Tradie Not Answering My Phone Calls

LGangGang on 08/03/2016 - 08:02
Last edited 08/03/2016 - 08:04

Hello everyone. I have a bit of a dilemma. I've been getting several quotes to build my retaining walls and decided to go ahead with one. Gave him a deposit, then gave him money for materials only to not commence work because of council issues. It's been a few months due to council issues and now that it's moving along he isn't answering, recently his phone doesn't even dial. I have found him on social media and he is active. We have just sent him an email to his business email. I found out last night that 2 other people are in the same situation and one of them received a refund and I'm waiting a reply for the other.

We have contacted fair trading and they said they will do an investigation. We have a lot of leads because of social media so we can find out where he lives, where his wife works and we are a mutual friend of his wife's friend.

We have receipts of payment with signatures, bank statements showing same amount being withdrawn on same signature date. I'm not considering a lawyer yet.

Does anyone have any other info they could give to me just for general advice. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • the-mal on 08/03/2016 - 08:18
    +5

    Sounds like you're doing the right follow ups - you've attempted to make contact with him via several means and when that failed you contacted Fair Trading. I think you've probably just got to let these methods run their course now.

    Make sure you keep a record (date/time) of each time you attempted to call him. And it sounds like you're keeping all your other records which is great.

    You're doing the right thing, unfortunately these situations usually just take time to resolve themselves. Hopefully he sees the light and refunds your money.

    We have a lot of leads because of social media so we can find out where he lives, where his wife works and we are a mutual friend of his wife's friend.

    I wouldn't follow this further if I were you. If you start approaching him via personal channels he may start approaching you via personal channels. This probably isn't something you want to invite. Keep it all above board, let Fair Trading do their thing and you'll more than likely get your money in a short while.

    • GangGang on 08/03/2016 - 10:51

      The only problem is we don't have his license number and fair trading is requesting it to identify him. The other person who received the refund only gave fair trading the abn. So hopefully when I call up again they the abn should be fine.

  • Ryanek on 08/03/2016 - 08:39
    +5

    While you're at it, give him negative ratings on all the online platforms you can (Google Maps is a good one). It has a bigger impact than most people think and helps others to avoid the situation you are unfortunately in.

    • GangGang on 08/03/2016 - 13:00

      I will , thanks.

  • oscargamer on 08/03/2016 - 09:13
    +1

    go visit him - politely at first

    it's very easy for people to avoid phone calls etc…

    • GangGang on 08/03/2016 - 13:00

      This will be the absolute last resort.

  • JimB on 08/03/2016 - 09:57
    -6

    I'm not one to do anything illegal, but a polite phone call to his wife at her workplace explaining the situation will fix this up quickly.

  • shroomish on 08/03/2016 - 10:06
    -4

    WHat about the tradies situation? they might be short of money and financially struggling and you should really consider a deposit more like a donation to goodwill. hahaha, nah ask him how important his kneecaps are to his future.

  • Blottski on 08/03/2016 - 11:13
    -2

    sounds to me he has a gambling/drug problem….

    Fair trading

    • kywst on 08/03/2016 - 12:29

      How does it sound like that?

      Sounds to me you have a prejudicial view of tradespeople.

      Fair go.

      • PJC on 08/03/2016 - 12:47

        But that was not prejudicial because this is after money has been taken - twice.

        • kywst on 08/03/2016 - 13:02

          OP stated the hold up was caused by council. There is nothing to indicate a drug/gambling problem. So no, it is prejudicial.

          Scenario: deposit and materials paid but council holds up the build for months due to inefficiencies and their beaurocratic nature. Tradie can't wait months for council to get their sh!t together. Tradie takes on other jobs to stay afloat. Perhaps phone number has changed … Perhaps they took a lucrative job opportunity in a remote location … Perhaps they are just incredibly busy.

          How you reason that it isn't prejudicial based on the fact money has been taken twice is beyond me … Bloke took money and can't get in touch so must be drugs/gambling.

          Fair go.

        • PJC on 08/03/2016 - 13:22

          @kywst: A fair go would be doing what he has taken money for without projecting an image of unapproachability.

        • kywst on 08/03/2016 - 13:35

          @PJC: so you admit that saying old mate has a drug/gambling problem without reason is prejudicial. Thanks for playing. Again, it was council and OP jumping the gun to proceed without approval that instigated the problem. Who knows … maybe this will resolve itself when contact is established.

        • PJC on 08/03/2016 - 13:56

          @kywst: You could be right. Maybe the tradesman knows who he has taken money from and avoided contact from OP without providing updated contact details, due to a reason unassociated with drug/gambling problems. I hope no tradesman does that to you or I. We would then be left guessing, perhaps not prejudicially in your case, what happened to our money.

    • Gotchas on 08/03/2016 - 13:10

      Maybe we should hold our horses until he wins big on the pokies

  • gevidian on 08/03/2016 - 11:28
    +4

    Why would you pay a tradie a deposit and give money for building materials when you did not have council approval for the retaining wall?

    • GangGang on 08/03/2016 - 12:57

      I spoke to the neighbour & he was fine with the engineering plans.I then told the builder to order materials because it would take a few weeks with council then we could start straight away once approved. Once i put the application into council and waited a few weeks he said he wasn't happy with the height. That's when it dragged on.

      i agree with you on maybe waiting on on the materials but nearly every business requires a deposit for the job.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/03/2016 - 16:19
    +5

    8 hours and no one has suggested bikies…

    • kiitos on 09/03/2016 - 22:33
      +3

      I booked them in, and paid a deposit, but they haven't arrived yet…and they're not returning my calls!

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