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Original poster

I need to rant about my builder

19 replies

IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 10:57

I honestly don't know what to do. We have had our kitchen done, which was a big job as a supporting wall was removed etc. The job was supposed to take 2 weeks (which I did think was optomistic) and we are now in week 5.
We have had trouble keeping his mind on the job, he clearly takes on too much work, and we have had days where he doesn't turn up, then he does turn up at midday and has been known to stay until midnight.
There is hardly anything left to do, a days work at the most and he is just not here.
Was supposed to finish yesterday. I called at 4:30 and said I had had enough now. He promised to be here this morning.
I sent him a text at 9:30, he replied to say he would be with me soon. HE IS NOT HERE!

I just want the job finished and my house back. We have been crammed in the living room for nearly 5 weeks now. The house is so dirty, but I don't want to clean it until the job is finished.
We can't even go in the garden as it is full of crap.
I am nearly in tears. I just want them to finish and get out of my home.
Please sympathise with me.
I am about to tell him to stick it and finish the job ourselves.

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 18/05/2010 10:58

Do you still owe him any money?

If you do tell him he comes and finishes today or he doesn't get the rest of his money.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 11:11

Can I do that?
The whole job was £3000 and we have paid him £1,800.
If he doesn't come today he is not welcome in my house anymore I have decided that.
But can I withhold all the money we owe him?

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 18/05/2010 11:21

Probably not really but you can certainly threaten him that if he does not finish he won't get all he is still due!

If you owe him that much money you are in a really strong position.

Hassled · 18/05/2010 11:25

The "contract" you had with him was for a week's work, so you could argue that he's breached the contract. I have no idea how enforceable that is, but probably he has no idea either, so you could certainly threaten to withhold part of the final payment if he doesn't complete the job by whenever you decide (or today).

NormaSnorks · 18/05/2010 11:39

I know it's easy to say, but try not to get emotional about it.
We have builders here at the moment, and I am tearing my hair out, as I work from home, but because of that they think I am constantly available, and will just suddenly say "Oh, we want to take this door out - can you clear this room for us?" .

You (or your partner, if you have one) need to pin him down and have a conversation to get him to commit to finishing the job - date/ time/detailed with what needs doing.
Just be matter of fact. Don't threaten, but explain that if he doesn't meet the terms of the contract (or your 'new' agreement) that you won't be obliged to meet your obligations in terms of payment.
Get him to agree to a completion schedule, then confirm it in writing/e-mail ("After out meeting today, I confirm that you have agreed... blah, blah)

Good luck.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 11:41

He has just sent a text to say he is on his way.
I cannot get building control sign off until I have a certificate from the electrician. He was a sub contractor so I cannot get in touch with him, so I am in a bit of a sticky situation.

I just feel so angry and feel like he is being so disrespectful.
I just need to keep my cool, get the certificate, the job done and enjoy my lovely new kitchen.

Is it always like this with builders?

OP posts:
Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 11:44

x-post NormaSnorks - you are right, I do need to keep emotion out of this. It is not going to help to cry!

It really should be finished today if he turns up.

Good luck with your building work too. Honestly, it is going to take a long time to recover from this. Or is it like childbirth and we forget how awful it is when it's over?

OP posts:
NormaSnorks · 18/05/2010 11:55

I really sympathise, I am feeling equally frustrated.

Before we appointed our builder we had a long discussion with them about how we absolutely needed a plan detailing when things would happen, and giving us 24 hours notice of stuff which would affect our office at home upstairs (e.g. power/water going off). They agreed, but have they stuck to this - no!
It's a big job, affecting the whole downstairs, so we are shuffling stuff around between rooms (which they assured us would be fine...) but now it just seems as if random tradespeople are turning up on odd days, and I'm suddenly expected to move all the furniture or something.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 12:33

Well I have just found out that the electrician is not able to provide the certificate and therefore someone has to come in and do it and it will be £300.

My builder has now turned up and I feel really shaky as I am going to have to sort this out. I get the impression he doesn't feel he should pay.
Think I am going to get DH to come home to help. That's pathetic isn't it?

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 18/05/2010 12:42

It's not pathetic but you may be able to sort it. Do you have contract? Is it in contract that builder is responsible for electrics and certificate? If so it is not down to you I wouldn't have thought.

Just keep saying to him "Yes but the electrics were part of the deal so it is not our responsibilty to pay for the certificate."

If he insists you pay then just withhold that amount from his final payment. But only pay him after he has finished EVERYTHING to your satisfaction.

BudaisintheZONE · 18/05/2010 12:43

Oh - find out WHY HIS electrician can't certify the work? Is he not qualified to do so?

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 12:46

I was here when building regs were here and they asked him if the electrician was part p registered and he said yes, so that is why I think it is down to him. I will look at the contract though.

Thanks. It is nice just to have someone answering me. This all feels very grown up and I feel out of my depth!

OP posts:
Katisha · 18/05/2010 12:52

IME builders can often be like this.

My main gripe is that they seem to be constantly on their mobile phones to someone or other, but NEVER TO ME to say they are not coming, or are delayed or whatever. Then you are left waiting and waiting.

It is happening at the moment - man is supposed to be coming to start work on something. No word from him for over a week now. Why can't they order their work? Why is it always this chaotic? Why does someone else's job always take priority?

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 12:55

Katisha - That is exactly how it feels. Like we are fitted in around everyone else's jobs, and we are never told what is actually happening.

Mutter, mutter, mutter.

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 18/05/2010 17:14

What happened then? Did he finish?

Katisha · 18/05/2010 20:20

Inspired by this thread I rang my builder for a start date this afternoon. He was going to ring back at 6.30...

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 18/05/2010 20:43

He is still here at the moment....
DH is dealing with it as I am likely to get all emotional and make a tit of myself.

I don't think he will finish tonight though. Will still be waiting on him tomorrow I should think.

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 19/05/2010 15:54

What happened today?

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 19/05/2010 16:57

Well.....

Today we paid an arm and a leg for an electrician to come and OK the electric's otherwise we can't get building reg's sign off.

And the builder turned up at 3pm to start work and will finish today. Apparently.

I just want the garden cleared of rubbish so that we can at least go in the garden to burn off some energy..

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