bad contractors

[ava_camen]

very good strategy

[Retha]

Even smaller contractors!

Without wanting to change the direction of the thread, I think another challenging form of 'small contractor' is the 'painter' 'tiler' 'builder' that you pick up at the paint or tile shop. He quote you a price and you accept. Say it should be three days work. At the end of the first day he wants to draw against the work he has already done. He will want a third of the contract money. He will point out that the work is done and you should pay him for it and he has expenses, etc. You say: 'No, what about you not coming back tomorrow!?' He says: 'I am leaving my tools here, so I must come back' You give him the money (if you don't, you will have a very unpleasant exchange!) So tomorrow he doesn't pitch. Next week he will come round to pick up his tools - and just try to stop him taking it!

I now tell them beforehand (and let them sign!) that he will only receive enough for bus/train fair at the end of the day. He must tell me how long it will take and I then allow another day or so (otherwise he can take ages, and still get the money out of you). He will then only get the balance when the job is finally done to expectations.

The problem is that if he just thinks that he is a tiler, you will have a problem with getting a decent job done!

[Lyle Comyn]

why is there people i buzz and why is the chap standing at the door? If the man was trustworthy he will not be there and has nothing to loose, not even his name. He knows that the person has not got a contractor in and this person is looking at "saving" a couple of cents. This the person an easy target. This chap is a con. and smooth with the mouth. He makes his money not by doing a job but by conning the lady coming out the door and at quick glance sums it up and if you come out with tiles his a tiler and if you have paint he paints and if you got it all he can do it all.
His work is often not fin and gets to your home and checks this out to.
A week later you broken into. Use this chap and get what you pay for, cheep rip off and do the people in that has a name and something to loose.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

[murdock]

and 2 weeks later your premises are broken into...using registered contractors who pick up labour on the side of the road also create a safety hazard for you premises...been contracting for many years and noticed a trend....we have a quiet period with breakins...one neighbour in the pan handle has his thratch roof repaired within a short period of time one nieghbours house is broken into and the others vehicle is broken into.

[Retha]

Yes, I have also noticed that trend. If there are building activities, etc. going on in the neigbourhood, the risk increases exponentially!

We buy at a tile place where they provide you with a tiler on their panel. You pay the tile place for the tiling when you buy the tiles and they provide you with a slip you must sign when the work is completed to your satisfaction and you must then give this to the tiler. He submits the slip and gets his money (with their commission deducted) from them. In the two instances where we have done it like this, we have had the best ever standard of tiling. The tilers complain about the lower rate they get, but it is still worth their while and there is very good control over them. They also work fast, which is a bonus.

[AndyD]

I can see why this would be a tempting way to go but I'm not comfortable with the tiling shop taking what is no doubt a large percentage and not bringing anything of real value into the equation. If the tiles started lifting after a couple of weeks would they accept responsibility seeing as the job was done with their products and their approved labour? I doubt it.

[Dave A]

If the tiles started lifting after a couple of weeks would they accept responsibility seeing as the job was done with their products and their approved labour? I doubt it.

If the contract is between the client and the tile supplier including the installation, then surely the tile supplier would be accountable. The fact that the tiling guys used subcontractors shouldn't be the client's problem.

[Retha]

In a way the tiling shop is acting in the capacity we were discussing in the beginning of the thread. Someone holding the money for both parties, having a measure of control and getting paid for it.
I had no problems yet with the tiling so cannot comment on any guarantees. I think that part of the system is that if a tiler would make a mess, he would be taken off from their panel!
And they do take a fairly large chunk, but it is still worh my while and that of the tiler!