Dodgey builder

SHIELDSni

Registered User
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Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice, realise that i'm in the north so things may be slightly different but i have seen good advice in relation to similar matters on here. My mum arranged for a builder to do some work for her and being a divorcee our building expert seen the gravy train, encouraged her to add extra work to what was being done, never really completed some of the works and didn't provide quotations on work (naivity on her part). when i discovered the goings on and the exorbitant amount of money he had received for doing very little i told her to put all works on hold and to ask for a breakdown of what had actually been paid for and what he claimed he was owed for to date. As you can imagine he inflated costs on a new invoice, including work that he had not even attempted and work that he had not completed to a satisfactory standard. He became agressive and walked off the job and sent another copy of the invoice by recorded mail. We responded citing concerns with the standard of the work, failure to take reasonable care and exercise reasonable skill and the fact that items on his outstanding invoice had not been completed or even attempted and the repair costs involved in making his work 'good'. We suggested that he revise his invoice to a more realistic figure given the issues raised, which he ignored and filed a small claims action. I would be confident we have a fairly strong case but have no prior experience and will be contacting citizens advice on this, but i was hoping for some views on it? i realise the north may be slighlty different from the south but would appreciate any views?

thanks
 
i dont know how it works up there, but if you went to the small claims court, can you call on independant experts?? if so i would definitely hire an experienced engineer / architect to look over the work and give their assessment of it... on issues such as compliance with regulations and standards, standard of workmanship, and even if they are able, to breakdown material costs.
 
The first port of call should be your solictor.

If money has been paid already, ask for this back including the list of work not done but charged for.

I doubt you will hear from him again

Dodgy builders will now be rueing the day they shafted people
 
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