How do you deal with really rude builder?
Discussion
Toyoda said:
227bhp said:
Most online reviews which are open to the public are utter drivel.
Amen to that. Checkatrade, carehome.co.uk, goodgaragescheme...... all complete and utter cons. You'll find every trader/carehome/garage scores 4/5 or 9/10 minimum, as if not, the companies would stop paying these middlemen. It f
king stinks.All I had to do was show I had liability insurance at the time of joining the scheme, two references that could be easily faked and confirm I'd been decorating for a couple of years. Not a really high bar to get over.
Oh, and give Dulux lots lots and of cash every year for some stickers to go on my van and to stay registered on the scheme.
in the office we used to get requests from various trade bodys about the quality of builders,
we always had a stock "he is ok" responce,
apart from once fed of master builders asked about someone, a real cowboy who ripped punters off on every job, quoting low and doubling the total price with extras, basically quoted low, got them to sign a contract to build as per plan, plan had no mention of plaster, quality of kitchen bathroom etc.
we gave an honest review (even ran it past legal)
they still admitted him.
after that the standard responce became "why ask you let anyone in"
we always had a stock "he is ok" responce,
apart from once fed of master builders asked about someone, a real cowboy who ripped punters off on every job, quoting low and doubling the total price with extras, basically quoted low, got them to sign a contract to build as per plan, plan had no mention of plaster, quality of kitchen bathroom etc.
we gave an honest review (even ran it past legal)
they still admitted him.
after that the standard responce became "why ask you let anyone in"
RTB said:
I've often wondered how trades get on with doing jobs for retired or elderly tradesmen. My dad, who is in his 80s, worked in the building trade for decades. He still does some of his own work but most of it he can't manage, so he gets people in to do it. He's probably a nightmare to work for as he knows how he'd go about doing a job.
Or engineers. About a decade ago my father built a house at the end of their garden. He went and got the paperwork done to allow him to formerly project manage the work and he ran the site more akin to a military operation. Clocking in and off and all work was heavily monitored and he got the brickies and chippies to teach him some of their skills, he also showed them a few engineering tricks. Frankly, he must have been a bit of a nightmare but the house was completed ahead of schedule, there was no snagging and all the chaps were handed a significant bonus at the end for their hard work. The owner of the company still takes the p1ss out of my father when he walks down to the local and buys my mother a drink if she is there, almost certainly out of sympathy.
DonkeyApple said:
RTB said:
I've often wondered how trades get on with doing jobs for retired or elderly tradesmen. My dad, who is in his 80s, worked in the building trade for decades. He still does some of his own work but most of it he can't manage, so he gets people in to do it. He's probably a nightmare to work for as he knows how he'd go about doing a job.
Or engineers. About a decade ago my father built a house at the end of their garden. He went and got the paperwork done to allow him to formerly project manage the work and he ran the site more akin to a military operation. Clocking in and off and all work was heavily monitored and he got the brickies and chippies to teach him some of their skills, he also showed them a few engineering tricks. Frankly, he must have been a bit of a nightmare but the house was completed ahead of schedule, there was no snagging and all the chaps were handed a significant bonus at the end for their hard work. The owner of the company still takes the p1ss out of my father when he walks down to the local and buys my mother a drink if she is there, almost certainly out of sympathy.
Awesome, that’s exactly what the U.K. needs. More people like your dad running stuff. I’m sure there’s a hugely valuable untapped resource of people with experience out there retired. I remember years ago starting a thread about somehow harnessing this untapped knowledge.
El stovey said:
Awesome, that’s exactly what the U.K. needs. More people like your dad running stuff. I’m sure there’s a hugely valuable untapped resource of people with experience out there retired. I remember years ago starting a thread about somehow harnessing this untapped knowledge.
bobtail4x4 said:
in the office we used to get requests from various trade bodys about the quality of builders,
we always had a stock "he is ok" responce,
apart from once fed of master builders asked about someone, a real cowboy who ripped punters off on every job, quoting low and doubling the total price with extras, basically quoted low, got them to sign a contract to build as per plan, plan had no mention of plaster, quality of kitchen bathroom etc.
we gave an honest review (even ran it past legal)
they still admitted him.
after that the standard responce became "why ask you let anyone in"
On this topic , back in the day when I ran a roofing company I used to price against a couple of other contractors like that , I'd price honestly according to the spec given and they'd come in low and either load it back up on extras or use different quality materials. we always had a stock "he is ok" responce,
apart from once fed of master builders asked about someone, a real cowboy who ripped punters off on every job, quoting low and doubling the total price with extras, basically quoted low, got them to sign a contract to build as per plan, plan had no mention of plaster, quality of kitchen bathroom etc.
we gave an honest review (even ran it past legal)
they still admitted him.
after that the standard responce became "why ask you let anyone in"
One customer asked me why I was twice the price of a competitor for a large slating job that specified new welsh slate , I explained if I was twice the price they wouldn't be getting new welsh .
Low and behold when the job started the other contractor couldn't get the welsh so it was substituted with Spanish !
I actually ended up on that job after the other mob had finished installing cover flashings around the chimneys that had been left off amongst various other problems. This other company was members of most of the large trade associations at the time yet had little to no direct labour force and only employed the cheapest subbies available .
Leicesterdave said:
I've had my roof done over the last 2 days and this guy is like ' trust me' 'on my kids life' etc which to be fair set alarm bells ringing but (rightly or wrongly) his review on checkatrade and ALL other review website stacked up and said how polite and good he was. I decided to go with the reviews rather than my gut instinct....
He made loads of rude little comments like 'Look you're an intelligent guy no? It's common sense' in that real patronising way when I asked him a couple of questions.
Then they finished the job, went up to the loft a couple of hours later and noticed it dripping a bit. Called him back to be told that he was tired and basically really had a ps off attitude towards me.
I never get tradespeople- I pay in good faith (in this case £950) and get treated like crap if I dare question something going wrong. In fact even on the job the guy just shows very little respect.
I'm not a particular large fella and always wonder if I was built like a tank whether they'd have the same attitude? Who knows.
Either way he is coming back today to have a look at it, but I just know he'll be FULL of attitude and a part of me just wants to answer back- should I? I'm sure they know you depend on them to rectify and job and won't have the guts to tell them what's what.
Just can't believe you've got to think the above just when you're employing someone for a day's work.... I'd never even think of speaking to my customers like that, and I do get some lip from them!
Any news/update on your meeting last Friday OP?He made loads of rude little comments like 'Look you're an intelligent guy no? It's common sense' in that real patronising way when I asked him a couple of questions.
Then they finished the job, went up to the loft a couple of hours later and noticed it dripping a bit. Called him back to be told that he was tired and basically really had a p
s off attitude towards me.I never get tradespeople- I pay in good faith (in this case £950) and get treated like crap if I dare question something going wrong. In fact even on the job the guy just shows very little respect.
I'm not a particular large fella and always wonder if I was built like a tank whether they'd have the same attitude? Who knows.
Either way he is coming back today to have a look at it, but I just know he'll be FULL of attitude and a part of me just wants to answer back- should I? I'm sure they know you depend on them to rectify and job and won't have the guts to tell them what's what.
Just can't believe you've got to think the above just when you're employing someone for a day's work.... I'd never even think of speaking to my customers like that, and I do get some lip from them!
Apologies if I missed it in the thread...
Jaguar steve said:
Toyoda said:
227bhp said:
Most online reviews which are open to the public are utter drivel.
Amen to that. Checkatrade, carehome.co.uk, goodgaragescheme...... all complete and utter cons. You'll find every trader/carehome/garage scores 4/5 or 9/10 minimum, as if not, the companies would stop paying these middlemen. It fking stinks.All I had to do was show I had liability insurance at the time of joining the scheme, two references that could be easily faked and confirm I'd been decorating for a couple of years. Not a really high bar to get over.
Oh, and give Dulux lots lots and of cash every year for some stickers to go on my van and to stay registered on the scheme.
I just took myself off Google maps as it was doing no good anyhow, all my business comes through word of mouth or from the website. If you've got a decent established business in the building trade (I'm not), you don't need Checkatrade and FB.
227bhp said:
Jaguar steve said:
Toyoda said:
227bhp said:
Most online reviews which are open to the public are utter drivel.
Amen to that. Checkatrade, carehome.co.uk, goodgaragescheme...... all complete and utter cons. You'll find every trader/carehome/garage scores 4/5 or 9/10 minimum, as if not, the companies would stop paying these middlemen. It fking stinks.All I had to do was show I had liability insurance at the time of joining the scheme, two references that could be easily faked and confirm I'd been decorating for a couple of years. Not a really high bar to get over.
Oh, and give Dulux lots lots and of cash every year for some stickers to go on my van and to stay registered on the scheme.
I just took myself off Google maps as it was doing no good anyhow, all my business comes through word of mouth or from the website. If you've got a decent established business in the building trade (I'm not), you don't need Checkatrade and FB.
Google wouldn't remove it, however we realized that if we took ourselves off Google Maps then the review function is gone
I sympathise as I am currently in a similar situation with a tradesman. I now realise the warning signs were there when he came to assess the job - he didn't stop talking, over-rode anything I tried to say about the job I wanted done, and never let me finish a sentence. His only comments were basically "This is what you need" rather than "What would you like me to do?" I checked his credentials and customer feedback -- all glowing (I now think he got his friends to write fake reviews). The man, all smiles at the first meeting, has turned out to have a chronic personality disorder. Nothing is ever his responsibility and the whole world is out to get him, you know the type. He clearly has a serious anger control problem too -- he can (and does) turn in an instant. All the advice websites tell you to seek mediation or legal advice or (and this is ridiculous) "first of all, speak to him". Really? Do they think I haven't tried to speak? How on earth can I do that with a man who shouts abuse for no real reason and walks away with his fingers in his ears threatening legal action? We are an ordinary senior couple (aged 75 and 80) NOT known for causing drama! In fact I'd say we're something of a pushover, always willing to consider other people's opinions. We both hate confrontation. We're intelligent, educated people, retired from responsible jobs. My husband has suffered 2 strokes and I'm trying to run every part of our lives more or less by myself. We never instigated all this and we don't deserve it. But who is out there who could actually solve the situation? Best to wait it out quietly, is my way of solving it. I don't know whether this will help you with your nightmare, but what I've decided is to just let him "finish" the work, pay him off and make no more of it. We are trying to just "rise above it", get him off our property asap, write off the money we've spent and try to look forward to a time when he's gone for good and we won't be afraid to answer the door. Good luck with your difficulties, as I'm sure you wish me luck with mine!
CircleToSquare said:
I sympathise as I am currently in a similar situation with a tradesman. I now realise the warning signs were there when he came to assess the job - he didn't stop talking, over-rode anything I tried to say about the job I wanted done, and never let me finish a sentence. His only comments were basically "This is what you need" rather than "What would you like me to do?" I checked his credentials and customer feedback -- all glowing (I now think he got his friends to write fake reviews). The man, all smiles at the first meeting, has turned out to have a chronic personality disorder. Nothing is ever his responsibility and the whole world is out to get him, you know the type. He clearly has a serious anger control problem too -- he can (and does) turn in an instant. All the advice websites tell you to seek mediation or legal advice or (and this is ridiculous) "first of all, speak to him". Really? Do they think I haven't tried to speak? How on earth can I do that with a man who shouts abuse for no real reason and walks away with his fingers in his ears threatening legal action? We are an ordinary senior couple (aged 75 and 80) NOT known for causing drama! In fact I'd say we're something of a pushover, always willing to consider other people's opinions. We both hate confrontation. We're intelligent, educated people, retired from responsible jobs. My husband has suffered 2 strokes and I'm trying to run every part of our lives more or less by myself. We never instigated all this and we don't deserve it. But who is out there who could actually solve the situation? Best to wait it out quietly, is my way of solving it. I don't know whether this will help you with your nightmare, but what I've decided is to just let him "finish" the work, pay him off and make no more of it. We are trying to just "rise above it", get him off our property asap, write off the money we've spent and try to look forward to a time when he's gone for good and we won't be afraid to answer the door. Good luck with your difficulties, as I'm sure you wish me luck with mine!
Don't be reticent to call the police. A tradesman, nor anyone, has the right to intimidate people in their home. If you feel threatened have him removed from your home by the police. It may also assist in obtaining a fair settlement for work done and finding one of the very many, completely normal, humans capable of working professionally in someone's property. 
I think it comes down to the fact that there are many different types of tradesman, but the good ones are hard to come by!.
Great Tradesman, super disorganised.
- Will be well recommended by those who appreciate a good job, often well priced, but will take ages to start if they ever do, and often even longer to finish.
- Others will slag him off because he never turns up!
- Not on any review sites, no website, no contact details other than his personal phone he doesn't answer even to friends.
Good/Great tradesmen, who is reasonably organised.
- Will come very highly recommended by anyone who knows their salt, but knows how to charge, and has a 2 year waiting list.
- Might well have some online presence from a while ago and might pick up the phone, will then save your number or ring back.
- Not on any review sites.
Average tradie
- May or may not be organised see above, still comes very well recommended, still cant get him to turn up as he has better jobs elsewhere.
- Not on any review sites.
Bit of a cowboy, but polite.
- May or may not be organised see above, still comes very well recommended, but might turn up as anyone who can smell a rat wont give him the job.
- Might be on a review site, but might well not reply that much.
Rude and a bit of cowboy.
- Doesn't get many jobs, therefore you might just get him to turn up, but when he does you wish he hadn't.
- Probably is on review sites, will have some good reviews, mainly off his mates. Most people are not brave enough o post what they actually think.
Literally cannot screw to bits of timber together, mix cement probably, or even labour for any of the above.
- Also disorganised and spends most of is time out of work. Cant do the job when he tries, often also rude.
- Also interestingly, still not on review sites!
Literally cannot screw to bits of timber together, mix cement probably, or even labour for any of the above.
- But did get a reasonable upbringing and has ambition and drive, just no skills to back it up whatsoever.
- Will have glowing reviews for being really polite, going the extra mile etc, but still cant do the job to save his life.
- Is on review sites, nicely presented facebook page, will turn up when he says he will. Still cant do the job.
Great Tradesman, super disorganised.
- Will be well recommended by those who appreciate a good job, often well priced, but will take ages to start if they ever do, and often even longer to finish.
- Others will slag him off because he never turns up!
- Not on any review sites, no website, no contact details other than his personal phone he doesn't answer even to friends.
Good/Great tradesmen, who is reasonably organised.
- Will come very highly recommended by anyone who knows their salt, but knows how to charge, and has a 2 year waiting list.
- Might well have some online presence from a while ago and might pick up the phone, will then save your number or ring back.
- Not on any review sites.
Average tradie
- May or may not be organised see above, still comes very well recommended, still cant get him to turn up as he has better jobs elsewhere.
- Not on any review sites.
Bit of a cowboy, but polite.
- May or may not be organised see above, still comes very well recommended, but might turn up as anyone who can smell a rat wont give him the job.
- Might be on a review site, but might well not reply that much.
Rude and a bit of cowboy.
- Doesn't get many jobs, therefore you might just get him to turn up, but when he does you wish he hadn't.
- Probably is on review sites, will have some good reviews, mainly off his mates. Most people are not brave enough o post what they actually think.
Literally cannot screw to bits of timber together, mix cement probably, or even labour for any of the above.
- Also disorganised and spends most of is time out of work. Cant do the job when he tries, often also rude.
- Also interestingly, still not on review sites!
Literally cannot screw to bits of timber together, mix cement probably, or even labour for any of the above.
- But did get a reasonable upbringing and has ambition and drive, just no skills to back it up whatsoever.
- Will have glowing reviews for being really polite, going the extra mile etc, but still cant do the job to save his life.
- Is on review sites, nicely presented facebook page, will turn up when he says he will. Still cant do the job.
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