Been done over by a tradie - what shall I do?

[wanttoworkbut]

I feel I have been ripped off for inadequate work that he won't now come back and fix. Some new bannisters and installed, one of them is loose, none of the joined ends have been sanded so look rough in the gaps, and the newel post is a bit loose. On the day he fitted he did not fit an end piece so I held back £100 from the payment and he kicked off. He came back and did that, poorly. I am not lacking assertiveness so twice have arranged him to come back again and he's made an excuse each time.

My sense is he's a billy bullshitter, and I regret hiring him. But I am 900 quid down for poor work. Shall I give him a third chance to turn up, or find out where he lives and send a letter threatening legal action??

Pointless op just move on with your life and find someone else to fix it

even if he comes back he won’t do a good job will he - you can’t trust him

keeping only 100 was barely anything though ! I wouldnt have a paid at all until it was done properly.

best thing at this stage is a bad review

I am confused as to why you paid him at all until you were happy with what he had done?

Surely you check and double check the job and only pay once its completed to a standard you are happy with? There is an opportunity then to change things, have extra sanding done etc, until its how you want it. Only then do you pay them for a job well done.

What's done is done now though, so don't have him back. Find someone else to do what you want doing and chalk this one up to experience.

Agree with a PP, leave a bad review if you feel that strongly about it.

Never pay upfront or before the work is complete. Always get a formal written quote and invoice.

I doubt he will come back and probably won’t do a good job if he did. If he was capable of good workmanship then it would have been right the first time.

Of course I checked it before paying. But I didn't rattle each post until I started varnishing.

So you just looked at it but didn't touch it? Why would you be rattling the posts when varnishing it? Surely you would have touched it and felt its sturdiness etc when you were checking the finish?

Sorry, but if its me, I am checking its strong, sturdy, and finished properly before I part with my money.

We have just paid a joiner to build some seating for us and I have checked it meticulously before paying him. I checked the woodwork, got close and inspected his work, checked the doors opened and closed smoothly, that it was strong when I sat on it, that I was satisfied with the paint job etc.

Only then did I pay him.

I think you have made an error in not checking his work properly (not that you will admit this) but I would not have him back and find someone else and make sure I was more careful checking jobs are done to my satisfaction properly before I part with any money going forwards.

Well that's a very thorough scolding.

Just to say I agree, you have been done over by him. Don't have him back and get someone else to finish off and make it right and take the loss on the chin.

Some negative reviews might make you feel a bit better about things.

He's not reviewable, in that he's actually working for a building company and doing this on weekends. As I learned on the day.

sounds like someone HMRC would love to know about

Bad luck OP, if he's moonlighting from a full time job there's no obvious route to complain. You could take him to the small claims court, but it would take time with no guarantee of compensation.

That sounds really frustrating. Before contacting him again, take clear dated photos of every defect and put everything into one written snagging list: loose newel and bannister, unsanded joints, gaps, and the end piece. Send it by email or message so there is a record, and give one final reasonable opportunity to return and remedy it by a specific date. Keep the quote, invoice, payment record and all messages.

I would not let another person alter anything until you have documented the condition, but I would get a written quote from an experienced joiner for the cost of putting it right. If he refuses or fails to attend, send a calm formal letter setting out the defects, the remedy/cost you are seeking and a deadline, then consider independent dispute resolution or small claims as a last resort. Keep it factual and avoid threats about his employer or HMRC. In the meantime, don't use the stairs heavily until the loose parts are made safe.