Garden roller!!! Dead giveaway.
Do not pay a penny.
Taxman would like to speak to them no doubt!
Overlay rate would be somewhere around £18/m2 swept/tacked/regulated/25mm laid plus any planing/removal work.
Urgent! dodgy tarmac job? - Question about possible scam...
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Dave_L
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RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset
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mrzen
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Update... the saga continues...
I went to see our neighbours first thing, and they said that they had felt a little threatened by him, so I worked from home today so I could speak to the guy myself.
He turned up, decent looking new van with sign writing (boy in front seat - why not at school?)
I explained that the work was no good - he agreed (he couldn't really disagree - it's coming up already...).
He said that he wanted us to be happy - his boys would come back on Monday to remove what they had done, and then do it properly including a proper roller!. I said that it was fine, as long as we have a proper contract in place... I've written up the contract based on exactly what he said he would do:
1) Remove existing layer of recently laid tarmac and dispose of safely.
2) Sweep the surface thoroughly to remove any loose surface material.
3) Hoover any remaining material.
4) Clear any moss and kill with spray.
5) Spray entire area with bitumen to seal the surface.
6) Lay new layer of fresh tarmac.
7) Compact using a heavy machine roller. A garden roller will not be used.
The tarmac surface will be flush with the existing kerbstones to allow water to soak away in the beds.
9) The area (including kerbstones) will be swept and free from tarmac debris before handing over to the client for acceptance.
So I took his name, which he seemed a little resistant to give (Smith is the surname...!).. I used his address on his flyer, but on investigation this was a Portsmouth office block with dozens of companies registered there, so I called him on the land line - number not recognised... I called his mobile and asked for his address which he gave:
9 Aldershot Road, Aldershot, GU12 6LB.
Quick google map search and you guessed it: Gypsy Caravan Park.
Now I'm stuck. If he was a legit trader like the good people on this website, then surely he would have a proper trading address, be listed at Companies House, with a land line etc. I would then be able to have some confidence in the contract I've put together, but now I don't know - it's just a bit of paper with some signatures on it - the 5yr guarantee is also worthless in effect if I can't do anything about it legally.
What I don't understand it that these guys have been doing blockwork all over the neighbourhood, and apparently have a decent enough rep.
I've contacted trading standards for some advice, but any thoughts on how to handle the situation from here would be gratefully received. No more 'you should have had a contract to start with' - I KNOW!! ):(
Matt
I went to see our neighbours first thing, and they said that they had felt a little threatened by him, so I worked from home today so I could speak to the guy myself.
He turned up, decent looking new van with sign writing (boy in front seat - why not at school?)
I explained that the work was no good - he agreed (he couldn't really disagree - it's coming up already...).
He said that he wanted us to be happy - his boys would come back on Monday to remove what they had done, and then do it properly including a proper roller!. I said that it was fine, as long as we have a proper contract in place... I've written up the contract based on exactly what he said he would do:
1) Remove existing layer of recently laid tarmac and dispose of safely.
2) Sweep the surface thoroughly to remove any loose surface material.
3) Hoover any remaining material.
4) Clear any moss and kill with spray.
5) Spray entire area with bitumen to seal the surface.
6) Lay new layer of fresh tarmac.
7) Compact using a heavy machine roller. A garden roller will not be used.
The tarmac surface will be flush with the existing kerbstones to allow water to soak away in the beds.9) The area (including kerbstones) will be swept and free from tarmac debris before handing over to the client for acceptance.
So I took his name, which he seemed a little resistant to give (Smith is the surname...!).. I used his address on his flyer, but on investigation this was a Portsmouth office block with dozens of companies registered there, so I called him on the land line - number not recognised... I called his mobile and asked for his address which he gave:
9 Aldershot Road, Aldershot, GU12 6LB.
Quick google map search and you guessed it: Gypsy Caravan Park.
Now I'm stuck. If he was a legit trader like the good people on this website, then surely he would have a proper trading address, be listed at Companies House, with a land line etc. I would then be able to have some confidence in the contract I've put together, but now I don't know - it's just a bit of paper with some signatures on it - the 5yr guarantee is also worthless in effect if I can't do anything about it legally.
What I don't understand it that these guys have been doing blockwork all over the neighbourhood, and apparently have a decent enough rep.
I've contacted trading standards for some advice, but any thoughts on how to handle the situation from here would be gratefully received. No more 'you should have had a contract to start with' - I KNOW!! ):(
Matt
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bodgeitandscarper
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bodgeitandscarper
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DNgroundworks
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Dave_L
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I would like to think you'll get a decent job in the long run but I won't hold my breath!
RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset
See what we get up to Our Facebook page
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lutonlagerlout
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well on the whole it would sound bad,but the fact that he has agreed to take it up and redo it sounds promising
this is almost unheard of
also the fact that he lives on a caravan site need bear no reflection on his work
i know non travellers who live on caravan sites because its cheaper
also a lot of travellers now live in houses
I rang a fella today to pick up some scrap metal for me,he said he would be there in 5, and he was as true as his word,hes romany but has lived in a house all his life
see what monday brings
LLL
this is almost unheard of
also the fact that he lives on a caravan site need bear no reflection on his work
i know non travellers who live on caravan sites because its cheaper
also a lot of travellers now live in houses
I rang a fella today to pick up some scrap metal for me,he said he would be there in 5, and he was as true as his word,hes romany but has lived in a house all his life
see what monday brings
LLL
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bobbi o
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Mikey_C
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conversely he was willing to try it on, lay a load of shite and try an take £2000 of the more mature next door neighbour.lutonlagerlout wrote:well on the whole it would sound bad,but the fact that he has agreed to take it up and redo it sounds promising
this is almost unheard of
also the fact that he lives on a caravan site need bear no reflection on his work
i know non travellers who live on caravan sites because its cheaper
also a lot of travellers now live in houses
I rang a fella today to pick up some scrap metal for me,he said he would be there in 5, and he was as true as his word,hes romany but has lived in a house all his life
see what monday brings
LLL
biggest fear would be that a contact (verbal) has been formed and to the letter of the law he should be given the opportunity to correct it, after that you are in to "do you want to upset the bloke, travellers can be intimidating."
my old man recently had a visit, they stopped him as he was getting out of his car and they wouldn't take no for an answer, dad said, "don't have the money" they say "let me give you a quote" dad says great price (about a third of what it should cost) but, "still haven't got the money" they say "you can pay us when you have". they only disappeared when the police walked past!!!!
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local patios and driveway
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Brave words lll i would have to disagree. IMO never deal with someone living on a caravan site, they can move easily compared to a home owner.lutonlagerlout wrote:the fact that he lives on a caravan site need bear no reflection on his work
Some may do the odd bit of ok work but in my experience itll be a bodge
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seanandruby
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local patios and driveway
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