Unreliable tradesmen

[Danderhall Hibs]

Looking for a bit of advice please.

I've recently employed a tradesman to do some work on my house. The job is going on and on forever - currently around 6x as long as quoted and not yet finished.

Every time I ask for an update I either get blanked or I get told it'll be done by the end of the week.

The weather has slowed them down at times (but not by as much as is being claimed) but frustratingly they don't turn up when the weather looks like it might be bad.

So I suppose my question is how do I go about re negotiating the price? Do I just bump them or what?

[Scottie]

Just be honest with them DH. Talk to them and tell them your concerns.

Any decent tradesman worth their salt will be giving the client an update on a regular basis.

As for as not turning up when the weathers bad unfortunately that's par for the course in the building game.

[Peevemor]

Looking for a bit of advice please.

I've recently employed a tradesman to do some work on my house. The job is going on and on forever - currently around 6x as long as quoted and not yet finished.

Every time I ask for an update I either get blanked or I get told it'll be done by the end of the week.

The weather has slowed them down at times (but not by as much as is being claimed) but frustratingly they don't turn up when the weather looks like it might be bad.

So I suppose my question is how do I go about re negotiating the price? Do I just bump them or what?

It's not easy. All I can suggest is that you write them a letter (recorded delivery of course) giving them a deadline to complete the work, failing which you'll get someone else to finish the job, with the cost being deducted from any sum due.

[Hibrandenburg]

The guy I've got working for me takes forever and a day to finish the job. I knew this before he got the contract and I also knew that he'll do a cracking job for a fixed price even though it takes him forever. The guy is a perfectionist without any understanding that time is money, he'll never be rich through working but he'll never be without work.

As long as you're not being charged for hours worked and the job is well done then don't worry.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Just be honest with them DH. Talk to them and tell them your concerns.

Any decent tradesman worth their salt will be giving the client an update on a regular basis.

As for as not turning up when the weathers bad unfortunately that's par for the course in the building game.


Cheers mate - I actually already done this. Updates are a bit more frequent but the not turning up is still happening with no reason.

[Danderhall Hibs]

The guy I've got working for me takes forever and a day to finish the job. I knew this before he got the contract and I also knew that he'll do a cracking job for a fixed price even though it takes him forever. The guy is a perfectionist without any understanding that time is money, he'll never be rich through working but he'll never be without work.

As long as you're not being charged for hours worked and the job is well done then don't worry.

I'm not paying by the hour and they do appear to be doing a quality job. It's just taking too long!

It's just frustrating the life out of me. Not going to cost me anymore though but I do struggle to keep my frustration in!

[Jim44]

I'fm not paying by the hour and they do appear to be doing a quality job. It's just taking too long!

It's just frustrating the life out of me. Not going to cost me anymore though but I do struggle to keep my frustration in!

This is par for the course with most tradesmen, certainly in my experience. They know their trade and get the job done, eventually, but their time management, reliability and dealing with their clients can be pathetic. It's stressful and frustrating to have to be chasing them up day after day. Apologies to the 10% of tradesmen who don't deserve this criticism.

[Scouse Hibee]

This is par for the course with most tradesmen, certainly in my experience. They know their trade and get the job done, eventually, but their time management, reliability and dealing with their clients can be pathetic. It's stressful and frustrating to have to be chasing them up day after day. Apologies to the 10% of tradesmen who don't deserve this criticism.


Sums up the tradesmen I frequently engage perfectly. People end up chasing me for jobs not done thinking I haven't bothered to organise it as I am continually let down on both attendance and job completion. Drives me up the effin wall.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Would talk of a reduced fee encourage them to get their arse in gear or would it make them down tools (even more than they already have?)

Considering saying to them you've treated the job like you would a "homer" so I'll pay you the rate of a homer (ie take the tax off).

[Moulin Yarns]

Your lucky they came to do the work at all. I've had quotes from 3 different builders to do essential repairs to the outside of my house and none of them ever turned up. I managed to do some of it myself, the rest needs scaffolding or cherry picker.

A long time ago I got a guy to quote me for replacing 3 skylights, I asked him to do 2 of them,he then billed me for the 3. I paid him for the 2 and then he turned up at 7am on the following Saturday and went up to remove the 2 he had fitted. Th epolice were called and it turned out he was known to the police that turned up. all ended amicably (ish)

In reply to the OP I would try and negotiate a reduction, with a firm completion date agreed. Depending on the amount of outstanding work, say it has to be finished by 14th December or £50 will be deducted for every day over this (typically a penalty would be around 10% per week if there was a proper written contract, I think)

[Danderhall Hibs]

Cheers GF.

The whole experience has been a nightmare - before I chose these guys I had a few others round to price the job - some of them didn't even bother to follow through with a price.

I don't understand how these businesses function.

[Jim44]

I've had 'reputable' businesses in to do estimates for decent jobs. They've told me how good they were, how they will do a great job, even suggest improvements on what I want, spending time taking measurements and taking photographs then enthusiastically assuring me that the estimate will be with me in 48 hours. Then nothing. Phoning up chasing after them seldom works. Why do they come in the first place? If they don't fancy the job, just say so. A common ploy is to say they're really busy when they arrive and that they can't start the job for two months. If they fancy the job and there's a good profit for them, the two month waiting time disappears and they manage to 'squeeze' you in a week later.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I thought I was getting somewhere with these clowns but unfortunately not.

[Jim44]

I'm currently waiting for a tradesman to do some plumbing/gas maintenance work. Several weeks ago he did some work for me, great job, promptly well paid and happy to return a few weeks later to do more work. I had to phone him two weeks ago and got the usual story ..........been too busy but intended to come ASAP. Several texts and phonecalls later ........ no joy. Tied him down last week and was promised he'd be here today .......... surprise, surprise, no show, no text or call to give excuse. What would these guys do if, on completion of the job, you said: Sorry can't pay you just now, I've been too busy to go to the bank, lost my chequebook, come back next week when I might have some cash .......!!!!!! ........ Tossers.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I'm currently waiting for a tradesman to do some plumbing/gas maintenance work. Several weeks ago he did some work for me, great job, promptly well paid and happy to return a few weeks later to do more work. I had to phone him two weeks ago and got the usual story ..........been too busy but intended to come ASAP. Several texts and phonecalls later ........ no joy. Tied him down last week and was promised he'd be here today .......... surprise, surprise, no show, no text or call to give excuse. What would these guys do if, on completion of the job, you said: Sorry can't pay you just now, I've been too busy to go to the bank, lost my chequebook, come back next week when I might have some cash .......!!!!!! ........ Tossers.

I intend to do exactly that - can't get to the bank today mate it's raining. I'll tell him that when they chase though, obviously won't volunteer it up front.