suspicious about a contractor who is asking me to quote for work ....

[the_d_o_t]

Hi People,

Just wanted abit of advice on your thoughts:
before christmas i was contacted via my web sites "contact us" box, off a contractor who said he had been given my name by someone and he was doing a project local to me if i was interested pricing.

i met with the site manager who showed me around a large house having a large extension and plan is to gutt the full house and renew everything inc plumbing.

i priced, won the job and want a start next week and strait away sent me 2 other large projects to price also and as you imagine the quotes are not cheep so thought i best run a check on him and found nothing on the name they are trading under at companies house.
but his name shows 4 dissolved companies from past.....

he keeps banging on about the big jobs he dose.....bit odd for a company not registered!

so i asked him who he got my number off, he replied : "a friend of mine local to manchester, i am originally from worsley" (not a strait answer)

so i asked for a name and he has replied with someone i have never herd of!

if he is genuine with these jobs he's a ideal contact but something is not right :skep:

 

[newcastle phill]

Lets hope you get paid

 

[Masood]

run a check on him and found nothing on the name they are trading under at companies house.
but his name shows 4 dissolved companies from past.....

he keeps banging on about the big jobs he dose.....bit odd for a company not registered!

so i asked him who he got my number off, he replied : "a friend of mine local to manchester, i am originally from worsley" (not a strait answer)

so i asked for a name and he has replied with someone i have never herd of!
:

Smells fisher than a fishy thing on fishy Friday! Have you asked other local trades if anyone knows him?

 

[the_d_o_t]

i know!

update! ........get this
just searched his buisness address on google street view and its a mailbox place! like one of them po.box places!

 

[joni os]

A good relationship with credit control at local builders merchant is useful in these situations. Go with details of his previous companies.

 

[turnpin]

If it sound's too good to be true.....it proberbly is.......trust your gut feeling ...stay away....regards Turnpin:8:

 

[Alex Knight]

You may well get paid okay for the first one, it will be the second or third he will get you on

 

[Chalked]

If it looks like ****, smells like ****.
Probably is ****.

Find out who USED to do his work and ask them.

 

[julesverne]

Walk away now before you get really stung. if my spidey senses start tingley i walk away doesnt matter if i lose out. if you smell rat your inner gut feeling will generally be right.

 

[jonnyswamp]

Plus 1 for Jules answer
Go with your gut

 

[rpm]

Plus 2
Always following your instinctive feelings and sleep easy.

 

[Toxic Ted]

Plus three.....

 

[rpm]

i know!

update! ........get this
just searched his buisness address on google street view and its a mailbox place! like one of them po.box places!

Just read this and it say`s it all, RUN AWAY !

 

[Rckape]

+ four! Don't go there, I got taken for four and a half grand a few years ago. To say I learned my lesson on that one is an understatement!!!

 

[lame plumber]

losing one or two jobs is better than being seen off a few thousand!!

 

[REDSAW]

i will move this somewhere private!!.........

thats better, if you fancy the gamble or are desperate, feckin drop it like a hooker with clap!

 

[hammers4spanner]

10 k up front then don't show up reverse the trend

 

[woodsy]

If it sound's too good to be true.....it proberbly is.......trust your gut feeling ...stay away....regards Turnpin:8:

Totally agree with this, over the years I've learnt to trust my gut as the two times I've gone against it, it's cost me money.

 

[leelister6]

Do it labour only and insist on payment every Friday. If he's genuine, he won't mind, if he's a bent get he will!

 

[Elgordo]

It's a hard one to call but I would say don't be tempted even if you have no other work on ! I have found the worry over being paid or not breeds mistrust and slows you down on the job . He may be perfectly ok but you have to trust your gut instinct on this even if he is .

 

[newcastle phill]

Or ask for business references from suppliers or customers.