Missing Tradesman

L

Lauren

Registered User
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1,039
So I recently had a tradesperson do some work at home. He's a jack of all trades, quality of work is brilliant so far. He painted my home, beautifully and with great care. Was delighted with the work. Then he started tiling one bathroom and things slowed down considerably. He started on the ensuite bathroom a week ago and nearly has it finished except the floor needs to be tiled. Now he appears to be missing. He won't answer his phone (he never really does anyway) and won't reply to texts. I have a bathroom dismantled (with a smell coming from where the loo goes!). Last time I saw him was Tuesday and he was to finish everything on Wednesday. Have had no contact from him since. What would you do?
 
Cover the hole going down to the sewer by stuffing it with a large pillow or cloth. Sit tight. I would imagine your tradesman will have a good reason for not being around. Have you paid him all the money up front ?
 
Hiya the hole has stuff in it already and there is still a smell. Have paid him nothing. I figure he will be back but at his leisure, which doesn't suit me at all! Doesn't anyone just want to work, finish the job, get paid and get out? I called another guy this morning to come and tile the second bathroom and he gave me about ten reasons why it might be a difficult job! If anyone knows a good tiler PM me !
 
I figure he will be back but at his leisure, which doesn't suit me at all! Doesn't anyone just want to work, finish the job, get paid and get out?
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Maybe he has other work on as well.
 
Hi Lauren

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have the same problem with a builder at the min. My main gripe is not so much that he is off on another job... its the blatant lies, all this yeah i'll be down tomorrow to finish that job and then he doesn't turn up rubbish.
Its always tomorrow, never next week or 2 weeks time. If he said i'm sorry real busy at min i'll get to you late next week or even in 2 weeks I could accept it. But this tomorrow rubbish when you know well he won't turn up is what really annoys me.
 
elcato said:
Maybe he has other work on as well.
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This seems to be a common problem with tradesmen. You would imagine with the current recession they would be glad to do the job and finish it properly before taking on more jobs. My advise when he does show up is to just get him to finish the bathroom and pay him off. He's not worth the trouble, he's taken on another job and when that job is almost finished he will come back to you guessing that it will be hard or you to find someone else to complete the job. Don't on any account pay him anything until the work is finished. Good luck
 
My first thought would be that he could be ill. Especially if you didn't have issues with him on the previous work he did.


Send him another text asking what the problem is & when does he reckon he can get back to you.
 
johnd said:
You would imagine with the current recession they would be glad to do the job and finish it properly before taking on more jobs.
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The trouble is the opposite happens when there is a shortage of work. Some tradesmen find it very difficult to turn down work, or even say they can't start immediately. So they end up taking on too many jobs, doing great work initially to ensure they get the job, then disappear off to the next one only to come back and wrap up existing jobs as things quieten down.
Leo
 
Surprising how many good tradesmaen get a bout of Friday or Monday Itis.

Plays terrible with the work situation but great for drinking in the pub (Especially when the weather tends to be good)
 
It's not related to other work, I'm pretty sure of that, given what he said on Tuesday. It's more likely to be related to better weather and a girl he met last weekend.....And yes he is of adult age ;-)

It's just annoying. I know, I know there are other things in life to get stressed about but I just want the work finished as it suits my own work schedule at the moment and that is the basis upon which we agreed he would proceed.
 
He is the type of builder that we have grown accustomed to in Ireland during the boom. These tradespeople do not deserve to make a good living. If he is ill he should let you know as any other person in a job would do!
 
try using clingfilm to block the smell, a cloth or pillow would always let it back in
 
Eng Car 1 said:
Surprising how many good tradesmaen get a bout of Friday or Monday Itis.

Plays terrible with the work situation but great for drinking in the pub (Especially when the weather tends to be good)
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what kind of rubbish is that, do solicitors doctors or other so called 'professionals' not drink, not miss days cop yourself on, what LEO said is, I suspect, exactly whats happened in this case.................
 
donee said:
what kind of rubbish is that, do solicitors doctors or other so called 'professionals' not drink, not miss days cop yourself on, what LEO said is, I suspect, exactly whats happened in this case.................
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Ouch donee, have we got a little bit touchy. Form What Lauren has recently posted it looks like I wasn't too far off the mark. (Pub/ Girls etc)

Also FYI I have come across many very skilled tradesmen who during the boom took exactly the approach I wrote about. They had it too easy back then. And thats speaking from first hand long term experience
 

I think we are back to the 1980's there is a new black ecomomy, do not pay trademen up front as some owe a lot of money, when he is finished ask for a VAT Invoice. How did you find him through a small add, word of mouth ? Leave a mesage for him that your neighbours need work done, that always worked in the 80's especially for CASH
'
 

Just to clarify, I said his absence was related to good weather and a girl. He is not a drinker. Nevertheless he is still missing and won't answer the phone which is now on and hasn't responded to my text message asking for confirmation of the completion of work.
 
aplogies i was having a moment...................
 
The vast majority of Tradesmen have always been very unreliable.

Doesn't matter if its boom times or not. They've always been the same.
 
At least you got him to appear in the first place! Even in the recession I have found that to be the first hurdle. If your lucky he will never turn up to be paid!!!
 
This type of thread always amazes me, as a tradesman I rely on my customers to
say good things about me, which leads to more work, being 'only as good as your last job'

I always do my utmost to be on time, and if running over 15mins late the customer will
always get a call to explain (I hate waiting on people as much as the next person)

You should text this guy, and give him 24hrs to get in contact and make arrangements,or you will get someone else to complete the work and he will
loose any money owed due to his absence.
 
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