Cowboy Builders and the Law

John Kimble

Apologies if this is the wrong forum, I'm just looking for some pointers in the right direction.
A relative of mine recently fell victim to some "cowboy builders"...it's the usual story that many are well acquainted with...a bunch of lads turn up at his address (isolated), point out some work that needs doing, then offer to do some jobs at a price that seems very reasonable (too good to be true). To cut a fairly long story short, the work was carried out to a very poor standard and at various stages, cash was demanded in advance for materials, etc. The price subsequently increased during the work, and the injured party was intimidated (not overtly) into going along with this.

It appears to me that the level of intimidation here was not sufficient as to warrant a potential prosecution under Section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 - Demanding Money with Menaces. Obviously that's a matter for the Gardai or the DPP to decide, but from what I can gather, the intimidation was more implied than explicit. He has spoken to Gardai and they have echoed the above.

I suppose I'm wondering what other offences are potentially being committed here. These 'tradesmen' are doing cash in hand jobs to avoid paying taxes. I doubt they have registered their 'business', but are they legally obliged to do so? They are not providing the customer with any receipts, but is there a legal, enforceable obligation to do this and to carry the work out to a high standard?

If anyone can point me in the direction of any relevant legislation or acts I'd be very grateful.

Carpenter

People will never never learn

John Kimble

Carpenter wrote: »

People will never never learn

Yes, that would have been my initial reaction but to be fair, this chap is in his late sixties, a farmer and living in a fairly isolated area. As I mentioned in my first post, there is an implicit level of intimidation which makes it difficult for more vulnerable persons to say no.

NUTLEY BOY

These gits are everywhere and do what they like. They are cunning, elusive, shifty and sometimes dangerous. You will never make anything stick from an evidentary view and they play to that.
Your relative is probably lucky to have got off so relatively lightly and I mean that sympathetically.

NEVER engage people who call offering to do work especially roofing. In future he should say that he has already engaged a contractor to do the job.

Chris Arch

If the workmanship is not up to standard, so the clients should be able to have the works rectified by the workers. Any tradesman selling a service should have reasonable skills.