our builder took monies but no work started

memomtoo

its a big pain after chasing around many people we thought we found a perfect builder who can all of our small works at home, attracted us some discount due to taking over many works. Asked us to pay deposit at first to buy material for all works so we paid 1700 transferred to bank account and from over a month everyday he has a story to begin works, its a bit scaring us now as he does not notify a lot and just postponing. Its like a torture with the wait game and now started to worry if he wont work, asking several times if cannot work, can refund back so we find another one.
we have no idea how to deal with us as its sensitive issue I think, not able to sound hard on them but anyone has an idea please?

drunkmonkey

Is this a brand new house your building?, has this person been recommend by someone, have you gone to see the last few jobs they've done?

CeilingFly

Ask for money to be refunded.

If he refuses, take a small claims court case (only costs €25 and done online)

Then don't be afraid to pay a little extra and get a reliable person.

memomtoo

its a used house thats why we were in need of some works

I was just researching about this person was thinking if any fraud, it is scaring me now as I see him on the wanted list from polish police. Am I in a danger, I'm trying to translate using google app, this is what I could trace out.

If we warn will it be a problem? he sounded gentle and professional so we believed but will he run away with monies? its big money to lose

memomtoo

I checked online and found this person on building services, now after all searches traced out his company number and address but surprised to see police reporting in wanted list, dont know what is it for really but scared

the_pen_turner

When was thework agreed to start.

memomtoo

the_pen_turner wrote: »

When was thework agreed to start.

we paid one month ago and none of works started yet

memomtoo

he does not lift phone. This is my first bad experience, never thought this will happen

drunkmonkey

memomtoo wrote: »

he does not lift phone. This is my first bad experience, never thought this will happen

Do you know his address?

memomtoo

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Do you know his address?

I just traced out his business address but what I can do with it
Not sure where or whom to approach

drunkmonkey

memomtoo wrote: »

I just traced out his business address but what I can do with it
Not sure where or whom to approach

If he won't answer you, try calling around to his address first and have a friend in the car waiting.

I'm not sure if the Garda will help but it does sound like theft/fraud at this stage. They'll suggest you call around anyway but if your threatened in any way go back to the Garda.

Small claims like someone suggested is a waste of time you'll never see you money.

memomtoo

when I mentioned I might go garda or consumer court, he responds that he is sorry and will work very soon but not sure when again.
is he in any escape plan so asking some time or just dragging.

drunkmonkey

memomtoo wrote: »

when I mentioned I might go garda or consumer court, he responds that he is sorry and will work very soon but not sure when again.
is he in any escape plan so asking some time or just dragging.

Ask for a refund until he starts, tell him you’ll buy the materials when he gives you the list.
Guys like this laugh at courts, that’s not a threat to him.

drunkmonkey

What work is he doing? How much did he take for materials?

the_pen_turner

memomtoo wrote: »

the_pen_turner wrote: »

When was thework agreed to start.

we paid one month ago and none of works started yet

That's not what I asked.
What start date was agreed or even heavily implied.
When you gave him the money us lately irrelevant.

Dudda

Out of curiosity did you even get a receipt for the 1700 you gave him? Have you any paperwork at all? Did anyone draw up any plans or a list of works, even an email? If he were to start and does something a different way then will the whole 'this isn't what we agreed and will cost extra' arguments start. Losing 1700 now could be better than loosing 5000 in 4 months. Also what's the overall price you agreed and for what work? If it's 10,000 worth of work he'll probably be back but if the total value is 2000 and he has 1700 it's a different story.

memomtoo

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Ask for a refund until he starts, tell him you’ll buy the materials when he gives you the list.
Guys like this laugh at courts, that’s not a threat to him.

This guy is just torturing us again by saying he will call soon and nothing,today he said will come and again the same. Does Garda help with warning?if he can act faster? We are not understanding what to do
He doesn't seem like working with this deal

drunkmonkey

Go down to the nearest Garda station to his house, they may give him a phone call, might be enough to rattle him.
Ask for a refund. He’s taking the piss as we say in Ireland. Ask for a refund before you go to Garda just so you can tell them he refused and has your money.

memomtoo

Honestly we are just tired of asking him and yes if they can warn once I think it should as he is already in Wanted list in his country
We found out on google

memomtoo

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Ask for a refund until he starts, tell him you’ll buy the materials when he gives you the list.
Guys like this laugh at courts, that’s not a threat to him.

We don't know his address,only traced out his company registered address somewhere in Glasnevin

drunkmonkey

memomtoo wrote: »

We don't know his address,only traced out his company registered address somewhere in Glasnevin

Ask for a refund if he can’t give a start date, that’s all you can do. There’s not a lot else you can do.

CeilingFly

memomtoo wrote: »

We don't know his address,only traced out his company registered address somewhere in Glasnevin

Its the company you are in dispute with. So the company address is the address you write to / make complaint about.

Also if a company, then documents will show residential address for directors.

memomtoo

Dudda wrote: »

Out of curiosity did you even get a receipt for the 1700 you gave him? Have you any paperwork at all? Did anyone draw up any plans or a list of works, even an email? If he were to start and does something a different way then will the whole 'this isn't what we agreed and will cost extra' arguments start. Losing 1700 now could be better than losing 5000 in 4 months. Also what's the overall price you agreed and for what work? If it's 10,000 worth of work he'll probably be back but if the total value is 2000 and he has 1700 it's a different story.

sorry, only looking at this as I did not receive any email, was constantly following it.
Did a bank transfer and its 40% deposit paid as he mentioned he needs to buy material so trusted.
No receipt but in text message, he mentioned thanks after receiving

memomtoo

CeilingFly wrote: »

Its the company you are in dispute with. So the company address is the address you write to / make a complaint about.

Also if a company, then documents will show a residential address for directors.

he said he owns his company, just afraid by the time we write a complaint, will he remain in this country or not

Ginger83

How did this finish?

memomtoo

Ginger83 wrote: »

How did this finish?

complaint was lodged to garda, they gave a final grace period to refund monies back but he didnt as we expected. garda mentioned they will arrest now and i need go small claims court, I did applied but no clue what happens if he is in jail

drunkmonkey

He won't be going to jail, small claims waste of time in this case I'd say...you'll win the claim but by the time you engage the sheriff and he collects and sells his stuff could be a long time, that's if he manages to collect. Lodge the small claim anyway.
Talk to the Garda again and see can he arrange for your money to come back. Keep on top of the Garda.

memomtoo

drunkmonkey wrote: »

He won't be going to jail, small claims waste of time in this case I'd say...you'll win the claim but by the time you engage the sheriff and he collects and sells his stuff could be a long time, that's if he manages to collect. Lodge the small claim anyway.
Talk to the Garda again and see can he arrange for your money to come back. Keep on top of the Garda.

I started loosing confidence but lifting up spirits again when I think of that fraud guy who is roaming free with no worries at all, Im sure he is after another deal and will cheat them. I did email garda again, waiting on claims court approval. Things are going slow and that guy does not care but Im keeping strong with efforts as I dont want to expect another victim like us and he can keep on cheating freely with no fear of warnings or arrests.

BryanF

op best of luck. Thread closed, as this is now a legal mater