Shoddy painting by decorator

[shellybelly]

I would like help please. We employed a decorator to paint 2 stair cases and various doors,frames and walls in the residential area of our cafe which was due to open 1st Feb 2014, total cost £600 He finished the job and I paid him and said he would come back to do the "snags" a week after new year on 6th Jan 2014 after Christmas (it was now 22nd December) and after he had been in hospital for an operation. I phoned him on the 6th to see when he would be coming as the snags turned out to be very shoddy paintwork throughout once everything had dried and it was daylight and he said the operation had given him an infection and he did not know how long he would be off work. I told him that we were having the carpets laid next week and sent him an email with photos I had taken of all of the shoddy paintwork. as I am a good decorator myself and only employed him to do the jobs I couldnt reach or did not have time to do, then I would finish the paintwork myself. There was about a third of the paintwork unfinished so said that he should refund me £200. He said that he agreed the work needed redoing but was not well enough to do it yet and would do it when he was well enough. This was not acceptable to me as I did not want him painting around customers and new carpets. He also said that he was willing to give me some money back when he started work again. My question is if I do the work and put it to rights then its his word against mine plus the photos I took, if it was like that at all! Also he could keep string me along for months saying that he is unfit for work and I will not know either way. Where do I go from here ?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

Where do I go from here ?

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

[PlanB]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

Not until the OP has sent a Letter Before Action first

Sorry I should have said "with the greatest of respect" to Cloggy :hail:

[PlanB]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

We employed a decorator to paint 2 stair cases and various doors,frames and walls in the residential area of our cafe which was due to open 1st Feb 2014, total cost £600

Was there a contract in writing for this job?

[enquirer]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

Was he paid in cash?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

Was he paid in cash?

Does HMRC know about the transaction?

[shellybelly]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

No contract but I have got a receipt for the payment of £600. I have written another email which I am planning to send after I have read all of the replies to this post. I got him through an advert I placed in Rated People. When I chose him he asked me to tell Rated People that I was not going to use him and cancel the ad as they would charge him £50 if I used him through the ad. I did this but have everything in email as this is mainly how I communicated with him. This is why I dont trust him he will reimburse me, if he got out of paying £50 hes not going to give me £200 unless there is some sort of "pressure" there from me.

[shellybelly]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

There was no contract in writing but I did receive a receipt so I have his address

[wales01man]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

What was his rating on rated people Zero or less?

[shellybelly]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

There was no contract in writing but I did receive a receipt so I have his address. He is playing on the fact that he is not fit for work but as i told him, I have a new business to open and need the painting doing I can do it myself but how can I get any money out of him upfront if he is saying he cant give me anything until he starts work again. Its a vicious circle and my time is running out. I have already told him that I will send an invoice to him for my work but what if he chooses to ignore it- do I take him to the small claims court.??

[shellybelly]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

Yes he was paid in cash but I have a receipt for the payment with his address on

[PlanB]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

I got him through an advert I placed in Rated People. When I chose him he asked me to tell Rated People that I was not going to use him and cancel the ad as they would charge him £50 if I used him through the ad. . . I dont trust him he will reimburse me, if he got out of paying £50 hes not going to give me £200 unless there is some sort of "pressure" there from me.

The Rated People website has a good reputation and they will look into disputes albeit they say the worst outcome is the tradesman will get suspended. But this could be the "pressure" you're looking for Why not contact them to get the ball rolling in case that persuades the painter to come back and finish the job or refund your overpayment. He's not likely to get any further work from the website until he does:

http://www.ratedpeople.com/c/legal-2...ement#disputes

[wales01man]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

He only gets work from the website if he pays them it snothing but a ripoff con trying to dupe people into using the so called rated tradesmen any good tradesman gets work by reputation and recommendation
I traded for years without advertising or paying for leads I just did a good job at a good price .

I would bet that rafted people website will remove the decorator from their site as for the OP getting anything from the website??????
Someone prove me wrong

[CleverClogs]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

the worst outcome is the tradesman will get suspended. But this could be the "pressure" you're looking for

Only if they can arrange for him to be suspended by his goolies. :grin:

[shellybelly]

Re: Shoddy painting by decorator

Thanks everyone for your replies, I have written an email which I am going to send today and am going to mention Rated people to him. I will see what response I get back from him and post it as soon as he replies.