Tradesman / decorator problem
Discussion
ALL!
Will make this short and sweet.
I am getting some renovations performed on my property - interior work such as new skirting, door frames, architrave, plastering, new floors etc
This job was supposed to take less than 1 month and he priced the job as such - a fixed fee for labour with some science behind it - ie. cost per day and an estimate for materials.
We even discussed the timeframe and he said 3-4 weeks would be plenty.
The job has overrun to 6 weeks now and the second issue is that he has decided to not turn up and avoid calls for the last week.
He says he will come and complete the job etc but keeps making excuses each day. He is avoiding calls and picks up.
I have paid him 60% to date based upon materials / after the first two weeks however the remaining balance comprises of labour / materials and a few other additional things.
I feel like he has either decided my job isn't a priority or he has taken the money and decided to con me.
I have attempted to be as amicable as possible but I am not sure which avenue I should take (eg. get someone else in or demand a partial refund).
The other half is going mad about the state of the property and quite frankly, it is also depressing me somewhat as our place is like a building site.
Any advice or p1sstaking appreciated to cheer me up.
Carlton.
Will make this short and sweet.
I am getting some renovations performed on my property - interior work such as new skirting, door frames, architrave, plastering, new floors etc
This job was supposed to take less than 1 month and he priced the job as such - a fixed fee for labour with some science behind it - ie. cost per day and an estimate for materials.
We even discussed the timeframe and he said 3-4 weeks would be plenty.
The job has overrun to 6 weeks now and the second issue is that he has decided to not turn up and avoid calls for the last week.
He says he will come and complete the job etc but keeps making excuses each day. He is avoiding calls and picks up.
I have paid him 60% to date based upon materials / after the first two weeks however the remaining balance comprises of labour / materials and a few other additional things.
I feel like he has either decided my job isn't a priority or he has taken the money and decided to con me.
I have attempted to be as amicable as possible but I am not sure which avenue I should take (eg. get someone else in or demand a partial refund).
The other half is going mad about the state of the property and quite frankly, it is also depressing me somewhat as our place is like a building site.
Any advice or p1sstaking appreciated to cheer me up.
Carlton.
Edited by Carlton Banks on Tuesday 14th April 16:49
I'm not a 'gent' but will endeavour to enlighten based on our experience.
If a local guy, he will say anything to get the business.
In reality, the time frame is usually unrealistic. After the few weeks he has promised you, he has a new job lined up which he must start or upset the new client.
So it escalates, your job is now of less importance and he will get back to it, but the new job now has precedence and they too will be left unfinished as he goes to the next one. And so it goes on.
Had this twice recently, and getting to expect it.
Often there is a lot more work involved than the time frame quoted to secure the business.
Our way of dealing with it was to be very very calm, but firm. Get him to admit his error and you are half way to getting him to come back and finish. We had our kitchen fitter working until 10pm after giving him dinner to ensure he stayed on site.
He was actually relieved we had sussed he was on other jobs.
His work was quality but his planning was awful. Not intentional fraud, more trying to book more work than realistically capable of.
Good luck
If a local guy, he will say anything to get the business.
In reality, the time frame is usually unrealistic. After the few weeks he has promised you, he has a new job lined up which he must start or upset the new client.
So it escalates, your job is now of less importance and he will get back to it, but the new job now has precedence and they too will be left unfinished as he goes to the next one. And so it goes on.
Had this twice recently, and getting to expect it.
Often there is a lot more work involved than the time frame quoted to secure the business.
Our way of dealing with it was to be very very calm, but firm. Get him to admit his error and you are half way to getting him to come back and finish. We had our kitchen fitter working until 10pm after giving him dinner to ensure he stayed on site.
He was actually relieved we had sussed he was on other jobs.
His work was quality but his planning was awful. Not intentional fraud, more trying to book more work than realistically capable of.
Good luck
Jasandjules said:
Write a letter, hand deliver it. Advise him of the dates/times you've tried to contact him. Give him until a specific date to resolve the issues (i.e. come and fix/finish) or you will get another person in to fix the job and bill him for any additional costs incurred.
Also in the letter, repeat the promised times and tell him that "time is of the essence" as you relied on his completion estimates.Bert
Your mistake was paying him the 60%. He has started another job and may get back to you if he wants the remaining 40%. Otherwise you will not see him again.
All too common with tradesmen. We learned the hard way. Don't pay a penny until the job is complete to your satisfaction. It is the only we you will keep them working to an agreed timescale and focussed on your job. Otherwise they will just go to the job that will get them cash quickest.
All too common with tradesmen. We learned the hard way. Don't pay a penny until the job is complete to your satisfaction. It is the only we you will keep them working to an agreed timescale and focussed on your job. Otherwise they will just go to the job that will get them cash quickest.
Blakeatron said:
Sump said:
Simple rule to follow in the future is :
Formal quotation which is paid in full on job completion.
This way you will weed out the timewasters and only legit people will go for it.
Not a chance I would start a job without taking a deposit - 50% minimum!Formal quotation which is paid in full on job completion.
This way you will weed out the timewasters and only legit people will go for it.
Blakeatron said:
Sump said:
Simple rule to follow in the future is :
Formal quotation which is paid in full on job completion.
This way you will weed out the timewasters and only legit people will go for it.
Not a chance I would start a job without taking a deposit - 50% minimum!Formal quotation which is paid in full on job completion.
This way you will weed out the timewasters and only legit people will go for it.
Not many small business either have the cash or the credit with merchants to fund a big job.
Sump said:
Is that for any job?
Pretty much, our regular customers have monthly accounts - any new customers pay a deposit.We have a high cost in materials and a lot of production time before we even get to site.
Sadly there are also bad customers and we have been stung in the past with making pieces and then being told they are not required - even with signed agreements it is not worth chasing them.
I've given up on domestic contractors, 95% are a waste of oxygen and it's a lottery finding the 5% who are worth employing. Couldn't wait for the last plumber to get off site, didn't turn up when agreed, hot water from cold taps, waste pipe leaks and more. I now live in a property that's going through a process of managed decay.
hora said:
Blakeatron said:
Not a chance I would start a job without taking a deposit - 50% minimum!
If someone needs funds for raw materials I'd question if he/she's the right person. Almost everytime someones turned up in a battered old van they've asked for something up front- livered/home/office number on the side they haven't.If you start looking for organisations large enough to fund a project through to completion, organisations with a fleet of new vans, with a shiny office and dozens of admin staff then you will be paying commercial rates which will make the normal domestic clients eyes water.
Thanks guys,
I would say that 60% could have been completed but it is also the hassle factor as the job should have been finished.
Anyway, lesson learnt and have found a couple of other contractors who are aware I am currently having a Michael Douglas moment from 'Falling Down' and have agreed on payment upon completion - sub £1000 worth of work remaining.
R
I would say that 60% could have been completed but it is also the hassle factor as the job should have been finished.
Anyway, lesson learnt and have found a couple of other contractors who are aware I am currently having a Michael Douglas moment from 'Falling Down' and have agreed on payment upon completion - sub £1000 worth of work remaining.
R
hora said:
Blakeatron said:
Not a chance I would start a job without taking a deposit - 50% minimum!
If someone needs funds for raw materials I'd question if he/she's the right person. Almost everytime someones turned up in a battered old van they've asked for something up front- livered/home/office number on the side they haven't.On the other hand the sparky & window fitters we've had have just quoted to get paid afterwards & done s
t jobs.hora said:
If someone needs funds for raw materials I'd question if he/she's the right person. Almost everytime someones turned up in a battered old van they've asked for something up front- livered/home/office number on the side they haven't.
It's nothing to do with needing the funds to purchase materials. As suppliers would offer credit anyway.It's to safe guard one self from non payers!
If it's only a days work, fair enough, just take payment on completion.
If it's a couple of days, a 25% deposit! rest on completion.
Any larger jobs, 25% deposit, £1K end of each week, then rest on completion.
It certainly filters out the type who will try and not/delay payment.
BertBert said:
Jasandjules said:
Write a letter, hand deliver it. Advise him of the dates/times you've tried to contact him. Give him until a specific date to resolve the issues (i.e. come and fix/finish) or you will get another person in to fix the job and bill him for any additional costs incurred.
Also in the letter, repeat the promised times and tell him that "time is of the essence" as you relied on his completion estimates.Bert
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