How Long Should I Wait For A Workman To Come Back ?

[CW1]

Hi,

Tried to keep this to the point but is a bit long ...

I paid a hefty deposit before Xmas for some urgent work to be done starting 10 January. He turned up for a couple of hours then, & sporadically throughout the week, total time he was here would've amounted to less than a day.

One job, the priority as far as I was concerned, was to replace bathroom tiles with shower boards (the tiles are leaking so I've now had to cover them with bubble wrap !). I've never even seen samples he kept promising as that apparently would've delayed ordering them by weeks, had to choose them from pictures. On 15 January he told me I'd have to pay an extra £350 up front, to cover the cost of sourcing the boards from the UK, from a company he didn't have an account with so he didn't have the usual 30 days to pay. I was shocked his company couldn't cover that cost 'til the job was complete (or use the deposit) but he was adamant & I saw no way out of it other than to pay.

After been told almost every day since that they were being picked up, & giving me dates a fitter would be round, he eventually told me the guy who had them in his van now had Covid & no one could get them out of his van. Last I heard, on 25 January, he (who also owns the company) - AND the fitter - had Covid. I've heard absolutely nothing since (he did sound ill when I spoke to him then).

Virtually every day I'd asked him for an update on dates & he kept saying once he knew something he'd let me know. I know that's what he'll say if I contact him now, but how long do I wait ? This is urgent, if he can't do it I need to get my money back & try find someone else. Was difficult finding someone in the 1st place, & happened across this guy when he was working at a neighbour's. It's only come to light recently he messed her about too, & also asked her for more money. Her work did eventually get done after she demanded her money back, but her's was "improvements" rather than mine that *needs* to be done asap.

Could start a chargeback but what would I do about the very little work he's already done ? The painting he's done would have to be done again, though a "very quick" other job he has actually done (took less than 30mins).

[Buenchico]

Possibly a good starting place:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/

[david small]

This despicable attitude shows his contempt to you and the professionalism of tradesmen. When I was in business the customers needs were paramount. Unfortunately you are now in the position of waiting on his response. Gird you loins, this too will pass.

[The Builder]

Without putting too fine a point on it CW... yer man is a knucklehead, and way out of his depth.
Very few decent tradesmen should need upfront money for a job. (The exception being anyone you've known for some time, and you can trust.)
Currently, a great deal of the building trade is in a mess. Materials are in short supply, and good workers are rare........ and very busy.

The "covid excuse" will probably be used for some time to come. I'm getting quite sick of hearing it now.
Cancel the guy by putting it in writing, asking for a refund as well.
Write again when (inevitably) nothing happens.
After that, there's nothing much left but The Small Claims Court.
Perhaps that might shake him up.

You're in an awful position CW. You may have to cut your losses and start again with someone decent, if you can find one. They are out there, but you may have to stand in a queue.
I wish I could suggest something more helpful.

[CW1]

I have now e-mailed him, given him 48hrs to give me a definite date. He had said on 15 Jan that by buying the boards from this other company he'd be taking a hit that he wouldn't pass on to me (his usual supplier gets them cheaper, from Europe, but that would take weeks - ha ! - due to Covid & Brexit *sigh* No mention of that in December when the work was booked in) which made it a not very profitable job. He'd also told me he wanted it sorted as much as I do (doubtful), he has other contracts to start, so I do wonder if me threatening to pull the plug is exactly what he wanted.

I can't afford to just cut my losses, he's had over 50% of the total cost now, & I've virtually nothing to show for it (his ladder's still here ! *doh*). I don't doubt he does (did) have Covid, he didn't sound well on 25th, & I do emphasise, though p'raps he (& his office, they've all got it) should've just been more blimin' careful given what his job involves. I've managed to avoid it so far by being just that.

[The Builder]

He has an office with staff, and plenty of other work?
Even less reason for insisting on a deposit. Is he the only worker? Why can't someone else finish the job properly?

My sympathies, CW. I think you're doing just about all you can.

[CW1]

It's not a very big company, The Builder. There's at least one in the office, 2 bathroom fitters plus him (the owner), maybe some other trades I don't know about. He said the deposit was to buy materials, pay salaries, expenses, most people I spoke to wanted some sort of deposit.

It was one of the fitter's partner that started the Covid outbreak, then that fitter came down with it, making it impossible (apparently) to get the boards off his van. Believe me, I queried that, but when I'm being told he can't send someone round to collect, the fitter would have to leave his flat, come down stairs, come out to hand over the van keys, I felt a right be-atch thinking "can't he just throw the keys out of a window ?" ! The other fitter was s'posed to be close to finishing their contract some time ago & doing my bathroom with the owner, but then someone in the office got it, then the owner. It does beggar belief.

[The Builder]

I know you want to get this work completed right away CW, but I'm afraid you're going to have to sit back and take a deep breath.
Keep the pressure up and make a nuisance of yourself if necessary.

Illnesses can happen to any of us (if that really is the case.)
The business over the boards in the van is farcical. There do seem to be a lot of "excuses" here. Invariably the last resort of a scoundrel.

He has effectively been part-paid. Keep on at him. Even if there are genuine health concerns, he still has a large chunk of your money.