Builder To Avoid By All Costs !!

D

Diane

Well-Known Forumite
Hi all just to let everyone know that Prestige Building Contractors from Gnosall are absolute rip off merchants and have left us in a right mess they quoted the garage extension which we have wanted for the past three years and saved for, we agreed a price and the length of time to complete which should of been three weeks,starting 9th Jan 2012 a week and half into the job asking for more cash due to the structual engineers calculations he said he was charge 1500 pounds for two r.s.j's this had set his cash out of pocket he then asked for more money saying he could not complete, at this stage my lounge wall had been knocked out into the garage which had no window in and no roof on, this is all happening,yes snow and freezing tempratures we have had to put up with and he has now said to us he can't finish the job he has no money, he has now left us with £3,500 to find to complete the job and to correct the work or so called he has done, if you have had any simular dealing like this from them I would really like you to get in touch so I can try and get a log of events, he is very charming I must say and he promised us he would finish the job all I can say he is a first class liar,conman,bodger and thief, we got him out of the telephone directory how wrong were we, he came in the centre quote of three.he thinks he's finished ours but we are not yet finished with him,and I know for fact he has gone to another job, please get in touch :( we thought we were in for a better new year as they say :(
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
I have had a lot to do with this builder he did a lot of work for us over the summer and completed the jobs very well, we then recommended him to our friends who have a complete house renovation to do, he did the first phase, again very well, but hasn't been back since, now I know he is owed a small amount of money from the job from our friends, but hasn't returned any calls. The only problem I had was towards the end of the job ( the finishing off bits) he would say he was coming and I did wait in a couple of times and he didn't come, then he would just turn up unannounced a few days later and would continue as if it was the normal thing to do. Although we we were very happy with his work I have heard since he worked for us that it is a bit of a trait to disappear before the end of a job. I am still waiting for him to do a small job which we could do ourselves, but it is one of those where he has promised to get back to us with.
 
shoes

shoes

Well-Known Forumite
I will be needing a very small amount of building work doing soon, I shall avoid this chappie.

If you have work needing to be done/finished I'd suggest getting in touch with catabatic on here :)
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
There was someone we had a quote from called second something or other, he did us a hand written quote for a 'dinning room with a slopped roof' hence we went with prestige!
 
Goldilox

Goldilox

How do I edit this?
Disclaimer: These are intended as general comments and not as a defence of the builder in question as I've had no dealings with him.

I've heard that cash flow is a real issue for a lot of builders at the minute as the banks are totally unwilling to lend money or extend overdrafts even where the money is just to complete contracted work with payment due at the end. The person who told me this works for a decent sized firm, so I can't imagine how much of a struggle it may be for the sole trader to find thousands for materials at the start of a job at the moment.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a builder's estimate is not a binding price. If something is more complicated than it looks, if it's held up by bad weather, or even just takes longer than was expected then a local builder can pass the extra costs on to you, you are taking on the risk. Large contracts (motorways or power stations for instance) are constructed on fixed price contracts where the contractors take on those risks, and usually pay penalties if the job overruns the agreed time scale.

You never know it could be worth asking the next builder you employ if he'd be willing to work for a fixed price in exchange for a premium above his estimate!
 
D

Diane

Well-Known Forumite
Goldilox said:
Disclaimer: These are intended as general comments and not as a defence of the builder in question as I've had no dealings with him.

I've heard that cash flow is a real issue for a lot of builders at the minute as the banks are totally unwilling to lend money or extend overdrafts even where the money is just to complete contracted work with payment due at the end. The person who told me this works for a decent sized firm, so I can't imagine how much of a struggle it may be for the sole trader to find thousands for materials at the start of a job at the moment.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a builder's estimate is not a binding price. If something is more complicated than it looks, if it's held up by bad weather, or even just takes longer than was expected then a local builder can pass the extra costs on to you, you are taking on the risk. Large contracts (motorways or power stations for instance) are constructed on fixed price contracts where the contractors take on those risks, and usually pay penalties if the job overruns the agreed time scale.

You never know it could be worth asking the next builder you employ if he'd be willing to work for a fixed price in exchange for a premium above his estimate!
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Sorry I forgot to mention he actually put the price in writing and including all tradesmen, sparky plumber, plasterer etc materials were included and we all signed it before any payment was made just to put the story straight he has also told me that he is going to go bankrupt, but I do know he has another job to go to !!! dodgy eh
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
He's not alone it's tough out there, it's unfortunate what happened to yourself, but I think he he has just fallen on hard times, he probably does have a job to go to, which will probably pay his mortgage for another month as he does have a family also. Yours isn't the first situation I have heard about with builders wanting to charge more at the last hurdle, due to unforeseen circumstances, it has even happened to myself years ago. I don't believe he has deliberately set out to rob you, but yes he does wonder off without telling you for a few days, which is naughty, but at the end of the day, having a good old rant might help you come to terms with things, but you still have the situation to resolve. It might be worth going to see him and talking it through, if he is in a desperate money situation, then there's room for negotiation and you could possibly come to some sort of agreement, which could resolve both your situations.
 
1JKz

1JKz

Well-Known Forumite
Not sure i like (what comes across as) yes he's suffering so he's allowed to take you down with him, erm i don't think so!

The telling you one thing and not following through with it is typical of many a 'professional' builder, plumber, odd jobbie etc that i've dealt with, and the stories i hear concludes that i'm not alone.

I feel for you Diane i really do.

This guy is going straight on my (ever growing) list of people not to employ.

Good luck Diane, regards,
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I've used Matt Askey to get a loft hatch fitted, did a good job and well priced. He is a member on here (spleeny), but he's rarely online and is out of the country at present I believe.
 
D

Diane

Well-Known Forumite
Not sure have to investigate eh !!
grumpystaffordguy said:
There are two vans that say "Prestige Renovations" working on a house on Holmcroft Road today. This the same people?
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grumpystaffordguy

grumpystaffordguy

Well-Known Forumite
Actually I have since had a closer look and the phone number is not local and the van said Kidderminster. However google doesn't really pull that company up. Seems a fair way to come to work on someone's house....
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
57mph said:
Not sure i like (what comes across as) yes he's suffering so he's allowed to take you down with him, erm i don't think so!

The telling you one thing and not following through with it is typical of many a 'professional' builder, plumber, odd jobbie etc that i've dealt with, and the stories i hear concludes that i'm not alone.

I feel for you Diane i really do.

This guy is going straight on my (ever growing) list of people not to employ.

Good luck Diane, regards,
57mph
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I'm not suggesting it is acceptable what he has done, or if he goes down take someone with him! It doesn't change anything, the situation Still needs resolving and by talking to him and negotiating a new agreement something could be sorted, that's all I'm saying! He is from gnosall so he's not too hard to track down.
 
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