Builders. I’ve planned to have some work done…nothing too massive but quite a few jobs around the house/outside.
After some consultation I agreed to pay a grand up front as part payment.
I messaged them the Friday before they were due to start and he told me his mum had died and could he start the following week. Not a lot I could say to that…although alarm bells were ringing, especially as it wasn’t him that was doing the work. It left me in this strange position where I was hoping that this man’s mum had died…otherwise he’d run off with my money.
Anyway, he Didn’t start the week after and didn’t let me know this. So I text him and it took him a few days to reply. Grrrrrrr.
The work started a week later and they cracked on and have done a lot of it. He asked me for some extra money - to be knocked off the bill - for running costs or something. Again, after consulting others, I agreed to pay…the work was up and running and I was happy with it…and I still have more money to give them.
They worked on for a few days more - or at least were coming to the house and doing some stuff. Then they stopped coming.
Yer man text me to apologise but said their van was broken down.
A few more days passed and I got home from work and noticed they’d taken their tools and left my key behind.
I’ve text the bloke and nothing back.
I mean, they’ve probably done half the work and I’ve probably paid them half the money but ffs. I ain’t seen them for 3 weeks now.
This sort of thing seems to happen a lot with trades people. I’ve spoken to loads of people who’ve had similar complaints/experiences and I have had similar things happen before. If you’ve got another job on then tell me you fucking wimps…it’s the radio silence and having to chase them that really fucks me off.
Looks like I’ll have to get someone else in.
Anyway, apologies if you’re a trades person who doesn’t do this. Go fuck yourself if you’re a trades person who does.
