builder stolen money

[Claire2432]

Hi just wondering if anyone can help me. I have recently transferred via bank, a builder money to start a job so he can get materials.. after five weeks of messed about dates and him not turning up, I cancelled the work and asked for a refund. It has now been 12 weeks and I haven’t received a refund, and doesn’t look like he’s going to return the money.
What are the next steps I can take?
Is there anyway I can get my back?
Thanks,

[charitynjw]

Hi just wondering if anyone can help me. I have recently transferred via bank, a builder money to start a job so he can get materials.. after five weeks of messed about dates and him not turning up, I cancelled the work and asked for a refund. It has now been 12 weeks and I haven’t received a refund, and doesn’t look like he’s going to return the money.
What are the next steps I can take?
Is there anyway I can get my back?
Thanks,

Hi Claire & welcome.

The golden rule when pursuing someone for a debt.
Is he/she sufficiently solvent?

Is he a sole trader, or is it a Ltd co.?

[charitynjw]

Hi Claire & welcome.

The golden rule when pursuing someone for a debt.
Is he/she sufficiently solvent?

Is he a sole trader, or is it a Ltd co.?

Have you had a word with CAB (Gateway to Trading Standards?

Have you researched the builder? (Ie TrustPilot, etc)

[Claire2432]

He isn’t LTD, he is a sole trader. I have spoken to trading standards and they have given me an address to write a letter to, with no reply.

[charitynjw]

He isn’t LTD, he is a sole trader. I have spoken to trading standards and they have given me an address to write a letter to, with no reply.

Did you get proof of posting?

[Claire2432]

Will send again tomorrow with recorded delivery.

[charitynjw]

Will send again tomorrow with recorded delivery.

You can get a free certificate of posting if you ask at the PO.

[Claire2432]

Hello again, I have sent with recorded delivery and nobody is in to accept the letter, I have sent a letter unrecorded but with no response. What else can I do?

[ostell]

Did you send a letter AND get a free certificate of posting, as suggested earlier?

[Claire2432]

Yes, but nobody in to sign for delivery, so can’t be delivered

[ostell]

No, you get the free certificate of posting from a post office and it is assumed delivered 2 working days later if there us any dispute about wether it was delivered or not.

[Claire2432]

Yes I have done this, but no reply, it’s been over 14 days, so I was told to send via signed by. I have been informed that he’s no longer at this address, although his business is still registered there.

[efpom]

If you have sent a letter before action, and without seeing your correspondence I cannot be certain of that, and not having had any response to that, your next step is to issue proceedings. But, before doing so, check, as others advise, that he has the means to pay any judgment.

You could check the land registry to see if he owns the premises to which you addressed your correspondence. If he does, on judgment issuing, you can put a charge on that.

Another and cheaper alternative, is to issue a statutory demand - the first step to issuing a bankruptcy petition. That might prompt a response.