Builder Problem..

Pheebs · 10-09-2008, 15:21

Basically... had a builder round to do our driveway and back wall. He quoted us up and the drive was something like £7000 and the back wall came to £315 - slightly more than other buuut considering he was doing the front too it made sense to go with him.

He did the drive - we paid him for it - but he said to hold on to the dosh for the back wall as he was unsure when he could do it.

About 3 months later we get hold of him (after trying and trying to get the bloody wall done) and ask when is he going to do it. After a few more chase ups, he sends round a relative to do the job and pick up some of the stuff he had left here from the drive (signs and a mound of things).

The guy comes, does an okay job and when Dan rings I say it's fine (but haven't studied it). On closer inspection we find out he's not rendered behind the wall, annoyingly leaving the breeze blocks showing above the grass line.

Anyway, we wait for Dan to come for payment/contact us and he doesn't. Two months on, we have another plasterer over to do our interior bit of the house. He says to me:

"Roge did a good job of the back wall"
Me: "Ermmm a builder did it"
Him: "Christ, hope you didn't pay him!!!"
Me: "Funnily enough he hasn't asked for payment yet. Bit odd really - he was a nice chap and did an excellent job of the front but we're disappointed with the back. I don't think he wants payment!"

About 3 hours after the chap leaves... *knock knock knock*. Dans at the door. I invite him in thinking "hmmm coincidence?!?" and we have a chat and he says he's here to do the invoice.

He then tells me outstanding is £400.

I'm like... eh??!?! No! It was less! We have a bit of a titter tatter and I couldn't find his estimate but knew it was somewhere and he was saying "oh no, £375 then... £350...".

Eventually he said "the reason it's £400 was because you paid me £7000 for the drive but owed £7075... but we decided to leave it at £7075 so you could pay me a rounded figure for the back wall (£400 instead of £325 making the total quote for all of the jobs £7400)"

EH?

I said "erm... we had all the cash in a brown envelope and there certainly wasn't £400 left in it after I initially paid... and we wouldn't have given you under for the drive because we wouldn't want to owe you!!"

I then explained it was a pants job and not done to our happiness and wouldn't want to pay the full amount anyway (which he said "you said it was fine on the phone!!" so I had to say "yes but I hadn't properly checked it and it was only later on that day I saw!!")

Anyway... he's gone off in a huff and said speak to Roge. What do we do?!?!? It's his word against mine really

Really annoyed as he was superb with the drive. Am gutted.

10-09-2008, 15:21	#1
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Builder Problem.. Basically... had a builder round to do our driveway and back wall. He quoted us up and the drive was something like £7000 and the back wall came to £315 - slightly more than other buuut considering he was doing the front too it made sense to go with him. He did the drive - we paid him for it - but he said to hold on to the dosh for the back wall as he was unsure when he could do it. About 3 months later we get hold of him (after trying and trying to get the bloody wall done) and ask when is he going to do it. After a few more chase ups, he sends round a relative to do the job and pick up some of the stuff he had left here from the drive (signs and a mound of things). The guy comes, does an okay job and when Dan rings I say it's fine (but haven't studied it). On closer inspection we find out he's not rendered behind the wall, annoyingly leaving the breeze blocks showing above the grass line. Anyway, we wait for Dan to come for payment/contact us and he doesn't. Two months on, we have another plasterer over to do our interior bit of the house. He says to me: "Roge did a good job of the back wall" Me: "Ermmm a builder did it" Him: "Christ, hope you didn't pay him!!!" Me: "Funnily enough he hasn't asked for payment yet. Bit odd really - he was a nice chap and did an excellent job of the front but we're disappointed with the back. I don't think he wants payment!" About 3 hours after the chap leaves... knock knock knock. Dans at the door. I invite him in thinking "hmmm coincidence?!?" and we have a chat and he says he's here to do the invoice. He then tells me outstanding is £400. I'm like... eh??!?! No! It was less! We have a bit of a titter tatter and I couldn't find his estimate but knew it was somewhere and he was saying "oh no, £375 then... £350...". Eventually he said "the reason it's £400 was because you paid me £7000 for the drive but owed £7075... but we decided to leave it at £7075 so you could pay me a rounded figure for the back wall (£400 instead of £325 making the total quote for all of the jobs £7400)" EH? I said "erm... we had all the cash in a brown envelope and there certainly wasn't £400 left in it after I initially paid... and we wouldn't have given you under for the drive because we wouldn't want to owe you!!" I then explained it was a pants job and not done to our happiness and wouldn't want to pay the full amount anyway (which he said "you said it was fine on the phone!!" so I had to say "yes but I hadn't properly checked it and it was only later on that day I saw!!") Anyway... he's gone off in a huff and said speak to Roge. What do we do?!?!? It's his word against mine really Really annoyed as he was superb with the drive. Am gutted. __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk