Reporting An Unreliable Tradesman

It can be financially and emotional crippling when you realise that your hard-earned cash has been wasted on a rogue tradesman. As the number of 'have-a-go' tradesmen continue to rise in the UK, there are a number of reliable firms popping up that offer advice and help on choosing a reputable tradesman when you need work conducted on your home. If you're unfortunate enough to be one of the people who do end up involved with a rogue trader though, you need to know where to report your grievances in order to ensure nobody else is conned by them.
Talk to the Tradesman First
If things go wrong when you're having work carried out by a tradesman, the first step to try and resolve any issues is to speak to the tradesman. Always give them the chance to put it right and make any complaints known to them initially. Many tradesmen will take this opportunity to try and rectify the situation, as they won't want their reputation being harmed. If you feel that the tradesman isn't listening to your concerns, put them down in writing and give him a deadline. Send the complaint letter to the tradesman's head office, assuming there is one, but remember to always keep a copy of what you sent and when. If you find that there's no resolution through this means, the next step is to report your tradesman.Citizen's Advice Bureau and Trading Standards
One of the most common places to report an unreliable tradesman is at your local Citizen's Advice Bureau. They will be able to give you advice on your legal status with regards to the work and also whether you may be able to make a claim against your tradesman. They may also be able to offer you some kind of conflict resolution or mediation, so they're definitely worth visiting and can give you advice for free on most occasions. Another possibility is to report your tradesman to Trading Standards. Trading Standards are specifically interested in protecting the rights of consumers against businesses and in ensuring that businesses are within the law and delivering what they promise. You can contact your local branch of Trading Standards and they will give you advice on the next step regarding your unreliable tradesman. They can often provide you with contact details for trade associations or advise on what the best course of action is for you to resolve your dispute with your tradesman. They may even investigate it themselves and keep you updated on the situation.Reporting to a Trade Association
If your unreliable tradesman is part of a trade association, then you should be covered by their code of conduct. If speaking directly to the tradesman doesn't work, contact their governing body and ask for advice. They will want to uphold the standards of their association so will be keen to investigate anyone they believe to be unreliable. Normally, a trade association will speak to the tradesman on your behalf as well as offer you some kind of arbitration service to try and come to a resolution. They can also get the tradesman back to work if they've left the job unexpectedly. This is one of the reasons that it's important to check your tradesman's credentials before agreeing to any work being carried out - if your tradesman doesn't have a trade association backing him, you're putting yourself in financial danger.Online Sources and Unreliable Tradesmen
Another option when it comes to reporting unreliable tradesmen is to use the multitude of online resources to warn others about their poor service. Websites such as TradeCheck or associations like TrustMark welcome information about poor tradesmen as they will make sure they spread this knowledge so others can avoid them. A new service from search engine AskAlex has also been introduced where individuals can run an immediate check on businesses to ensure they're reputable. The service is set up in conjunction with Dun & Bradstreet and will cost a mere 7.50GBP to obtain. It will give consumers a star rating for a business, full contact details, any criminal history, profit figures and an overall judgement of the business. This method should be used to avoid rogue tradesman initially, but can also help in your reporting of any unreliable tradesmen. If you do suffer problems with your tradesman, make sure you report them as early as possible - helping other avoid them can at least give you some peace of mind.
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Karl O'Brien - Drives and Garden Maintenance
I see he's already on the list. Avoid. walked off the job with our deposit and has made several excuses and never delivered. He's been chucked off MyBuilder and he's closed his Facebook page after real reviews started to be posted.
Scammed quite a few people by the looks of it so beware.
Ripped Off - 6-Apr-21 @ 6:17 PM
I would like everyone to be aware of Lenny Packman and his work colleague Daniel Taylor who robbed me of over £400 in new goods while they worked on my property. I employed Anglian Windows in North Devon who I thought to be a reputable company to replace my gutters, soffits and downpipes and the salesman said that if I look after the workmen with coffee and lunch they will do a good job. I fed them well and they asked for more, they asked for electric for their radio which they had from my garage, but when they left they took with them a box of good quality wine, a box of 3 bottles of Wicked Woof Gin @ £40 a bottle, a new pressure washer I had not even used myself, and a box with 2 new dining chairs in. They wanted me to agree for them to do some private work at a cost of £500, which I said I did not have the money for, so they offered to take me to the bank the following day to withdraw the money for the work, that they would do in Anglian’s time and with their cement they would charge me for. I didn’t want any part of this so declined, they caused damage to my roof because they used their 4” nails in my ridge tile which blew off in winds of 3 weeks later. I wrote to the CEO of Anglian and explained everything but I didn’t even get a reply, the area manager contacted me but would not discuss the stolen items. Anglian returned 3 times to correct the poor workmanship left by Lenny Packman and Daniel Taylor as they would not carry out all the work in one visit, perhaps because I am a single retired lady. I notified the police of these 2 guys but they said it was for Anglian to deal with and put right but as they never did I am letting everyone who reads this know of these 2 guys who I believe came from South Devon.
Penny - 2-Apr-21 @ 5:16 PM
Drives and Garden Maintenance - Karl O'Brien can not be trusted!
Avoid his services as he will request money upfront and then disappear. False promises of coming to complete works and will leave your garden looking like a dump. Very disappointing as he is a likable guy but I guess every con man is. My builder closed his account due to fraudulent activities.
Karen - 1-Apr-21 @ 3:48 PM
Avoid Dimension abbas builders in Leicester. Cowboy builders look the part with their logo vests etc making you think they know what they are doing.but Avoid them as you will find 2 months later everything falls apart roof leaks, cracks appearing. Do your research - no website, no feedback, not registered with any building ombudsman.Once they've got your money they ignore your calls. **Avoid them at all cost ***
M - 1-Apr-21 @ 12:15 AM
Whilst Sergi might have came across as pleasant to start with, the experience of my house refurbishment has been nothing shortof horrific, and I’m still getting nightmares about the experience.
At the a start a competitive price was agreed for a certain scope pf work, following which that, segri of Komfy Homes wanted his own terms that will rapidly changing including :
Being paid a significant portion up front
Changing the price as his own will
Wanting to be paid daily
Changing the prices at will
Taking weeks and days of at his own accord
He would take money up from and disappear for days perhaps to do other jobs. Eventually I had enough of this and had to call it a day at great loss having paid him upfront. I’ll be taking this further
Overall I felt ripped of and cheated and absolutely let down . the experience is simply mentally damaging
Ced - 31-Mar-21 @ 5:21 AM
Never use or trust Steve Jones builder from Torrington North Devon, or his accomplish freeholder Rodney Smith who owns Forest Park High Bickington, they both blackmailed an old lady with cancer for amounts of money she never owed them, and for money prior to her ownership, the workmanship was also very poor so don't be taken in. A very high number of properties that have been bought there have soon been put on the market For Sale by the new owners, the freeholder obtains a percentage of the sale price when sold as his commission, and the builder probably gets a cut of this as the bullying all start with him once you are financially committed.
Penny - 26-Mar-21 @ 4:47 PM
Two Polish builders, Slawomir Godlewski and Piotr Zych, have stolen a substantial amount of cash from me whilst working on my flat renovation in Tooting, London.
Piotr walked off site after receiving the latest cash payment from me a week ago.I am nine months pregnant.These two individuals have no morals whatsoever.I may not get a penny back of the thousands stolen from me - I am simply writing this in the hope that I can help another couple / family avoid the stress and upset I have suffered as a result of their actions.
Thanks and good luck.
Client in Tooting, L - 26-Mar-21 @ 12:18 PM
Avoid OWL Landscaping in Stevenage. Sole Trader is Josh Watson. Absolute cowboy. Happy to take your money but can't be bothered to do the work. Ugly inside and out. Thief, compulsive liar, general scumbag. Abusive and childish.
Disappointed - 15-Mar-21 @ 7:54 PM
Use Molokai tiling at your own peril. This Cardiff based tiling firm run by Sam Roberts (alleged Tiler) have a standard of workmanship that at best would be described as shoddy.
He recently did a job for me laying large Porcelain floor tiles throughout kitchen and Hallway. However, the end result is something akin to what an amateur would produce. There is lipping on large numbers of adjacent tiles where the floor has clearly not been levelled correctly. There are gaps between the floor and skirting which are huge and also some tiles left chipped. Huge gap in doorway by architrave where he cut tiles incorrectly.
Took the money never to be seen again. He said he would come back to rectify but has completely disappeared. Clearly thought about it and decided he wasnt capable of putting right the rubbish he has laid. In all has wasted £1100 of my money in tiles and labour which now all need lifting up and replacing.
NEVER USE THIS GUY OR YOU'll BE OUT OF POCKET ALSO!!!!!
Kev - 5-Mar-21 @ 4:57 PM
Avoid Eco Fit Garden Rooms. Owned by Dan Bradley. He makes out he’s a bigger company than he is. He is a one man band with non skilled labourers. Unreliable. Never turns up. Bare face lies to your face. Never finished the job and I had to get legal advice
Fed up - 4-Mar-21 @ 3:38 PM
Avoid Chris McDonald like the plague, this cowboy incompetent builder from Belfast will leave you with more damage , take your money and run .
Cut all my new flooring too short , fitted the wrong flooring in wrong room , cut my new kitchen worktop all wrong and with blunt tool, broke A radiator, broke 2 frames off , threw away all my skirting I wanted to keep , threw all rubbish pipes and wood etc on my roof , fitted all wrong pipes in bathroom leading to serious flood damage to floor and downstairs ceiling, broke new shower tray , threw away box of nee shower door before realising it didn’t fit so I couldn’t get a refund on that . This rat took £600 and abandoned the site , when contacted he refused to pay for any damage that he left my house with nor give me any of my money back.
Violated - 1-Mar-21 @ 7:46 AM
DNF Builder and Plastering, based in North East (Newcastle/Gateshead/South Shields/Sunderland), run by David (Mancunian) and Ian. ***Do not employ*** Irresponsible builder/plasterer, no respect for your property, very eager to start but once started, even if you beg and he promised still never show up. always find excuses for poor job and no show. didnt even finish his poorly done half job.
d.a.smith - 28-Feb-21 @ 9:08 PM
Scott Hughes from Sale in Manchester. Has used the name S H Plastering and Alterations. Hardly shows up and when he does the work is terrible. Cuts corners except for when he has to literally cut a corner on a piece of wood. Takes the money to pay for other jobs or his holidays.
PM - 21-Feb-21 @ 12:09 AM
Darren Hallcro and Lee Penley are rogue builders working in Ruschliffe Nottingham. Company name is Affordable building services Tollerton.
Miss Amanda - 20-Feb-21 @ 10:33 PM
Avoid Dimension Abbas Builder in Leicester known as Abbas. He is a cowboy. We used him for kitchen extension.The roof is leaking, radiators not working properly. Floor tiles not level. We've tried to contact him, ignores calls, messages, texts. We have also threatened to take him to court and trading standards. Avoid Avoid Avoid!!!!
Mrs D - 18-Feb-21 @ 12:27 AM
They offer work in the Lancashire area Leyland and Preston John Scon and Thomas Snape
Scum bags - 17-Feb-21 @ 3:15 PM
John Scon and Thomas Snape cowboy builders they should make a series about these Clowns, they will steal your deposit or any money they ask for upfront and never turn up. All the photos they use are fake
Scum bags - 17-Feb-21 @ 3:05 PM
Avoid OWL LANDSCAPING - Sole Trader is Josh Watson in Stevenage. He took a lot of money for a job he quoted but didn't use the money on that job. Refused to give receipts. Became aggressive and abusive verbally. Compulsive liar. Childish. Lazy. Poor quality of work. Damaged property and stole a few bits from the shed. AVOID at all costs. Doesnt take well to bad reviews or negative feedback in any way.
Scam buster - 16-Feb-21 @ 8:49 PM
Please don’t use Simons landscape Gardener on Facebook from Liverpool
Will make a mess and block likes to use a fake name it’s not a registered company and is not insuranced
Hayleyf84 - 15-Feb-21 @ 12:50 AM
Never use innovation roofing of Wrexham Rd and Cheshire, totally shoddy work, they try every opportunity to get more money, roofs rotting, birds getting in roof etc. The go round in a van knocking on doors looking for opportunities, main guys name is Jerry Berry. As soon as you call them to try to get them back he blocks your number.
Monyo - 18-Jan-21 @ 1:21 PM
Avoid Christian Lee, didn't do what was agreed and the little work that was done was to such a poor standard, the orginal issue wasn't resolved and if anything he made it worse. Took the payment and wouldn't resolve the issue amicably. Will need to pay someone else to redo and fix the bodged job.
Violated - 16-Jan-21 @ 9:32 PM
Scott Hughes from Sale in Manchester. Plasterer and builder but never shows up. Takes the money and runs.
PM - 15-Jan-21 @ 7:47 PM
Avoid Upgrade Property Services Ltd. - based in Herts. Run by Shaun Colston.
Team smoke in property. Clock on late, clock off early.
Made excuses as to why materials/items needed weren't at the property.
Never enough men working on job at any given time.
Lots of corners cut. Wildly underestimated job duration.
Happy to keep taking money without doing job properly.
DNU - 15-Jan-21 @ 7:32 PM
Martin Jarvis Lives in Chevington near Bury St edmonds stay well clear he's useless untrusted unrealistic never cleans his mess takes twice along lies about when he's coming never finished one job in 4 months if builders where Jockeys this prick would be the best cowboy ever go ride your donkey out of town
Twat - 12-Jan-21 @ 6:24 PM
A disgusting unrealistic cowboy never finished a single job took 4 months do what could of took a proper builder 6 weeks he lies and does half a day when it suits he lives in Chevington near Bury St edmonds so stay well clear
Twat - 12-Jan-21 @ 6:18 PM
Don’t use a landscaper from Halifax called David Mcdonagh
He doesn’t answer your calls, promises he will complete the work in five weeks. Four months on he has left the job unfinished. Claims his workers have left although they haven’t. Takes your money and is never to be seen again.
R S - 10-Jan-21 @ 10:10 PM
Avoid Priorty Property Maintenance - Orpington. I pursued in small claims for £3k for garden works that never took place aside from him digging up my garden. CCJ issued but Bradley Baker isn't bothered as he probably has one already. Can't put charge on his property as it is social housing.
Jerrie - 7-Jan-21 @ 7:58 PM
Do not use STUART MICHAEL FENWICK, Born August 1975. Operates in the Chesterfield and Sheffield area. Windows, doors and general building. He uses faulty components to begin with. Offers 10 year guarantee unless it goes wrong. Fitted a door went wrong within two months. He came out to sort once then had to send someone else to re fit it but the damage was done now he is refusing to put right. This has been going on for nearly two years now. Avoid this guy like the plague. He used to operate under Cleo property Ltd. He is no honour or morals. Someone torched his van 4 years ago probably a disgruntled customer. The family are also tradesmen so I would avoid them also. This guy would throw his own mother under a bus to save himself.
Casper - 5-Jan-21 @ 6:34 PM
Never use SZBT Construction from Leeds 11, work is very poor quality amd they not qualified to do the works!
Ali - 1-Jan-21 @ 12:31 PM
Dean Brightwell 25 Alcott Close Coventry - DO NOT USE
T - Birmingham - 30-Dec-20 @ 10:21 PM
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