Please Help! Ground worker took money for materials and never came back

[pk786]

i hired a ground worker to do a driveway, he started the work, but has not come back half way through after preparing the base and further taking money for the concrete. What can i legally do to get my money back?

[atticus]

how did you pay?

[pk786]

Bank transfer

[pk786]

He said he cannot finish the job, and has been promising me he will refund the money for over 4 months now, but this has not happened

[atticus]

OK, nothing doing there.

You will have to sue in the County Court. Are you confident of your ability to extract payment after you obtain a judgement in your favour? All too often this kind of thing does not end well.

[atticus]

I have just seen post #4. Consider asking him to repay in smaller instalments.

[pk786]

OK, nothing doing there.

You will have to sue in the County Court. Are you confident of your ability to extract payment after you obtain a judgement in your favour? All too often this kind of thing does not end well.

Not really, have no experience at all

[pk786]

I have just seen post #4. Consider asking him to repay in smaller instalments.

Good point, I will ask this, but wont hold my breath

[pk786]

how did you pay?

Am i covered if I paid via bank transfer?

[atticus]

As I said, nothing doing there.

[islandgirl]

Is this a company or a sole trader? Do you have an address?

[pk786]

sole trader, just a business address

[islandgirl]

So as above, has he any assets? You will have to pay to take him to court. If you win, that amount is added to what he owes. But how will you get payment? Find out if he owns the place he does business may be a start. How much does he owe you (approx, rounded figures)

[pk786]

So as above, has he any assets? You will have to pay to take him to court. If you win, that amount is added to what he owes. But how will you get payment? Find out if he owns the place he does business may be a start. How much does he owe you (approx, rounded figures)

I dont know of any assets, he owes me £1500. the address is a rented office. his business is registered as active

[islandgirl]

It is fairly easy to do a moneyclaim online but costs money to do it. The problem is will you get the money out of this person? If they do not pay you have to enforce (costs more money) and if they have no assets to seize and do not have a property to go after then you get nothing and have spent more. You could try a letter before action telling them that if they do not pay by a certain date you will take them to court and see what happens. Lets see if anyone else has a suggestion!