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Dealing With Cowboy Builders

By: Chris Nickson - Updated: 13 Mar 2024 | comments*Discuss
 
Builders Construction Rogue Traders

Cowboy builders are the bane of the construction industry. There are, on average, at least 100,000 complaints every year about them. They ruin things for perfectly reputable builders, and for all the talk about them, they’re in the minority – it just happens to be a minority that gets a lot of publicity.

Cowboy builders are simply rogue traders, of course, often with little or no knowledge of building, so you end up with a botched job – that’s if it’s finished at all.

Protecting Yourself From Cowboy Builders

The best thing is to learn to spot the cowboy builders early, so you can turn them away – it saves a lot of trouble later. The first tip-off is if they asked to be paid in cash, or cash-in-hand all with a promise on no VAT to be paid. No legitimate business will work off the books like that.

If they say a contract isn’t necessary, watch out – it’s vital in a business transaction like this, and without it, your legal position is nowhere near as strong. Most rogue builders don’t carry insurance, either, which again could work to your detriment if an accident occurred.

Are they willing to provide a written estimate and costings for the job, as well as a time frame for each stage of the work? A proper tradesman would, quite gladly. Where they do offer a quote, it could be unusually low, and they might offer to begin work immediately.

Do they have references? Do they have premises and a landline number, or simply a van and a mobile?

All of the above should raise red flags. You can protect yourself by having everything in writing and ask for a guarantee. Check references, talk to the people who’ve had the work done, and look at the work if possible. Ask your family and your friends for recommendations. Get several estimates and remember, cheapest isn’t always a savings.

It’s a help, too, if the builders and members of some trade group – although check that as well, since cowboy building firms have been known to fake membership. Finally, never pay in cash, and certainly never upfront – you should only pay for work that’s been completed.

What To Do If You’re A Victim Of A Cowboy Builder

Sometimes, though, the cowboys do win, and the building work is a shambles. What should have been wonderful construction work is a mess, and the builders have moved on. What can you do?

What they’ve done constitutes fraud, so you should complain to the police, giving them as much information on the builder as possible. Also complain to Trading Standards, which takes a very harsh view of rogue traders.

If you can track down the cowboy builder and he refuses to refund your money, take him to court. In the event of a small job, small claims court will likely suffice, and won’t cost you much. In the event of a big job, though, you will be looking at some hefty legal bills.Either way, it’s a lot of problems, and you still need to employ a proper builder to do the work correctly. The best solution, always, is to take the time and find someone who’ll do it right the first time.

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As a long serving member of Trading Standards, I wish to clarify to consumers who have become victims of a rogue builder. 1.There are NO regulations governing general builders in the UK. 2. Even if a Trading Standards authority were to pursue a successful prosecution resulting in a fine and/or imprisonment, the victim will not necessarily get their money back and this applies to any civil action if the builder does not have any money or any assets to liquidate! Although government are minded there is existing consumer protection legislation, this will not get you your hard earned money back. So do some very serious checks on who you employ to work on your home, do not become a victim, potentially having your home and finances totally devastated.
Enforcer - 13-Mar-24 @ 11:31 AM
ATTENTION: SCAM ALERT: Please refrain from engaging or hiring the following individuals for your construction or home renovation project: - Niall Connolly - Laura Walker - Abdallah Jaddou - Steve Chase - Ioannis Kyros - Ollie Chase They have a history of misappropriating clients' funds, neglecting worker payments, and displaying no commitment to completing contracted work. They are known to operate throughout the UK under different aliases, such as Laterem Group, NP3 Group, Laterem Eco Services, Dolmen Consulting, Comhar Group, BA Building Services. For additional insight, check their reviews on Trustpilot - just Google Laterem Group reviews
NW - 11-Mar-24 @ 7:24 AM
Beware of a joinery company based in west london called Estimus.I regret the day that our builder appointed them to do the joinery around our house.Cupboards and drawers fell of their hinges, items were built using not using the measurements provided and frankly two years later we are still suffering from the company doing nothing about any of it.They often come in randomly - get very rude and pretend not to understand English and are holding us to ransom emotionally as we know that if we don’t let them in (usually different people!) - they just wouldn’t fix things.We have had wardrobe doors and drawers fall on us as they forgot to put trackers and nuts and bolts and during their surprise visits to our property - they block pavements to do noisy joinery.Please do not use them!They add nothing but anguish to us and our neighbours and do not listen!!!!
JCW - 29-Feb-24 @ 10:51 AM
@wedny have been trying to reply to you - please email me. I can't seem to include the email address as it is usually written, which I guess is to prevent people giving personal details, but this is an address set up specifically for this conversation and I'll deactivate immediately afterwards. Find me at bon bah enfin at hotmail dot com - you will need to format it as you would a regular email address.Thanks.
LucyA - 18-Feb-24 @ 11:32 AM
Ted Bakali (Mohtade) has a history of appearing trustworthy, building relationships, appearing to be doing what is right until you put your guard down and he defrauds of you tens of thousands of pounds. This is our first hand experience. He works with a couple of business partners and one to watch out for is Nanase Kwabena (K) who have both opened up various businesses together and separately. The financial impact on our family has been the least of the effects as our physical and mental health also got affected. The loft works were undertaken by inexperienced men who have provided written confirmation that Ted advised them to do it using YouTube videos, the electrician had no qualifications and left our home at risk of fire, and not to mention the undelivered materials and money taken but very little work done. We were also faced with builders he hadn’t paid who he had lied to that we hadn’t paid him hence why he hadn’t paid them! When confronted he stopped constructive communication. The buildersalso showed us what appeared to be falsified CIS tax forms from Ted. Ted ended up letting one of the builders take a van, after legal pursuit, as payment. Another was not paid and showed up threatening violence upon us and we explained that Ted is the one that owed him (a simple google search will bring up the court case against Ted on this one). We also had police called when scaffolders he hadn’t paid pushed me and got on to our property threatening further violence on our children and property. We have photos and video evidence of damage to our property by scaffolder who broke the roof tiles (damage still existing) The man is alike to the Tinder Swindler on Neflix. I am sure if you confront him he will convince you that we are liars with a grudge. Please do your due diligence, look at companies house and all his other companies with unpaid taxes. He is intelligent and a manipulator. There was a recent court case with Howdens in connection with a house with new business partners for an unpaid kitchen and he did not show up.
Ice - 17-Feb-24 @ 12:45 PM
@wedny happy to! Not sure how to without publishing contact details… bear with me.
LucyA - 9-Feb-24 @ 7:46 PM
@Lucy A could you contact me ref TED BAKALI please
wedny - 6-Feb-24 @ 9:10 AM
Beware of a builder called Ted (Mohtade) Bakali and any of his phoenix companies - Prestige Construction Limited was the one we dealt with, but it's really just him.Textbook stuff: low quote, persuaded us to pay instalments in advance, pooh-poohed the need for contracts, employed underqualified workmen. Stretched 5 weeks of poor quality work over eight months, invoiced us for work which was never done, and strung us along using every excuse in the book, promising roughly every three weeks that work would restart.Ghosts your attempts to contact him, very slick at skirting around legal efforts to contain him. Avoid like the plague.
LucyA - 31-Jan-24 @ 11:11 AM
Beware of a builder called Ted (Mohtade) Bakali and any of his phoenix companies - Prestige Construction Limited was the one we dealt with, but it's really just him.Textbook stuff: low quote, persuaded us to pay instalments in advance, pooh-poohed the need for contracts, employed underqualified workmen. Stretched 5 weeks of poor quality work over eight months, invoiced us for work which was never done, and strung us along using every excuse in the book, promising roughly every three weeks that work would restart.Ghosts your attempts to contact him, very slick at skirting around legal efforts to contain him. Avoid like the plague.
LucyA - 31-Jan-24 @ 11:09 AM
GG property & development services sidcup. Very dodgy builder. Built an extension and lean too. Loads of leaks from pipe work. Asks for money upfront and extra money during job. Installed toilet and was unable to find the leak. Had to pay a plumber to sort leak. Left our gas in a dangerous way. Did not cap it off when removed oven. Built a lean too close to flu then told us after that we need to love the flu. Installed patio doors purchased from Leslie Easton windows and the doors have big gaps all around. They let cold air in. Neither George or Leslie Easton windows taking responsibility. George from GG property & development has now disappeared, won’t answer calls. Only gives 1 warranty on works and still received no certificate of works from building control.
Justsayno - 21-Jan-24 @ 5:07 PM
ROGUE BUILDER ALERT should you need a builder, be aware that FERM LTD owned by Christopher Morgan, are to be avoided at all costs. We can provide proof. We employed the above to carry out council grant work. He informed the council himself, he could complete the job within three months. He did not start the job until until there was three weeks left, took the initial deposit, put two people who have completely botched what little they did and he then refused to invoice the monies paid, return the keys to the house, return the deposit or to return the property to a liveable state. He has been reported to Trading standards, I have also taken him to court and won a County Court judgement of £18,538.86. Which he is refusing to pay. We where prepared to go back to court, with an order to attend so that Christopher Morgan could lay on the table, his income and outgoings to come to an affordable agreement that he could pay but he dishonestly ignored this. He has numerous occasions attempted to liquidate FERM LTD but as I was following him on companies house, I have been able to object and put on hold. His dishonesty has also left us in a position of owing an amount of money to another builder but of course he doesn’t care. If anyone wants proof of this statement. I can provide photographs and videos as well as these posted of this charlatan’s damage and dishonesty. He is hiding behind the fact, he is a limited company but as long as I am able I will be spreading the word, to avoid Christopher Morgan and FERM LTD! I shoul add when we first came to price up the job he told us he was awaiting his VAT number as business was so good. I kept asking for the number as the council would need it and to this day, it's in the post.
Avarich - 10-Jan-24 @ 10:38 PM
ROGUE BUILDER ALERT should you need a builder, be aware that FERM LTD owned by Christopher Morgan, are to be avoided at all costs. We can provide proof. We employed the above to carry out council grant work. He informed the council himself, he could complete the job within three months. He did not start the job until until there was three weeks left, took the initial deposit, put two people who have completely botched what little they did and he then refused to invoice the monies paid, return the keys to the house, return the deposit or to return the property to a liveable state. He has been reported to Trading standards, I have also taken him to court and won a County Court judgement of £18,538.86. Which he is refusing to pay. We where prepared to go back to court, with an order to attend so that Christopher Morgan could lay on the table, his income and outgoings to come to an affordable agreement that he could pay but he dishonestly ignored this. He has numerous occasions attempted to liquidate FERM LTD but as I was following him on companies house, I have been able to object and put on hold. His dishonesty has also left us in a position of owing an amount of money to another builder but of course he doesn’t care. If anyone wants proof of this statement. I can provide photographs and videos as well as these posted of this charlatan’s damage and dishonesty. He is hiding behind the fact, he is a limited company but as long as I am able I will be spreading the word, to avoid Christopher Morgan and FERM LTD! I shoul add when we first came to price up the job he told us he was awaiting his VAT number as business was so good. I kept asking for the number as the council would need it and to this day, it's in the post.
Avarich - 10-Jan-24 @ 10:37 PM
Cherwell Home Improvements - KEEP WELL AWAY. Suspect they are from the Travelling Community & trade up & down M4 - Reading, Swindon, Wilts areas. Gf contacted, CHI quick to respond to her phone call & came out next day, started on same day too-HUGE RED FLAG! 4 men -Tony Marshall, Martin,Joh (brothers) & Chipora. All work done by Chipora. Martin gave initial quote & Joh/Tony ‘advised’ Chipora. Cherwell caused extensive damage to whole front roof, left 50+ roof tiles loose, incorrectly laid cheap felt on top of old felt & laid battens on top of cheap felt! Battens go UNDER felt & are installed, not laid. Sealed ALL flashing (dormer window & chimney) with ‘Blackjack’ (impossible to remove) sealant & stole a section of lead flashing from chimney breast. Sloppily put wrongly mixed cement on front roof ridge OVER original repointing - since been told when first frost, it will fall off & also pull off any cement originally up there. 2 coats of ‘blackjack’ sealant put on dormer roof. It rained heavily after CHI left, loads dripped over roof edge, onto window ledge (thick layer) & several roof tiles below. After 2 days ‘work’, bullied my gf (repeatedly, by knocking on door) for £3k. Wouldn’t leave until payment was made via bank transfer-initially asked for cash/cheque. Five other roofing quotes, cheapest £5k. Front roof - original felt/battens to be replaced along with roof tiles with dripped sealant on, fitting loose tiles back, ridge repointing on BOTH sides (roofs NEVER have just one ridge repointed). Whole new roof needed for Dormer Window along with all lead replaced with code4 lead & chimney repointed. CHIcaused serious damage. Sealant is causing water to pool on Dormer roof, could collapse & fall into attic bedroom (where gf sleeps) if not immediately fixed. Where lead nicked from chimney breast-causing water to come in to bedroom-huge wet patch on wall, 1cm away. from light fitting, electrics could blow anytime soon. Wet spots appearing inside on bedroom ceiling form outside ridge repointing. Knock on effect for my gf, mentally & physically, has taken its toll. She’s having to move out as property unsafe due to aforementioned probs. They probably change names of company along with own names. Joh & Martin are medium set, dark hair, brown eyes, facial hair (moustache and beard). Martin is around 5ft 6/8 ins & Joh a little taller. Tony is around 5ft 10+, medium set, short mousey hair, clean shaven. Joh & Tony, well dressed, nice jeans, tops & trainers. Martin, ‘work’ clothes, scruffier jeans, jumper, jacket, boots & hat. Chipora, short black hair, brown eyes, skinny, Romanian descent., speaks hardly ANY English.
Matty - 7-Jan-24 @ 3:43 AM
Continued, .  On 28th December 23 he texted me asking if we are home then he is coming to start the job so I said to him to come on  29 December  with the roll of my felt and the raw materials which he said he purchased to do the work. Then in the morning today on 29 December he is asking me to send pictures of the wall  which I said I have no strength to go down  in the basement to click pictures because I am ill.  I told him to come with my roll of felt and the raw materials to  do the work.  Earlier on the text message I had asked him for a refund and he said he purchased the raw materials.   So he came today and wanted to get in to see the wall I don't know why. As I saw he did not bring in any raw materials or my roll of felt I asked him where are the raw materials and the roll of my felt  but he only wanted to get in I don't know why. I did not let him as I don't trust this guy and don't feel safe and comfortable with this guy.  So then went to his van and brought a small roll may be 1 metre in length and says that is mine and lying about it.   I said that this roll is not mine and I have a pictures of my roll.  I can't trust this person as he told many lies to me   I feel cheated by him and am scared of him I am  also very ill and had been off work for nearly 1 and half month now due to this issues, stress and my illness.  He has texted me on my whats app saying that my husband and I bullied him which is not true. I am the victimised and scammed by this person He infact bullied us and wasted my time 3 months now and have scammed me.  I feel that he is not a builder as the quotes are sent from residential address and not business address. I hope no one else falls trap to these type of scams. 
Nisha - 29-Dec-23 @ 7:49 PM
A builder named Michael Cowen left my ceiling work incomplete after making all the payments to him.  When it was raining there was all water coming inside as the roofing work was not complete.  And inspite of fixing the dates for him to come and complete the job he was not turning up.  From month of May 23  to end of September 23.  So I put a comment on NEXTDOOR app in builders section as to what I should do in this case asking for advice. A guy called Steffen Holborow messaged me with his phone number and I contacted him.  He came over and said that the whole felt from the ceiling needs to be removed as it was not done properly.  I told him to give me a weeks time to decide.   On the same day Steffen Holborow Kings Joinery Swindon pressurised me to pay him £500 to bring in raw materials saying that he will help me out. I was so stressed because water was coming in from the ceiling inside the house when it rains so I paid him £500 on 4th October 23 and the previous builder was not turning up to complete the work and my husband was down with a stroke. Then the next day Steffen comes and requests big roll of my felt saying that he needs to bring in the same type of felt because I already told him that I have felt with me. As I was hurrying to work so I was in a rush and did not think  to tell him to take a small piece of the felt. So he tricked me and went away with a big roll of my felt. He walked away with a big roll of felt which I feel it is a theft. That same day Michael Cowen texted me saying that he is coming to complete the job.  Immediately I texted Steffen Holborow not to buy any raw materials but since I paid him £500,  I told him to do the basement work where the walls have damp issue.  So he agreed and sent another quote for the basement work.  He called me a few days later and said £500 is not enough but I need to put in another £300 which I  did trusting him and I was stressed due to all this.  After like a week he comes and strips a small lower portion of the wall and says that the wall is wet and needs to dry and left leaving all the mud in the room. After that he stopped answering my calls and emails.  Then somehow he responded to a text message and the dates were fixed for him to come and do the job which he never turned back so I called the bank where I sent him bank transfers because I realised I am scammed by this person.   The bank refused to help so I gave a complaint again in the bank on 27 December 23.  So  many times date fixed but he never turns up.  On 28th December 23 he texted me asking if we are home then he is coming to start the job so I said to him to come on  29 December  with the roll of my felt and the raw materials which he said he purchased to do the work. Then in the morning today on 29 December he is asking me to send pictures of the wall  which I said I have no strength to go down  in the basement to click pictures because I am ill.  I told him to come with my roll of felt and the raw materials to  do
Nisha - 29-Dec-23 @ 7:43 PM
Ideal in bathrooms We had a quote for bathroom remodel, looks professional, the quote listed all materials to be used but didn’t have any prices on each item only a final material figure and labour figure, he said work would be guaranteed for 3 years, I was a bit confused why there was no separate figures for each item on the quote as he said it’s 20% off , any way we put are trust in this guy Alan West from Wrexham, from day 1 he was a shambles, he obviously didn’t have a clue? About plumbing for a start , even the guys he got in for the tiles dot and dabbled them on , shocking , on the final day he threatened my wife , we where put in such a awkward position, we called trading Standards and they said we would have to email Alan West to put the problems right and if then he didn’t they could then act on it , we wouldn’t have this guy step foot in are house again so nothing happened, we have had a plumber in to re do everything, I could right a book on this experience, He then finished trading as ideal in bathrooms and started up as AW landscaping, he is now trading as AW builders at Oswestry in Shropshire, so keeps changing his name , This guy doesn’t go in cheap , looks professional and talks the talk , he changes into a different guy on day 1 , this is a warning to anyone in the Oswestry area , beware, Cowboy Rouge builder Alan West , apparently on the move from Oswestry to Gobowen
Swamp - 5-Dec-23 @ 11:42 PM
Cherwell Home Improvements - KEEP WELL AWAY. Suspect they are from the Travelling Community & trade up & down M4 - Reading, Swindon, Wilts areas. Gf contacted, CHI quick to respond to her phone call & came out next day, started on same day too-HUGE RED FLAG! 4 men -Tony Marshall, Martin,Joh (brothers) & Chipora. All work done by Chipora. Martin gave initial quote & Joh/Tony ‘advised’ Chipora. Cherwell caused extensive damage to whole front roof, left 50+ roof tiles loose, incorrectly laid cheap felt on top of old felt & laid battens on top of cheap felt! Battens go UNDER felt & are installed, not laid. Sealed ALL flashing (dormer window & chimney) with ‘Blackjack’ (impossible to remove) sealant & stole a section of lead flashing from chimney breast. Sloppily put wrongly mixed cement on front roof ridge OVER original repointing - since been told when first frost, it will fall off & also pull off any cement originally up there. 2 coats of ‘blackjack’ sealant put on dormer roof. It rained heavily after CHI left, loads dripped over roof edge, onto window ledge (thick layer) & several roof tiles below. After 2 days ‘work’, bullied my gf (repeatedly, by knocking on door) for £3k. Wouldn’t leave until payment was made via bank transfer-initially asked for cash/cheque. Five other roofing quotes, cheapest £5k. Front roof - original felt/battens to be replaced along with roof tiles with dripped sealant on, fitting loose tiles back, ridge repointing on BOTH sides (roofs NEVER have just one ridge repointed). Whole new roof needed for Dormer Window along with all lead replaced with code4 lead & chimney repointed. CHIcaused serious damage. Sealant is causing water to pool on Dormer roof, could collapse & fall into attic bedroom (where gf sleeps) if not immediately fixed. Where lead nicked from chimney breast-causing water to come in to bedroom-huge wet patch on wall, 1cm away. from light fitting, electrics could blow anytime soon. Wet spots appearing inside on bedroom ceiling form outside ridge repointing. Knock on effect for my gf, mentally & physically, has taken its toll. She’s having to move out as property unsafe due to aforementioned probs. They probably change names of company along with own names. Joh & Martin are medium set, dark hair, brown eyes, facial hair (moustache and beard). Martin is around 5ft 6/8 ins & Joh a little taller. Tony is around 5ft 10+, medium set, short mousey hair, clean shaven. Joh & Tony, well dressed, nice jeans, tops & trainers. Martin, ‘work’ clothes, scruffier jeans, jumper, jacket, boots & hat. Chipora, short black hair, brown eyes, skinny, Romanian descent., speaks hardly ANY English.
Matty - 30-Nov-23 @ 1:29 PM
Cherwell Home Improvements - KEEP WELL AWAY. Suspect they are from the Travelling Community & trade up & down M4 - Reading, Swindon, Wilts areas. Gf contacted, CHI quick to respond to her phone call & came out next day, started on same day too-HUGE RED FLAG! 4 men -Tony Marshall, Martin,Joh (brothers) & Chipora. All work done by Chipora. Martin gave initial quote & Joh/Tony ‘advised’ Chipora. Cherwell caused extensive damage to whole front roof, left 50+ roof tiles loose, incorrectly laid cheap felt on top of old felt & laid battens on top of cheap felt! Battens go UNDER felt & are installed, not laid. Sealed ALL flashing (dormer window & chimney) with ‘Blackjack’ (impossible to remove) sealant & stole a section of lead flashing from chimney breast. Sloppily put wrongly mixed cement on front roof ridge OVER original repointing - since been told when first frost, it will fall off & also pull off any cement originally up there. 2 coats of ‘blackjack’ sealant put on dormer roof. It rained heavily after CHI left, loads dripped over roof edge, onto window ledge (thick layer) & several roof tiles below. After 2 days ‘work’, bullied my gf (repeatedly, by knocking on door) for £3k. Wouldn’t leave until payment was made via bank transfer-initially asked for cash/cheque. Five other roofing quotes, cheapest £5k. Front roof - original felt/battens to be replaced along with roof tiles with dripped sealant on, fitting loose tiles back, ridge repointing on BOTH sides (roofs NEVER have just one ridge repointed). Whole new roof needed for Dormer Window along with all lead replaced with code4 lead & chimney repointed. CHIcaused serious damage. Sealant is causing water to pool on Dormer roof, could collapse & fall into attic bedroom (where gf sleeps) if not immediately fixed. Where lead nicked from chimney breast-causing water to come in to bedroom-huge wet patch on wall, 1cm away. from light fitting, electrics could blow anytime soon. Wet spots appearing inside on bedroom ceiling form outside ridge repointing. Knock on effect for my gf, mentally & physically, has taken its toll. She’s having to move out as property unsafe due to aforementioned probs. They probably change names of company along with own names. Joh & Martin are medium set, dark hair, brown eyes, facial hair (moustache and beard). Martin is around 5ft 6/8 ins & Joh a little taller. Tony is around 5ft 10+, medium set, short mousey hair, clean shaven. Joh & Tony, well dressed, nice jeans, tops & trainers. Martin, ‘work’ clothes, scruffier jeans, jumper, jacket, boots & hat. Chipora, short black hair, brown eyes, skinny, Romanian descent., speaks hardly ANY English.
Matty - 25-Nov-23 @ 5:48 PM
Cherwell Home Improvements - KEEP WELL AWAY. Suspect they are from the Travelling Community & trade up & down M4 - Reading, Swindon, Wilts areas. Gf contacted, CHI quick to respond to her phone call & came out next day, started on same day too-HUGE RED FLAG! 4 men -Tony Marshall, Martin,Joh (brothers) & Chipora. All work done by Chipora. Martin gave initial quote & Joh/Tony ‘advised’ Chipora. Cherwell caused extensive damage to whole front roof, left 50+ roof tiles loose, incorrectly laid cheap felt on top of old felt & laid battens on top of cheap felt! Battens go UNDER felt & are installed, not laid. Sealed ALL flashing (dormer window & chimney) with ‘Blackjack’ (impossible to remove) sealant & stole a section of lead flashing from chimney breast. Sloppily put wrongly mixed cement on front roof ridge OVER original repointing - since been told when first frost, it will fall off & also pull off any cement originally up there. 2 coats of ‘blackjack’ sealant put on dormer roof. It rained heavily after CHI left, loads dripped over roof edge, onto window ledge (thick layer) & several roof tiles below. After 2 days ‘work’, bullied my gf (repeatedly, by knocking on door) for £3k. Wouldn’t leave until payment was made via bank transfer-initially asked for cash/cheque. Five other roofing quotes, cheapest £5k. Front roof - original felt/battens to be replaced along with roof tiles with dripped sealant on, fitting loose tiles back, ridge repointing on BOTH sides (roofs NEVER have just one ridge repointed). Whole new roof needed for Dormer Window along with all lead replaced with code4 lead & chimney repointed. CHIcaused serious damage. Sealant is causing water to pool on Dormer roof, could collapse & fall into attic bedroom (where gf sleeps) if not immediately fixed. Where lead nicked from chimney breast-causing water to come in to bedroom-huge wet patch on wall, 1cm away. from light fitting, electrics could blow anytime soon. Wet spots appearing inside on bedroom ceiling form outside ridge repointing. Knock on effect for my gf, mentally & physically, has taken its toll. She’s having to move out as property unsafe due to aforementioned probs. They probably change names of company along with own names. Joh & Martin are medium set, dark hair, brown eyes, facial hair (moustache and beard). Martin is around 5ft 6/8 ins & Joh a little taller. Tony is around 5ft 10+, medium set, short mousey hair, clean shaven. Joh & Tony, well dressed, nice jeans, tops & trainers. Martin, ‘work’ clothes, scruffier jeans, jumper, jacket, boots & hat. Chipora, short black hair, brown eyes, skinny, Romanian descent., speaks hardly ANY English.
Matty - 25-Nov-23 @ 3:36 PM
I’m afraid the information given on this Website is incorrect. You CANNOT telephone the Police in relation to Cowboy Builders as it is a civil matter & therefore, the Police are unable to be involved. Furthermore, members of the Public CANNOT directly contact Trading Standards. The correct route is initially speaking with Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB). An Adviser will take note of the Consumer’s issue & all of the information is then sent to Trading Standards via CAB. The Adviser will further inform you of your rights as a Consumer under The Consumer Rights Act 2015 & how to move forward with your problem.
Shi - 25-Nov-23 @ 2:18 PM
Marian Ciprian Badarau (formerly of the defunct Kwick Builders Ltd) in Wolverhampton area, harrassed, threatened, intimidated me to get all the agreed payments upfront left and disappeared. He was recommended by the architect Hamza Hassan; learnt later they were both sharing proceeds); I was left with displaced 1st floor, broken radiators and hot water systems which leaked into plasterboarded walls and softened them up, unfinished room which cost me thousands to re-do) Beware of him, Hes from Romania and very manipulative
Laverty - 21-Nov-23 @ 5:55 PM
Avoid like the plague Mr Mark Pearl from Cheshire ...He drives a blue van ...all work he under took has been a total shambles...took for ever to complete .He triedto contrivine health and safety, and became verbal when challenged..He gave assurence at the start that he was reliable and trust worthy and took pride in his work , Pictures were shown of his supposed work ,beware they most probably were fake off the internet ..He also became verbal about certification regarding his work .. Another reputable builder has had to come in and sortout Mr Mark Pearls shambles of a job ...He has caused a lot of stress and upset and had total disregardfor the property and it's occupants ...His time keeping was atrocious ,some days didn't even come ,a job that should have taken weeks took forever ...please avoid him like the plague and don't listen and fall for the speal that he spouts ..Found he gave out alot of erroneous information ...if any friends or family having work done ,please pass this name on to avoid all what has happened at this property ...very upsetting , stressful and is going to cost to put things right ...Mr Mark Pearl lives in the Crewe area Cheshire ..
Della - 21-Nov-23 @ 12:51 PM
G G property development Ltd. Alarm bells were ringing when he asked for money upfront. The job took a long time and then at the end we were left with 4 leaks in the toilet, 3 external leaks, floor lifting, Roof too close to a flue, damaged kitchen cupboards to mention just a few. George asked for more money to repair these issues. Very dodgy guy. Keeps changing his business name.
Never again - 27-Oct-23 @ 6:37 AM
Global Stone Irish fellows manager is a man called T. Doherty. COWBOY BUILDERS DO NO LET THEM TOUCH THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR HOUSE!! Global stone carried out work on my newly purchased address in SE3 from around the 13th of July 2022. The driveway/ paving was completed by his team even though we had not initially signed a contract or verbally agreed work for them to begin!!! I should have noticed the Red flags from there. Doherty and his son/team at global stonehad already started to dig the ground up outside the premises without agreement my partner and I felt we had no other choice but for them to continue. Mr Doherty and the Global stone team then advised me that the guttering on both the back end and front end of the premises needed changing which I was aware of. I did not feel Global stone were best equipped to deal with this issue but was pestered, promised and re assured this could be done by the team and their boss Mr Doherty. The work for the guttering was completed to an unsatisfactory standard on the 31st of July 2022, for the next two months I was in constant contact with the team complaining that the guttering was not satisfactory and that it was overflowing and gushing with a lot of water. The team initially came back out by the 30th of September to rectify the issue and again the issue had not been resolved and the issue remained. I called again to complain and tell Global stone and Mr Doherty that the issue had not been resolved. I was promised by Mr Doherty that the team would come out again to fix it. The next time Global stone arrived at the property it was at an un agreed time, after which they refused to re attend the premises to fix the issue. I was met with threats and verbal abuse on the phone following this. I then proceeded to call you Mr Doherty to remind him that he had given us a receipt to advise that we were entitled to a ten year warranty for any works carried out by Global stone. I then proceeded with a follow up email on the 13th of November detailing all the issues and communications we had encountered with Mr Doherty and Global stone with regards to this issue. Mr Doherty reluctantly sent his team out for a third time to resolve the issue and again it was not resolved to a satisfactory level. Since then the issue has gotten worse and worse. Doherty and his team did not use reasonable care and skill when they carried out the work whatsoever. I am currently going through Standards to get my money back off of them but the house is still in disrepair as a result with no money to fix the issue until Doherty and Global stone return the money I’m owed. New and experienced homeowners beware. Draw up contracts and don’t hand over any money whatsoever until your are completely satisfied or you have got the work double checked by another professional. Stay safe people.
Eddz - 18-Oct-23 @ 9:04 PM
Lords builders and developers. Currently working in Charlton SE7, Greenwich Borough. Work is a shambles according to building control. Rear 1st floor extension. It is unfinished. Entire structure needs to be pulled down and done again.Awful job. He has run off with our money. Haven't got funds now to get it done again. He refused to provide any insurance documents despite repeated requests. Turns out his business address is bogus and he resigned as a director in August 2023. He is doing about 6 other jobs I know of in the area. He will probably do the same to them. The contractors name is Zubair Ahmed. When the council official turned up and pointed out the mistakes he began shouting and swearing at him in Urdu. To think he was recommended by very old friends. Nasty piece of work. He even shouted at us and called us liars. Severe issues. AVOID LORDS BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS and ZUBAIR AHMED. Have reported him to trading standards but not confident anything will be done. It also appears he us using an illegal work force.
T - 3-Oct-23 @ 5:14 PM
McCauley Developments in Streatham are gamers. Got a recommendation. Taken ages on a small scale renovation. They do not honour timeframes. Lied about having business but there is no website or genuine address. It is the same address as a relative who is a lawyer. Lied and said they were an electrician, undertook Part P work under remote supervision of a registered electrician after discouraging me from getting my own electrician. Lied and said they would provide an agreement, they didn’t. Very quick to demand money. When I ask to speak to them about some faults, one starts shouting and defending poor workmanship, the other walks into my home gives me the silent treatment and the other says the reason we’re behind schedule is because I wanted to talk about faults that don’t need to be discussed again.
Lisa - 30-Sep-23 @ 7:16 AM
Bobby Littleton or ‘Bob the builder’, as he likes to be known by, operating in Herefordshire, either independently or sub-contracting for other builders, began a little project for us last year. Ironically, he came recommended, albeit by the father of a previous customer who had never experienced his work practice. Anyhow, he turned up in early February last year, viewed the work and gave us a price and an approximate start date. We agreed the price and the materials to be used, which came to 20k. The job entailed the demolition of a rear retaining wall, clearance of an old patio, reinstating a new retaining wall and the laying of a new patio. The whole project, Bob said, would take 3-4 weeks beginning roughly in June. Fast forward to June, Bob calls to arrange a time to do a site visit, to refresh his memory, and to arrange a 40 percent deposit for the materials. Considering there was a lot of materials to be used, we handed him 8k to cover the expenses. At this point we didn’t have any reason to doubt him. Bob assured us that materials would begin turning up and he would be starting in 2 weeks time. Materials did turn up: sand, ballast, cement and paving stones. However, there was no sign of any bricks, blocks and coping stones. We thought they were on order and they’d be arriving in due course. Two weeks later there was no sign of Bob, nor any communication from him. We tried contacting him to ask when he’d be starting and if he’d been delayed. At this point it’s ironic that prior to Bob having a huge deposit from us, he was always prompt in answering his calls. Now that he’d had a large sum of money, half of which had gone on materials and half was in his pocket, he was extremely slow in answering his calls. Nonetheless, he eventually answered and explained that it would be another 2 weeks because of delays. A further 2 weeks had gone by and there was still no sign of Bob, nor any communication, just building material. As previously, no immediate reply when he was contacted. And as previously, when he eventually replied, we were told: ‘soon mate, soon’. More delays. At this juncture, it is now the middle of July. The job that was going to take 3-4 weeks should have been done. Finally, after reminding him that we had entrusted him with a lot of our money, a digger turns up prior to him beginning at the end of July! Almost 2 months had elapsed from the point of handing him a huge sum money to him finally beginning, and still there were issues. His labourer began on the Thursday and began pottering around with a lump hammer and a cold chisel, a clear token gesture. There was no sign of Bob until Monday, and that was only because I had to phone him to see where he was after returning home to see if everything was okay. And even then he came out with some excuse that I’d just missed him and he was on the job. What I suspected, though, he was on another job and when I called him to see where he was, he would rush over to our job and cal
Anon - 20-Sep-23 @ 1:54 PM
peter spooner sussex haywards heath and mid sussex area. Cowboy builder. If he is still trading. Did a terrible job started late promised to start immediately. Recommed by mansall magtakart estate agents. Had examples of work from what eventually turned out to be a mate of his. Did not complete all the work. Had to diy or get other traders to finsh job. Drunk builder to. Dodgy electrican. Still finshing bits and pieces 15 years later.! Quote was cheap but in line with other builders.He went over budget to.Had to pay for building materials aswell extra! Stolematerials to. Cash in hand etc.over 120k of cowboy work!. Roof not installed before christmas.
tim - 18-Sep-23 @ 10:46 PM
Dec, there is a Facebook group re. Steve Gent which you can sign up to. It’s called Paignton Cowboy Builder Steven Gent and has people’s experiences of him and some of his know associates.
Emma - 16-Sep-23 @ 10:18 PM
Quickbuild - Dhanraj Bhairoo Rogue trader taken huge amount of money and not completed any stage of the project. Harassing, threatening and demanding for remaining payment when the project is still incomplete and works will never pass building control.
Will take legal acti - 28-Aug-23 @ 5:48 PM
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