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Reporting An Unreliable Tradesman

By: Tracy Whitelaw - Updated: 13 Jan 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
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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Sajid/Sajad Hussain, SS Builders, 5B Coldecote Grove, B9 5JA (also 55St. Agathas Road, B8 2TU).A incompetent and unqualified Cowboy builder.He nor his workers are competent nor qualified to carry out any gas, electric or tiling jobs let alone do any building work to any professional standard.Also, rips people off and does not follow building plans and avoids building regulations where he can get away with it.Ran off my job as I challenged him to many issues and is a compulsive liar.He has 2 business partner who he calls his employees, both illegal residents in the UK, who harass and intimidate people to give money before work is done. At all costs avoid this cowboy or you will regret it.
cowboy - 13-Jan-20 @ 9:55 AM
ALL OF THE BELOW IS ENTIRELY MY OPINION AND MY VIEW ON HOW THINGS HAPPENED. My wife for some bizarre reason employed the so called expert services of a roofer from Facebook of all places to install a fast dry ridge system and recoat our flat roof with a one coat fibreglass mix and put 2 lengths ofPVC fascia boards around the rear of the flat roof. for the princely sum of two and a half grand! The ridge is 12 metres long and the flat roof is 3 metres in width and 5 metres long, approx. I didn't like the look of as soon I met him, he looked like a tramps reject, he had a van that was chock-a-block with crap piled on top of crap. His labourer is a decent lad and I actually feel sorry for him as he may be under the impression that he has been taught properly by a professional.for whatever amount of time that he has been with him. I asked him if had any qualifications and he replied that when he started you didn't need any back in 89-90 and he said "I've been doing it for 30 years and don't worry". and my wife insisted to me, to "Just let him do his job and stop harassing people for no reason". How wrong she was... He installed (LOL) the fast dry ridge system in a way that goes against every bit of common sense I can think of and of the manufacturers instructions and supplied kit I'm not a roofer myself but when I see a roofer putting down the breathable membrane roll first and neglecting to put any metal support brackets onto the ridge and rafters I started to wonder is that correct? He went and put non treated timber battens on top, of the membrane roll and then laythe ridge tiles on top and fixed in the plastic covers and screws as an afterthought. Let me also delight you about the work carried out on the chimney. He removed the metal pot and started chipping at the old mortar with a chisel and the debris went into the metal flume and stack, at this point I suggested why did't he just aim the chisel outwards and away from the hole and not towards it? I got a blank look Also to put a tray or thick blanket on a string once the hole was big enough to fit into to avoid any more debris travelling down to the gas fire below, Another blank look. He then took a metal tray off the chimney which sits under the mortar and just chucked it without thinking he may need it as a template for a new one. This so called roofer then decided to re mortar the top of the chimney by replacingthe metal plate with a slate/fibre tile and didn't bother to put a thick length of wire into the mortar (gently pull back and forth when mortar is semi dry in order to slowly pull out the wire) around the metal pot to form a run off channel for water to trickle down onto what should have been a pliable DPC lead tray to prolong the life of the mortar. I only know all this as I called for a qualified roofer to come and inspect his work and he gave me his report that the entire ridge system is 'Floating' i.e the only thing holdi
pee'd off - 10-Jan-20 @ 2:26 PM
Antony Moore (also known as Webby). Newmarket area. Took £3700 up front, took most of my roof off including bits that should have stayed on. Put cheap membrane and batting on. Left me without slates for 8 weeks. Never bothered telling me he wasn't coming back. Over this period, Nov-Dec'19, tons of rain. Otherroofers estimate £1500 worth of work done, maximum. Costing me money to keep scaffold up, and new roofers having to correct bad workmanship before they can get slates on.
Basta - 6-Jan-20 @ 8:05 PM
Lee Watling, Total Build, Gainsborough Ave, Whiteleas, South Sheilds and his partner Kolin Kesson. Please do not trust these men with money upfront as we did. They were using sites like my builder to get money upfront jobs and ripping people off.
Jane - 5-Jan-20 @ 11:37 AM
Keep away from Thomas fishwick aka fishwick developments aka signature construction from Bishop Auckland Darlington Region. Scammed us out of cash for damp proofing terrible job won't fix it. Filed a claim form at court but won't give me his address. He is on Facebook looking as smug as ever. Watch this space he is a real liar and scanner.
Summer - 4-Jan-20 @ 6:27 PM
Do not use Elite roofing or a Martin as he takes your money and does not complete the works on time and does not pay back any money even after making promises. He fails on work times he agrees to and demands payment up front then does not pay back after failing to do the works
S - 27-Dec-19 @ 9:46 PM
Priority Building. Newcastle upon Tyne. Took my deposit to buy materials but failed twice to show up for job. Refuses refund or to deliver materials my money paid for.Never replies to messages and never answers our calls.
Li - 16-Dec-19 @ 9:28 PM
Platinum Emergency Services - avoid at all cost! We had a what appears to be a simple issue with the heating controls however the engineer came and spent 2 hours to diagnose the issue and came back with an array of issues and propose re-wiring the whole system and charges us £580 for the time. We eventually went with another company and they manage to fix and resolve the issue within an hour for a fraction of the cost.
D - 13-Dec-19 @ 9:58 AM
The aa plumbing and heating ltd company conning people out of money be aware and report do not use they pretend to service Danfoss and other makes but don’t have a clue, and become very aggressive jobs left half done
Exposer - 7-Dec-19 @ 1:08 PM
Please everyone avoid using Zippy Travel aka Brightsun Travel they are thieves and rogues. I asked them to book a flight for me which will give me free bag and choose a seat for me and my family with kids but the booked a basic one which means I hv to buy the 4 bags charged me over £1150 and refused to pay the difference. Please avoid by all means. When I asked to make a complaint suddenly all the team leaders and managers vanished.
Pee - 22-Nov-19 @ 3:42 PM
WB Infastructure, birmingham Waheed Hussain Bhutt Took my chimney out,without building regsas i was told by the council he uses unqualified men. Lies alot does not ring you back takes your money an does the job wrong and makes your life a misery CON man please please STAY CLEAR YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Sara - 21-Nov-19 @ 10:52 PM
Avoid Dimension Abbas Builder Ltd. He is a cowboy builder. My roof is leaking, bathroom sink not fitted properly so now leaking. Left skirting unfinished. Hasn't sealed the bathroom. Tiling is hideous. Calling him to finish the job and he's avoiding our calls. When we get through to him he says tomorrow and doesn't turn up.
Princess - 14-Nov-19 @ 9:24 PM
Stay away from bathroom fitter Mr Nathan Westwood based in wakefield. He took 30%advance payment and never came to do the work. He will give excuses each time. Suchba shame to other sincere tradesmen but NEVER pay any advance. He will beat any quote because he had no plans to do the work! Full address. Nathan Westwood, 202 church Avenue, south kirby,pontefract, WF93QJ.
Ameen - 11-Nov-19 @ 12:14 AM
Please steer clear of waheed hussain butt of wb infrastructure limited Birmingham, he took out 2 Chimneys in my home which is still costing me till this day. He left holes in the roof which was letting in the rain, now I'm having to fork out a structural engineer to come out and assess the structure of the property. He's a liar and a thief don't trust him!
Caz - 4-Nov-19 @ 7:57 PM
Watch out for a Mr Chris wilson Newman from Durham / Teeside area. Scammed me out of Tens of Thousands of pounds on a large building project. A total Fraud. Deserves to be jailed. He has done this to many people living in Durham . He works sll over the Teeside area & north east. Originally From Newcastle. Also used to run a rogue company called Hartburn Lofts.
Jesh - 2-Nov-19 @ 10:48 PM
RUMOUR WINDOWS / HOME IMPROVEMENTS Frimley/Farnborough. Fitted me front door and windows. After 2 years issues arose with door not locking. Tried calling repeatedly and Left voicemail AND sent email. Never heard back. Got someone else to look at door, inferior fitting they said.
tinker - 26-Oct-19 @ 8:25 AM
We hired a local roofing company may 2009..we had a bad leaking roof .Paid 2400 deposit and after weeks of excuses had to get other roofers in in july .They then refuse to return deposits ..After a lot of digging which i know we should of done first we find out one of the roofers was made bankrupt december 2018 .He set up a new business in january 2019 . Chris lomas from winsford cheshire and jason lomas from same location .These two are liars and thiefs .We are currently going through the courts .Chris lomas is still trading with a new name and asking for deposits upfront .Please stay clear of him .
Lozzer - 14-Oct-19 @ 4:15 PM
Hi We recently hired a person to supply only a kitchen . He came to our home measured up. Srnt a diagram of the kitchen and a sample of a door. He supplied us with 3 tradesmen for other work in the kichen... all 3 were superb and the kitchen should then on the other trades work..been delivered on 3rd August8 weeks later, and after transferring £3.800the person never came ignoredcountkess phone callstext messages etx... one excuse after another. So I got his freind, who had recommended him to sit in my car and ring him to ask why he hsdnt delivered ... it was unrealhe admitted on my recording..he had taken our money was nit... going to return it..admitted had..cash flow problems andhad spent it... He them made contact and told myself and my wife..he would not only deliver the kitchen but.. fit it for no costyet... in the phone conversation ADMITTEDit was supply only ..he told his freind he wasnt even getting paid to fit it... he came after 5 days he had complete just several hours work and produced the worst workmanship I have seen psI'm a joiner .. he failed to return for two daysignoring our phone calls..he eventually answerd where... after consulting a solicitor SACKED HIM we then sent him a deadline to return our money withing 24 hoursI sent him the video of him inciting himself and admitting he had taken our money ... I then found out his father's contact number ..I rang him told him his don was .a conmana thiefa liarand told him about the 24 hour deadlineI also sent him the copy of his son admitting taking our money... the following morning..we rang his father to inform him that..if the money owed to us.. was not in our bank by the end of the 24 hour deadlineour legal team would be in touchincluding we were to put the video on social media...thankfully for usthe full amount owed was paid back... he asked that..I delete the video and return tools he had left on our property... at present they have not..been returned o feel guilty that if..he gets them back.. he will do the same to someone else... I intendto ring a solicitor to see if I am breaking the law into handing them backhe damaged our new tiled floor and washerattempting to make up United... can I name and shame Regards Paul
Jr - 27-Sep-19 @ 9:03 PM
Hi We recently hired a person to supply only a kitchen . He came to our home measured up. Srnt a diagram of the kitchen and a sample of a door. He supplied us with 3 tradesmen for other work in the kichen... all 3 were superb and the kitchen should then on the other trades work..been delivered on 3rd August8 weeks later, and after transferring £3.800the person never came ignoredcountkess phone callstext messages etx... one excuse after another. So I got his freind, who had recommended him to sit in my car and ring him to ask why he hsdnt delivered ... it was unrealhe admitted on my recording..he had taken our money was nit... going to return it..admitted had..cash flow problems andhad spent it... He them made contact and told myself and my wife..he would not only deliver the kitchen but.. fit it for no costyet... in the phone conversation ADMITTEDit was supply only ..he told his freind he wasnt even getting paid to fit it... he came after 5 days he had complete just several hours work and produced the worst workmanship I have seen psI'm a joiner .. he failed to return for two daysignoring our phone calls..he eventually answerd where... after consulting a solicitor SACKED HIM we then sent him a deadline to return our money withing 24 hoursI sent him the video of him inciting himself and admitting he had taken our money ... I then found out his father's contact number ..I rang him told him his don was .a conmana thiefa liarand told him about the 24 hour deadlineI also sent him the copy of his son admitting taking our money... the following morning..we rang his father to inform him that..if the money owed to us.. was not in our bank by the end of the 24 hour deadlineour legal team would be in touchincluding we were to put the video on social media...thankfully for usthe full amount owed was paid back... he asked that..I delete the video and return tools he had left on our property... at present they have not..been returned o feel guilty that if..he gets them back.. he will do the same to someone else... I intendto ring a solicitor to see if I am breaking the law into handing them backhe damaged our new tiled floor and washerattempting to make up United... can I name and shame Regards Paul
Jr - 27-Sep-19 @ 9:02 PM
Wow! another victim of Nick Coxon and TBP. Took money, dug holes to put me in a vulnerable position and never showed up. Con man. Got a CCJ against him now.
Gordon - 27-Sep-19 @ 4:42 PM
DEAR CHERIE, It is CiPHE. I used one of their experts to complete me a 50 page report, identifying each and every building regs breached, professional opinions etc. Took this to Court. The Builder told the Judge it was all my fault, etc. and that I had paid the expert to say these things. I was awarded substantial compensation, he got a CCJ. It took me bailiffs to recover, but I received every penny. Well worth it. Stick with it. Builders do make mistakes, but its how they deal with issues and problems that matter. That is when you really see what they are all about. When I found other people that wanted to give me statements about their experiences with this guy, I knew I had to act, and I did. It was his arrogance that insulted me most. Good luck !
Southwood - 9-Sep-19 @ 7:33 AM
Avoid Spencer Lewis trading as Elementa de terra - landscape gardening, at all costs. Took over £6000 off my neighbour ( a woman ) and promised the world. He never delivered. He started off by doing a bit here and ther but never actually finished anything he started. Then he started asking for more money as he needed it as he had underestimatded, and was also going through a divorce. He eventually moved from Runcorn to Exeter and blocked all contact with her. After paying nearly all the £6800 quote, my neighbour is left with an unsafe structure, which is incomplete, and shoddy work all over. The plants and materials account for less than £2000 and a new builder, who is well respected, has quoted over £3000 to fix only half the work he started. He is not too pleased with the quality of work he has inspected. AVOID A ALL COST - DO NOT SUCCUMB TO SPENCER'S GIFT OF THE GAB..... IT WILL COST YOU DEARLY....
Spooky - 28-Aug-19 @ 9:26 PM
Beware of Ashley and especially his father, Gary, who claim to do landscaping work. Ashley goes by A S Y landscaping. They are both corrupt and thieves. They will ask for money upfront and then never complete the job. I will soon upload their pictures and car registrations too.
Riff - 27-Aug-19 @ 1:37 PM
Beware of Daryl Thomson of Cumbria Gas and Heating who ripped me off by thousands.He is a thief.
BS - 23-Aug-19 @ 9:20 PM
BEWARE of Builder Greg Pawlik of 37 Queensland Avenue N18 1AT did some building works on property. As per his request we paid him £2500.00 refundable deposit for the council to obtain scaffolding permit.This was done via bank transfer on 8th February 2019. Now that the work is completed, scaffolding put down & Greg having received the deposit refund back from the council, he is now refusing to refund the £2500.00. We have made several request for him to return the refund but keeps on giving excuses.
bt - 22-Aug-19 @ 4:41 PM
This website is as much as a fraud as it claims to be stopping. They take your details and share with third party’s. There is now to contact them. And they allow anyone to post with no evidence or chance of replying. It is just here to take your information!
Matt - 20-Aug-19 @ 1:23 PM
Adam Shah from Imperial Plumb Services, Birmingham. Avoid this man he is rude and not reliable. He damaged the pipes in the bathroom and we paid him for that thinking every thing was ok then we started to have a leak!We got another plumber to fix his mess ....AVOID HIM.
Hello - 9-Aug-19 @ 1:50 PM
Avoid TBP building service Ltd! Nick Coxon the director will take your money but either little or no work done! He even owned the brick layers £4.5k and always give excuses like customers don't want to pay!!!!be aware
Gina - 19-Jul-19 @ 12:03 AM
Sam Nicholson from Gravesend Mobile Mechanic preys on the elderly and vulnerable. Strips cars down and demands cash to repair. Never gives a proper quote before doing a job. Never answers his phone after scamming someone elderly and vulnerable. Police are involved and another mechanic said the car is a death trap and keep it off the road until he repairs it. I just hope he will learn his lesson when he in prison
Gravesend - 2-Jul-19 @ 2:12 AM
Tommy Hilding from H&H Groundworks of Tornbridge Kent took my deposit and never did the work.He started ignoring my calls. I hired them through Quotatis. Be careful.
Conned - 20-Jun-19 @ 3:16 PM
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