation is complete). I just cba. He's had enough opportunity to put things right, and I don't even think he's reading my messages/listening to my voicemails anyway.

So - would you let the tradesman know you're going to leave a negative review to give him one last opportunity to come out and resolve the situation, or just go ahead and leave the negative review and let Checkatrade try and sort it out?

No I wouldn't, because I don't think that will get you what you want. I would imply that Checkatrade keep bugging you ('as they are not happy') and hope it triggers him into action.

Most tradesmen have so much work these days that they DGOS about negative feedback anyway. They can always write a reply to a review saying you denied them access three times, or whatever they want to say, and most people will look past that because they're so desperate to get their jobs done.

No I wouldn't warn them. Surely they know to expect it if they are just ignoring you. Also would you trust them to do a good job repairing anyway?

Let him know he has 7 days to respond/sort out the problem before you lodge a complaint with checkatrade. He will get back to you.

Personally, no, I've never told a tradesman that I was going to leave a poor/negative review, not if I've been trying for some time to resolve an issue and the trader has not responded. As you sourced the trader through Checkatrade, I would let them deal with the follow-up.

Sounds like you want to use the threat of a negative review as leverage. You’d be better off using the threat of legal action as leverage if his work was genuinely substandard. Otherwise, I’d get someone else to sort out the mess and leave him a crappy review for what it’s worth.

In our last property,we had the drive done... cobbled pavers. First half was fine, following year we decided to do the other half. Exactly the same contractors. Young guy turned up at 7am in February, started laying the cobbles by the light of a street lamp several doors down. We had agreed, edging removed first,so it was continuous . He didn't do this. The edges were really badly cut. The icing on the cake:: I worked nights,he gave me a few days to pay, I completely forgot I had actually paid 50%, deposit! I put a cheque for the whole amount through his door on the way to work,then realised.i had a hell of a job getting the money back. I posted the truth on the checkatrade site,then rang to ask why it wasn't shown. They didn't in those days post negative reviews!! Obviously why this blokes were glowing! They told me they don't get involved in disputes. Subsequently found out, people PAY to be put on checkatrade!