ripped off big time - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

ryanbrown · 20-03-2008

Just wasted a week of my life doing a kitchen wall and floor job for a "property maintenance" company and now it looks like they are refusing to pay as agreed.

Whole job was a nighmare from start to finish.
The walls were unbelievable, I assumed they were going to remove wallpaper, and paint before i arrived, but this was only partly done, and the boss of the coimpany, who also does odd jobs aprrantely - had a do at plastering one of walls and it was unbelivably bad - looks like it had been smeared on by hand.
And other parts of the walls were disintegrating but he just left that.

So I spent a day preparing the walls, - steaming off wallpaper, patching up holes in the walls.. which meant my allotted time went into joiners, electricians time.. all of which he blamed me for for taking too long.

So now he's got another tiler to finish the wall tiling off ( i had done 2/3 of it)
and is telling me the customer was not happy with the work I did. But the customer came in and out a few times during when i was working and there was no complaints, so I dont know if tthere just making excuses to avoid paying or what. Certaininly they must at least be happy with the walls - or they wouldnt have carried on from where i left off.

All very depressing - I've spent almost £100 in materials.. a weeks hard work.. and now I've got to fight these guys to get a penny out of them..
just shows you - you have to be VERY careful you dont get ripped off by cowboy outfits and get agreements in writing first.

**whitebeam** · 20-03-2008

I personally Would'nt have started doubling as a decorater, It should have been ready for you, I would have said on the way out I'll come back when your,ve prepared it . If that was the standard of his plastering you had no chance.

**sibs** · 20-03-2008

I would have refused to do the job until the walls had been made good.... by him! Even if it meant loosing the job but its all very well saying that after the fact I know. Its a very hard lesson to learn but my alarm bells would have been ringing at the sight of the mullered plastered wall. I feel for you mate
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whitebeam we must've read each others minds

howard · 20-03-2008

another rip off customer ive had 2 in the last year i always keep there addresses for a future visit it gets you down when you know your work is good & people dont pay

davy_G · 20-03-2008

Name and shame the builder ryan.

I would contact the client directly and explain everything you have put on here. Maybe indeed they dont have any issues with your work and might withhold some payment from the builder till your paid. Worth a try!
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Would it be an idea to create a list of bad payers, names and addresses, maybe not for public viewing but could be stored with the moderators and if someone had a bad feeling when quoting they could check details?? What youse think?

funkykoval · 20-03-2008

I feel sorry for you mate. Any chances of getting some of the lost money of them by suing them? If not can't you at least throw bricks thro their windows? :-) Just kidding :->

**Fekin** · 20-03-2008

What was the company called ?

**Raja** · 21-03-2008

Ryan am sorry to hear that mate

Learn from the situation u r in and move on

I know it is hard but don't get dragged into an ongoing dispute

Look back to how u could of avoided the situation and don't let urself get into it again.

I know it is easier said than done

PS if u r based in South Yorkshire Name builder wil ring him up and tell him a few facts of life.

**Fekin** · 21-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raja

Ryan am sorry to hear that mate

Learn from the situation u r in and move on

I know it is hard but don't get dragged into an ongoing dispute

Look back to how u could of avoided the situation and don't let urself get into it again.

I know it is easier said than done

PS if u r based in South Yorkshire Name builder wil ring him up and tell him a few facts of life.

I would get a debt recovery agency in to reclaim what payment you are after and let the builder sort it out with them.

Learning from the situation and moving on is exactly what the builder wants you to do so he can do this again and again, so backing down only helps the builder.

TilingLogistics · 21-03-2008

Write to the builder demanding your money by enclosing your invoice and give him 14 days to respond. Once that time is up take him to small claims court it is an easy process and costs under a £100.

Kev

**IvegotsTILE** · 22-03-2008

Sod all this going to small claims courts,these kind of people only pay due to one kind of persuassion.They know how to wrangle the system ad how difficult it will be for you to get money out of them.
Find one or two of your best mates(My best mate is 23 stone of muscle)and go and DEMAND the money,in fact escort them then and there to fetch it,your doing nothing illegal if your getting your money that your owed.

**wetdec** · 22-03-2008

Bill them give them 10 working days if they dont pay get on the court. You can do this online from your chair and the court is held up north somewhere. Doesnt cost a lot and he is likely to pay bcause travelling all the way to the court wont be worth it. Nail the bas**** no messing

I would do it if someone owed me 50 quid its that easy and so awkward for them to get to the hearing.

tiler

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