Rubble left behind by builder - advice please!

I would ask him first to remove it and if he doesn’t then name and shame him on facebook as well as asking if anyone wants the rubble for free.

Unfortunately you did that thing what you not supposed to do.you don’t pay before the job is done. My builder guy is great yes he’s a divorced dad doing some extra work outside of his job to pay for treats for his dad. First time he came to my house he told me that but after he had done the job and last week he was coming to my house but his van had broken down he turned up in his mates van and said he would be back to remove the flagstones when he got his van back 2 days later he did it. If you up North east area in box me and I will give you his number my handy guy takes pride and doesn’t rip ppl off

Do you by any chance pay him in cash and does he declare his income from this ‘extra work’?

Get rid of it yourself,this builder is stringing you along.I am no longer able to drive and am moving house , visiting the local tip is impossible.Litta have been brilliant at moving all rubbish,not the cheapest though.

Obviously doesn’t help as you have already paid him, but I had the same issue with a carpenter. I paid him for the materials used but wouldn’t pay labour until he’d removed the waste. It was then removed sharpish and I paid him the balance of what I owed.
You could get a quote to remove the rubble and even issue a small claim if he failed to pay - probably not worth it though

You don't say how big the pile is. Just put a bit in a carrier each week (the neighbours will see you are clearing it slowly) and into the dustbin. Just don't make the dustbin too heavy or obvious. I clear loads that way as it's expensive taking it to the dump.

He isn't going to do it so you will need to pay a licenced waste collector to remove it at an additional cost before the council get involved as it is on the pavement. I think it was fine to leave a comment about him not removing the waste as quoted for as it was the truth.

The rubble needed to be cleared off the pavement without delay and the OP has recognised that and moved it. The bins destined for landfill should not be used for builders’ rubble, as you obviously know Allex. It’s likely to be detected by the men emptying the bin and could easily damage the mechanism within the lorry. You could find yourself in considerable (and expensive) trouble by doing this - far more expensive than a trip to the tip.

As Sarnia says, there is NO need to feel ANY sympathy for such a 'tradesman' (haha). The country has a subset of such people, who feed off people being overly trusting, and in some cases just gullible. The circs of this sad case are pretty typical.

Now that we're in the F'book age, people advertise all sorts of things, and despite countless scams, and countless warnings to be wary, dodgy builders still ply their dubious trade, and try to do half a job, or play fast and loose with the customer's sympathies, and/or funds (if allowed).

NB - for those referring to 'Small Claims Court' it never WAS that difficult, or expensive, and you can add the cost back in to the claim. However, I see it's changed its name -- see >>> www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money for further info. Or ask the CAB for help?

The small claims process isn’t difficult, but enforcing a judgement might be (and would incur further expense). It’s surprising how many defendants turn out to be men of straw - virtually no assets and living hand to mouth (apparently).

Fortunately things are getting sorted out! My neighbour (one of the ones who complained and who I had written a note to to explain), came over while I was putting the lift-able bits into my front garden, and offered to take them to the dump for me in his van! Obviously I would have to pay the going rate for the waste, but he refused to let me pay him or for his petrol; just so kind! He doesn't drink alcohol, so I'm going to have to rack my brains for something to say thank you. Just after that I had a message from someone on Freecycle asking about the bricks, so thanks to Gransnetters advising me to advertise it!

So pleased for you

Excellent news.

Sorry I’d missed a post. Glad it’s getting sorted x

Brilliant result. So pleased. It was awful to read about you moving the stuff yourself.

People pay before the job is finished because tradesmen come up with 1001 excuses. Very often work isn't finished because they' re already on the next job. It should be made very clear at the start: payment when job ( inc removal of rubbish) finished, no sob stories. You live and learn.

Germanshepherdsmum

The small claims process isn’t difficult, but enforcing a judgement might be (and would incur further expense). It’s surprising how many defendants turn out to be men of straw - virtually no assets and living hand to mouth (apparently).

This happened to us GSM
Very annoying - and expensive.

SO pleased you have help now!
What a lovely neighbour choughdancer.

Hooray!

I've had lots of problems with tradesmen over the years. A lot don't clear up after themselves, are unreliable (turning up as when they fancy), demanding part payments, increasing quotes during a job. A good, honest reliable tradesman is like gold dust these days. I recently renovated my living room (albeit slowly) as could not cope dealing with builders & decorators. I think they are particularly pushy & problematic if they know you're a woman on your own.

I am OK with part/staggered payments but it's good to agree when they will happen- eg. Week 3 or "once the plumbing is finished" etc.

With my builder I'm happy to make advances if he is sourcing for me but mainly I choose and source things myself as both picky and prefer reclaimed. We have a good local yard for bricks and tiles but anything "odd" I need to look further afield.

As advice for the future I'd probably have paid 90% if all that was remaining as the rubble and 10% when that was gone. Values could be varied depending on the price of the work.

We had rubble left when we rebuilt our holiday house. It is now a small mound covered with plants and grass and it is actually pretty. Only took a few months before it was reasonable and I used fast growing plants. I surrounded the bottom with wooden garden edging.

I'm glad it looks like being sorted satisfactorily.
This cowboy may be a flytipper. If he's been abusive to you online who knows what he's capable of.

I have had many tradesmen over the 44 years we have lived here. Some good ones have retired and some have sadly died.
I always use personal recommendations, but even that doesn't always work out as the jobs and clients are different.

A bit of luck is needed too

nanna8

We had rubble left when we rebuilt our holiday house. It is now a small mound covered with plants and grass and it is actually pretty. Only took a few months before it was reasonable and I used fast growing plants. I surrounded the bottom with wooden garden edging.

That sounds lovely nanna8! My neighbour has bagged it all up and taken it away; it is SO nice to have it gone! Thank you all for your advice and kindness!

A reputable trades person now days would have a business credit account with suppliers and a business credit card, A neighbour recently paid up front more than £10,000 to a person who always had a sob story, they finally refused to pay anymore after advice from my husband, now they have a front and back garden that looks like a building site which at the moment has devalued their property and not done much for ours either. I may seem harsh but it beggars belief that supposed professional people sometime appear lacking in common sense. Referring more to my neighbours than anyone else.