Hi everyone,
Having searched the internet for the issue which I am currently experiencing, it is extremely disheartening to see how many people have been predated upon the vulture known as the cowboy builder. The shocking thing is that there seems to be very little one can do to reclaim often vast sums of money lost to these crooks.
I agreed construction work with a limited company to do an extension to my house. I paid them the first instalment of £7000 and after a week or so of working (very minimal done!) they went radio silence on me and did not respond to any texts/calls/emails. A month or so later after a lot of anguish they responded and said that they are experiencing cash flow issues and will endeavour to try to return the money to me. Since then there has been no response (2 months).
I have checked on Companies House and the company director is who I think is the builder's girlfriend. His girlfriend has responded to some of my emails in her capacity as director, suggesting that
There was an active proposal to strike off which I have written to Companies House with proof of my dispute to suspend this proposal. From my investigations on Companies House there is another limited company which the builder (whose name is on the invoices as the CEO of the limited company) has, and seems to trade from too.
So I am in the process of making an application to small claims court. What are the chances of success? I presume little as the invoice was to a limited company and so they can dissolve the company and absolve them of any debts? I think the company might be VAT registered which means that the builder might not want to dissolve with a decent amount of turnover, but the active proposal to strike off seems to suggest otherwise.
I would really appreciate any advice on the best course of action anyhow. This has all been extremely upsetting either way, losing quite a lot of my yearly savings in such a way - there has to be some more regulation to protect consumers here - it does not seem right that these cowboy builders can effectively steal money from people and are protected through the vehicle of limited companies.
Having searched the internet for the issue which I am currently experiencing, it is extremely disheartening to see how many people have been predated upon the vulture known as the cowboy builder. The shocking thing is that there seems to be very little one can do to reclaim often vast sums of money lost to these crooks.
I agreed construction work with a limited company to do an extension to my house. I paid them the first instalment of £7000 and after a week or so of working (very minimal done!) they went radio silence on me and did not respond to any texts/calls/emails. A month or so later after a lot of anguish they responded and said that they are experiencing cash flow issues and will endeavour to try to return the money to me. Since then there has been no response (2 months).
I have checked on Companies House and the company director is who I think is the builder's girlfriend. His girlfriend has responded to some of my emails in her capacity as director, suggesting that
There was an active proposal to strike off which I have written to Companies House with proof of my dispute to suspend this proposal. From my investigations on Companies House there is another limited company which the builder (whose name is on the invoices as the CEO of the limited company) has, and seems to trade from too.
So I am in the process of making an application to small claims court. What are the chances of success? I presume little as the invoice was to a limited company and so they can dissolve the company and absolve them of any debts? I think the company might be VAT registered which means that the builder might not want to dissolve with a decent amount of turnover, but the active proposal to strike off seems to suggest otherwise.
I would really appreciate any advice on the best course of action anyhow. This has all been extremely upsetting either way, losing quite a lot of my yearly savings in such a way - there has to be some more regulation to protect consumers here - it does not seem right that these cowboy builders can effectively steal money from people and are protected through the vehicle of limited companies.
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