My F**king Builder.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

He took all his tools last week, after receiving an agreed additional payment (from the final that we owe him) To clear the loft for the final lot of plastering he said. To be able to gain perspective he said. (he did not do this last time he plastered and there is only remedial plastering to do now up there, the rest is on the stairs, hallway etc). He talked to us about this and that, all nice.

After about 30 mins, I became a bit suspicious, again that he might have done a runner as he took everything apart from a yellow bucket. He took is ladder, why would you do this if you were plastering at height? Anyway, I am naturally suspicious. It is part of my job, it is part of my make-up. DH was a bit worried too, but we put it down to being nervous about this job. And I reminded myself of his reassuring conversation about him completing and DH and I agreed we were being unecessarily suspicious.

He was not coming in monday he said, bank holiday, out with the kids, he said.

This morning, he did not show. Did not answer his mobile. DH and I have been panicking. Eventually at 11am he phones.

And he said:

His younger brother has been rushed to hospital, is critical, collapsed lung (he only has one apparantly) and next 48 hours are critical. it had only just happened. He would try to get his plasterer mate to help him out.

Now. I am very cynical. DH said, initially, he appeared genuine. But DH is a very forgiving person and sees the best in everyone. I don't. DH started to doubt whether this was the truth or a blag. But, we are very nervous about whether this is true or not.

I actually want it to be true, so he that it means he has not done a runner with most of our money and left us in a hellhole. Does not make me a nice person I feel But then I also think he is very elaborate with his stories, has been so far and this smacks of some bullshit.

Either way, this week is dead for any work. and I am getting closer to my due date. And now, calm, chilled relaxed DH is starting to pull his hair out.

Sorry. Half of you probably won't even know what on earth I am banging on about but I needed to vent as I am so annoyed and upset and stressed and fed up it is unreal. I have no space. I am not sleeping as I am sharing with a toddler who talks in her sleep and a DH who is smoking too much and therefore snoring.

It is all so up and down. Good and bad.

A whole wall of plastering has been ripped down as it was so bad . Guess this builder is going to be pleased he charged through the nose now he is working so bloody hard to fix this.

Our new builder has got the finishing touches. Just little things like adding beading here and there, to stairs where plaster joins it for example, makes such a difference. His plastering is superb too.

I have had an emotional day today. Owner from downstairs came up to ask about a leak - from the radiator issues we had with previous builder. I apologised and told him to invoice me for the cost of repainting etc and he said not to worry about it, but it was just another thing. Poor builder did not know what to do I think .

Glad he's doing such a good job.

Quietly sending hugs, shh don't tell anyone.

FINISHED

The builders have gone.

It is Done.

It is not perfect, not by a long shot. But they have done everything they could to finish it well, and they have done a splendid job.

We need to paint now. There is a lot of painting.

Builder said he would also do a quote for the work that is outstanding, and he said if we did ever get the money he would come and do the work for us, and we could look at how to do it differently to increase space. he said, if plans were followed properly, we would have had hardly anything taken from the room, and would have gained at least a foot more upstairs .

SE been around with a report for our court case. He has finished by saying the work is complete as he suggested, as far he as he could tell, we have pointed out that is not correct and asked him to amend. He will also complete a section about general shoddy workmanship.

Not contributed to this thread but spent 2 hours reading through it the other night.

Well done Pavlov. Any chance of some pics?

here is the Trustworthy Tradesmen website as requested - it is for Plymouth area though so no good elsewhere!

Once it is painted, I will take some pictures, and will post them, of some before (as in, in a bad state before, rather than not done at all) and then as it is now. But you will have to bear in mind it is still not perfect!

The before/after shots will make it look perfect though

OMG!!!! FABULOUS NEWS!!!!

Yes, yes, pictures once it's painted. I'm really chuffed for you - it's been a journey!
Really excellent news. It'll be all lovely by the time your LO arrives.

Hooray! Hooray hooray! That is excellent Friday night news

Hooray! Hooray hooray! That is excellent Friday night news

Woo hoo what fantabulous news, Pavlov

Woooohoooo!!!! I am so, so pleased for you!
(And MrPavlov too).

Great news!

Thanks guys. Painting starts in ernest tomorrow. I had baby shower this afternoon and DH had DD, but tomorrow we have 4 friends coming over to help decorate and then on monday and tuesday DD is at nursery so we can carry on, and hopefully get most of it done. The carpets at the end of the month, for hallway at least. Going to have to forfeit the carpets for upstairs for a month or so due to cash flow, but before christmas it will be in (i hope).

Received email from electrician re payment as we have not received part p certs for additional work we asked him to do (check wiring, put in a new box thingy, change light in bathroom etc) and as such we have said we are not paying until certs recieved (due to paying builder and not getting what we paid for, don't trust him now as they worked together) and he has said he has not been paid at all for the work done here by the builder (the loft related work) and he wants full payment (for our outstanding amount, not all of it) before he sends the certs to us. He is mightily pissed off. I sent email back saying i understand his frustration with it all, and assured him that once the certs arrive we will pay him, but due to already being stung with up front money I am not prepared to pay anything until certs arrive.

I have been following this thread from the beginning too Pavlov and am SO HAPPY that it's all finished (bar the decorating) and I'm looking foward to the 'we won in court' thread sometime after baby Pav puts in an appearance!

As someone who is at the beginning of major building works can I ask...did you feel confident with your builder at beginning or were you always unhappy that things weren't being done right?

Hey, sorry not posted before now, been busy painting painting painting. Blimey gloss/eggshell takes a long time doesn't it?

Unfortunately, we were really happy that we had chosen the right builder at the beginning. We felt he listened to what we wanted, he made all the right noises. He made it sound simple.

And then he put the steel beams in, and from that point on (very early on mind you) it started to feel wrong, but we just put it down to our on nerves. We felt unable to ask questions, like we did not know, we were fobbed off and although it felt wrong we continued to put it down to 'we don't know about these things that why we are paying others to do it' kind of thing. We did not follow our instincts and then as time went on, we had more and more invested in it, and felt that it was just us, building work was meant to be stressful, it would all be ok, but at the back of our minds it niggled us...is this right? have we messed up? And time went on and started to prove, yes we did.

I would say, make sure you get a full written contract, if anything is changed, by you or the builders, get it in writing (for example our builder said he would put a cupboard in under the stairs, but nothing in writing, so he renaged stating no money, but we cannot prove we agreed it in the first place).

I would also say, keep your initial payment to an absolute minimum, and do not under any circumstances pay any advances that are not agreed in the initial contract, stick to agreed installments and make sure you keep a large deposit back for completion.

This new builder - he did not ask for a penny up front. Not one single penny. We asked if he needed a deposit, he said he would be happy for full payment at the end of the job. I now know, this is normal and standard, but some large jobs will ask for something near the beginning, but not hefty sums as they have accounts with their suppliers.

And, do not be afraid to ask questions. Ask, ask, ask. Do not think you should not interfere, or be seen as being too nosey. Get building inspectors out if you are unhappy whether the builders like it or not.

And be prepared to fire them asap if they screw up instead of waiting as long as we did!

Thanks Pavlov.
We have a contract in place, we are paying him at the end of each month based on an amount agreed by him and an independent contract administrator so we will always owe him a month worth of money. I'm notifying the administrator everytime something is changed but I haven't got the builder to do the same. Maybe I need to do that so that it is in writing.
It is a very scary business employing a builder!
Your new builder sounds fab - pity I live so far away

LordVetinaris - that sounds like a pretty tight plan - and you've got an idie contract administrator too. Speaking as the partner of a builder, I can't stress highly enough the need for payment schedules and the client really inspecting the work. If you hate it - feel it isn't right then speak up!!! You are the ultimate project manager and if you want something in writing then push for it.

My DP bemoans the fact that so many builders have what he calls 'fluffy' contracts - so feel free to write-up and negotiate your own.

It is scary but my DP feels it the other way round, especially on big jobs. He's always got to hope that the client can actually pay! He's had a few where the last payments have been getting dangerously close to the time he has to pay the suppliers and with an average of £25-£30k in materials, it's a lot (impossible!) for a small sole trader to swallow.

Pavlov - has the Part P cert arrived? How is the painting going? x

jeanjeanie part p not turned up. He is witholding it til we pay, and vice versa. I have emailed him advising why I am not prepared to pay prior to recieving the certs (ie, what if he does not produce them) and DH is going to call him, see if we can say meet and swap money for certs. I feel so wary as he has already said he feels aggrieved by both parties as he has not been paid for the work done to the loft on behalf of the old builder. I understand that, but that is not our fault (and to be honest, if they work together, how do I know he is not as dodgy). We just cannot afford to pay another electrician to redo his work so we can get the certs (for example checking/passing our wiring, plugs etc).

lordvetinaris that sounds like a proper way of doing it. I think, from our experience, by the very fact the builders want/are happy for that level of contract is reassuring.

Well, I do hope he doesn't faff you around. Why did he not issue it on the day???

If his contract (written or otherwise) was with the builder it's not your fault he wasn't paid - you should still get your certificate. You can always contact the people he's registered with and ask about certificate insuing after the work has been done. Just a thought.

Hi PavlovtheForgetfulCa - I have been reading this thread - unfortunately you sound so like me!! Our builder has done a runner after a six week contract. We did stage payments and have a 10% retention, a written contract and also recommendations from people but this still isn't enough to stop some of these "cowboy" builders. We have had a huge extention done - double the size of our original bungalow. I have an 11 year old profoundly mentally and physically disabled daughter who constantly uses a wheelchair, a 2yr 8 mnth old and a 13 month old. This builder has left us with a roof that leaks like a sieve - he is blaming the architech for the design - no windows sealed in properly, the door linings put in in correctly, the walls not level, the ceilings are popping screws already, coving has fallen down, he has done no remodeling inside (which he has been paid for), no drainage done, no clearing of the site - we have even had to pay for 5 skips so far and will need at least one more. He has left the property after 8 weeks and only fulfilling not even a quarter of the written contract and quote we have with him. Independent builders and roofers who have looked at his work are appauled to say the least. We feel (as two intelligent adults) so stupid to have given this "cowboy" our life savings and remortgage to get the job done and we will have to end up doing it ourselves as we have no money left. We are now about to go down the legal route and try to sue him but we just know that he will declare himself bankrupt of something similar. This man has no morals, no concience and no common sense. (sorry for venting - i am so angry that one man has done this to my family) I was just wondering how your legal proceedings are going?

OMG nikiw I'm so, so sorry I really believe that guys like him should be behind bars. If he threw a brick through your window and set fire to your curtains then he would have been nicked. Yet, he's done far worse than that. I hope you get justice down the legal route x

Thanks jeanjeannie - he won't get away with it this timne. He's messed with the wrong people. My family are number one and he is hurting them - he won't get away with it. I'm at the very angry stage again after he lied to us yet again last night and today we have rain (we live in Dorset) which is coming in. I will keep you informed on my progress - I am waiting for a call from the household insurance legal advisor - Hopefully we can use them under contractual breach. We will see.

Niki - I really hope you get this sorted. Sue the ass off the f*cker and if unsuccessful invest a few more quid in some, ahem, 'hired help' to pay him a visit. I totally agree with Jeanie when she says the police would arrest him for far less, yet they won't/can't touch him for this.

Make sure he knows you will never let it rest. Tell him you will follow him everywhere, leaflet the whole sodding town, dedicate a website to him with video/photographs, contact every dodgy builder TV show going...tell him he will never work again.

My blood is boiling for you