Cowboy builders ... advise on what to do pls

[rita777]

HELLO your advice would be highly appreciated please as I don't know how to handle this ..

 

Late last year, we had a guy knocked at our door and proposed to fix our driveway, we told him we couldn't afford it as we were getting our windows replaced in a couple of weeks. . He said we could spread payments that he understands besides he has many people owing him anyway that he knows we would eventually balance him .. he said it would cost £1800 , bear in mind that we already had the cobbles kept in our garden which we agreed would be for half part of the drive way.

 

He came 1 week earlier than scheduled! ! We just heard a loud machine outside our window. . Anyway he completed the job the following day.. to our utmost surprise he demanded for his total money!! Face changed.. no more jokes level .. we reminded him of our 6 months payment. . Anyway we paid him £800 because we had the money that day and mainly to reduce the balance. .

 

 

Then he started calling almost everyday, demanding for his balance, sometimes turning up at our door uninvited. . We paid him another £500 ..

 

But then we noticed grasses growing out of the oobbles laid part! He gave us 5 year Warranty. . Also the edge of the pavement was patched with cement instead of coal tar .. we told him that the 6 months ends at the end of March 2016 and of course not paying until he fixes the problems .. He started threatening to come over and remove bricks ... at this point I had to report to the police ... and then he called us back that the police can't stop him because it is a civil case .. then he said he is a GYPSY that he would bring his gang ( his words ) to remove the bricks .. at this point I got very jittery. . I ve got 3 young kids 7, 5 and 21 months and live in Essex. . I called the police again and they assured me to call them if he shows up with any problems. . ( I never had any personal issues with travellers in fact I always stood up for them at work .. but now ... )

 

Anyways I told him on one of his numerous calls that he has no right to step on my property uninvited and that would be trespassing I called his bluffs !

 

Then he called one day to fix the patch , apparently there was no membrane under the cobbles! They just dug up soil and spread the cobbles directly on it .. I questioned this cos all he wanted to do was ask his boys to just pick the weeds.. he went off to get the membrane and ask the boys to fix it .

 

 

Then I asked his boys why they were topping up the grasses on the edge round the pavement with coal tar .. they told me the heat would kill the grass .. less than 2 weeks now grasses are sprouting through the coal tar in fact it is unbelievable within a short period of time ..

 

I got a call from the police for update of which I explained the situation, they told me to call them when he comes for his balance at the end of the month. . To my shock, the police called and left a message for me yesterday that because the builder is making EFFORTS the case would now be dropped and filed..

 

I wish I could upload a photo to show the grasses. . I think it is unfair for me to just cough up £500 balance just like that .. please what do I do ?

[i hate bailiffs]

You need to report this again to the police and make a statement ect

 

The job is not to standard

How has this been paid for so far cash I expect!

 

Sounds like the drive way will not last too long as it is

[rita777]

Thanks for your comment. . The first payment of £800.00 was Card although they pressed for cash .. the 2nd £500.00 was cash .. he told me he would want his £500 balance by cash ..

[Conniff]

If that £800 was Credit Card that means the whole lot was covered by s75.

[rita777]

Oh really ! Yes it was a credit card ... but how do I stress on this 5 years warranty pls ? I do have an Inovice with the warranty and their name .. I ve searched for it on Web check but could not find it .. they have a website though. . And I am really worried of them fighting dirty with me because he said he is a traveller ..

[Old Cogger]

cash report him to Inland Revenue see if he disclosed it!!