Pushy builder please help

[doinitwrong]

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post this.

My roof started leaking and a guy put his card through the door and I called him he came round agreed a price and I paid him £400 deposit (cash) he fixed the roof yesterday then called me said he needed the rest of the money that night. I offered him a cheque but he said he couldn't wait fo rthe cheque to clear 3/4 days and he had to have cash. I told him I wasn't comfortable with that.

He has been ringing me all day since this morning saying he wants his money today I don't think I'm being unreasonable offering a cheque but he says he's done the work and shouldn't have to wait to get his money?

Anybody know where I stand with this?

[Lula]

sounds dodgy to me, how convenient tat your roof started leaking and then you got a card through the door, has he given you am invoice with a VAT number? and a breakdown of the work involved? also, I am sorry to have to ask this, but could you be classed as vulnerable in any way?

[doinitwrong]

Have had no paper work from him it was all agreed on the phone.

Oh dear that makes me sound really stupid doesn't it But he did do the work so I am happy to pay him just didn't want to do it in cash.

I'm single with a small baby

[Lula]

well you have a small baby so I think that you would be classed as vulnerable, how do you know that the work is done?. You need to ask him for a VAT receipt with all the work that was done and with a breakdown of the costs, if he wont supply this get in contact with trading standards., in fact I think I would ring them first to see if this joker is known to them.

If he becomes more threatening or for some reason you feel in any way in danger, dial 999 immediately and tell them that you are there alone with a small baby and there is a builder there who refuses to leave and is threatening.

[doinitwrong]

God I feel stupid now! The roof stopped leaking so I figured it was fixed.

I am worried now I hope he doesn't come back tonight. I'll send him a message now ask him to send me an invoice.

I've never needed to use a builder before so I just kinda figured this was how they worked

[doinitwrong]

I'm so crap at dealing with this kind of thing I just believed him.

I need to write down exactly what to say before calling.

I get very nervous too

[Lula]

well calm down and take a few breaths, we have all been there, you learn this stuff as you go along, you are lucky that you had the good sense to come here and ask .

Now, I am not saying that he is dishonest, but lack of quote, and lack of invoice and threatening phone calls tell me that he probably isnt, did you get an address and land line telephone number for him? that is usually a give away that he is a cowboy

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[doinitwrong]

The card just had a mobile on it. His partner has also been calling me. They both left messages as I'm not able to answer the phone at the moment.

I sent him the message I wrote 'I am not able to pay in cash. As you did not give me an invoice and will not accept a cheque I am very concerned. Please post or email me an invoice and I will forward payment. I do not think this is unreasonable'

Think that was ok?

[Lula]

Hi again, I think that was fine, I would look up the phone number of Trading Standards in your area and just see if they have heard of this joker. If he gets threatening, keep a note of it and give your local police station a call, do you have any friends or family near by who could come around and sit with you?

Also, can you just confirm that it is your house? not a local authority or a private let.

[doinitwrong]

Yeah it's my house (well the bank's technically lol) I might go stay with my parents tonight they are a bit old to come stay at mine.

I was tempted to just pay him and get it over with but it makes me uncomfortable that he wont take a cheque.

[Lula]

well if you think you need to, personally, i would lock all the doors and windows, draw the curtains and not answer the phone unless you know who it is, he probably wont do anything apart from be down the pub tonight . The chances of him doing anything at all are minimal, but should anything happen, 999 immediately.

[raydetinu]

Its not unreasonable to ask for payment after completing the work, and if satisfactory you should pay but insist on an invoice/receipt detailing the work done with a valid address and tel.no. in case of problems with work done if noyhing else.
As you would at a garage, tv/ washig machine repair etc.
Not all traders/firms are registered for VAT as not big enough.
They cannot insist on cash unless it was a prerequisite of them doing the work.
Anyway make sure you are happy with the work before you apy anyhing, can ypu get somebody to check out, friend/family

[Gilbert_O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Lula

well you have a small baby so I think that you would be classed as vulnerable, how do you know that the work is done?. You need to ask him for a VAT receipt with all the work that was done and with a breakdown of the costs,

How do you know the guy is even vat reg? Why are you going on about that Lulu?

It sounds like the guy has done the job and now wants paying, so what?

A lot of jobbers speculate & knock on doors for jobs.

It's not illegal and times are tough. Give the guy a break I say.

[Lula]

It is the fact that he is hassling for cash only, and being intimidating, I would be absolutely furious, whether he is vat registered or not he has to keep proper accounts and that means giving proper invoices.

[Gilbert_O'Sullivan]

well, the poster said the job was agreed on the phone, just verbal, so not much will stand up other than the fact the job is done and he wants paying.

now he wants cash instead of a cheque, big deal, I'd rather get paid in cash too as I have bills to pay like yesterday rather than in 5 days time!

I can't see where he is refusing a receipt either, and what's is the problem for the poster with paying by cash instead of cheque?

Unless they don't have the cash at hand, just tell him!

It sounds like the poster just wants to get away with a job done and not pay at all!

[martin2006]

As long as she gets an invoice etc then i dont see what the big deal is.
She was happy to pay the £400 deposit in cash!!!!
Why make it such a big deal now?
I am self employed and have seen a large increase in people wanting to pay by cheque. Cant see why other than the money takes longer to get to me and stays with the client a day or two longer.

two questions.

What have they done to repair the leaking roof ?

How much is the balance to be paid ?

If its a very large amount she may not want to carry that sum around with her.

[Lula]

Originally Posted by martin2006

What have they done to repair the leaking roof ?

How much is the balance to be paid ?

If its a very large amount she may not want to carry that sum around with her.

this is what I was asking in my roundabout way, I would still want a quote and a statement of what was going to be done, if £400 was the deposit gawd only knows what the balance is and for that I would be wanting some sort of paperwork, I am not suggesting that a workman doesn't get paid for his work, but he should be willing to put things in writing for the client.

[intransit]

you made a big mistake in the fact that you entered into a contract with a stranger and agreed a price in verbal. how did you know that was a fair price for the job are you a roof expert (no) you should of been very aware of fact that there was only a mobile number. you should of got your own written quotes from company's which were more above board. learn a hard lesson and pay the man. and don't be surprised when the roof leaks on Christmas morning.

[bobbyh99]

Originally Posted by Gilbert_O'Sullivan

well, the poster said the job was agreed on the phone, just verbal, so not much will stand up other than the fact the job is done and he wants paying.

now he wants cash instead of a cheque, big deal, I'd rather get paid in cash too as I have bills to pay like yesterday rather than in 5 days time!

I can't see where he is refusing a receipt either, and what's is the problem for the poster with paying by cash instead of cheque?

Unless they don't have the cash at hand, just tell him!

It sounds like the poster just wants to get away with a job done and not pay at all!

I don't think it sounds like that at all. The OP obviously couldn't get the cash for the guy that night so offered a cheque!!.

Offer the guy the cash but only when you can get to the bank to get it. Make sure you get a receipt.

BobbyH

[freakyleaky]

How long did it take him to do the work?