Problem with builder ( help needed )

GJ02 said:
so what ? pay half ?

mums head is about to fall off because of this and it needs sorting quick
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he was fired on the 2nd day, so i guess he's billed for 2 days @ ~£200 a day + VAT = ~£480
thats an expensive day rate but id say just pay it and put it down to experience, pay by cheque and get a recipt
 
Sounds like the sort of job which requires a construction firm, not a rogue builder from the back of a newspaper.

Is she currently living in the house or is it vacant so construction/renovation work can be carried out?
 
To be somewhat helpful, the piece of law you are looking for is called the 'Supply of Goods and Services Act', which you can find here:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/29

Have a peek from s.12 onwards, if you fancy, which deals with the supply of services.

In short, it's clear he was in breach of his contractual duties, hence being dismissed. The charge of the services, if not decided at the time of the contract, is one which is 'reasonable'. You are well within your rights to disagree with him as to what the reasonable charge would be.

You can either:

- pay his sum in full
- offer to pay what you believe is reasonable and get him to agree

I'd suggest the latter if you are unhappy.
 
Get quotes from other builders for the work he's done?

That'll tell you how much you should be paying him. But to be honest, labradors are on about 80 quid a day tops.
 
do you have any photos of the porch? if so ask the current builder for rough cost and offer that and make sure you have something signed to say full and final payment
don't pay cash in hand so he can come back and ask for more
 
i thought most builders/plumbers/sparkys charge roughly £150 a day correct me if im wrong.

Give him £250 and tell him thats all hes getting.
 
Send him a cheque for £250 stating that you believe this to be reasonable for the work that was carried out. State that the act of him cashing the cheque is an indication of his agreement on the matter and you hope not to hear from him again.
 
I've had problems builders on a couple of occasions. I call them to say their work isn't up to scratch, explain why and that they're not welcome back. Then request a fully itemised invoice for the work they've carried out and say I won't pay a penny until it's been received.

The invoices are seldom reasonable so I send them a cheque for all material costs (lowest price I can find) and a standard labour rate of ~£100 a day pro rate. I also explain if they don't like I'm happy to take the matter further.
 
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I used to work for a building firm and we would always give full invoice before starting job, stipulations would be made should issues arise e.g. foundations being dug deeper than the standard 1m. Make sure your next builder provides this.

With regards to the days work I'd say yes they're charging too much if they just knocked down a porch. A individual should be around £150 double this if there was a labourer present. If he removed any of the demolished porch then add extra relative to the amount removed.
 
I'd pay him as a daywork sheet as below

Skilled hand 1 day £140
Labourer 1 day £80
Van & diesel £20
Consumables £x

Sub total = £x
Add OH&P @ 25%

Grand total £x

That would be a fair and reasonable valuation of his works, of which you have no contract so he is entitled to Quantum Meriut (fair valuation of the works), I deal with it every day as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor.
 
Well my father in law has been over from Harrogate this afternoon, he is a joiner / builder but kept away from the job because it was family
He has told mum to pay him nothing, the job would have took no more than half a day, and because he was thrown off the job he reckons he will of thrown a price in expecting nothing but tried his luck.
There is no quote with any agreed price.
 
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