Millions caught out by cowboy builders

THEY are enough to drive you up the wall - if, that is, it has even been built.

The British public's tortured relationship with the building trade has been scrutinised by Which? magazine, which found that at least 2.5 million people had a dispute with a builder or decorator in the past three years. That equates to almost 2,290 every day.

As the figure is an estimate based on a new survey, members of the building trade will appreciate that it is, of course, bound to rise.

Which? warned yesterday that householders should always have a written agreement in place with a builder or decorator in case a dispute breaks out.

The survey found that a quarter of the 2.5 million who had been in dispute with a builder had been forced to resort to formal action.

The consumer group found that the most common disagreement was over the quality of the work, while other major complaints included traders not turning up when agreed, delays over completion, and properties being left untidy. A quarter of people failed to receive a written quote from their builder or decorator before work began, and 4 per cent were even asked to pay the full amount for the job upfront.

Such issues are the subject of the popular Channel 5 show Cowboy Builders, presented by Dominic Littlewood and Melinda Messenger and currently in its fifth series.

The Which? survey found that disputes left two in five people out of pocket, with a quarter feeling they were owed at least 500, and one in ten saying they had lost more than 1,000.

While most people talked to their builder or decorator to try to resolve the dispute, 15 per cent had to seek the help of a professional body, and 18 per cent were forced to spend more money by taking the trader to court.

Yesterday Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "With the cost of living climbing, many people are spending money on home improvements rather than moving house. Being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after a bad experience with a builder can be a huge blow for families already feeling the pinch. To avoid problems, you should always have a written agreement between you and the trader. And it's important to do your homework - make sure you get several quotes before deciding who to use, choose a recommended trader and check they're a member of a professional body."

It is not just the householder who suffers as a result of the Cowboy builders. Other builders are also affected, according to the Federation of Master Builders.Peter O'Connell, policy manager at the FMB said: "Cowboys give the whole sector a bad name and the FMB has been working with Trading Standards for many years through our Nail the Rogues campaign to raise public awareness of the problem and to help people find trustworthy builders.

"We advise people to take reliable word of mouth recommendations if they can. When these aren't available we suggest that clients look for builders through trade bodies such as our own that offer entry checks and a robust dispute resolution service. The FMB operates a Find a Builder service on its website, which also provides further guidance to clients and free access to contracts designed specifically for building work."

Mr O'Connell concluded: "If you do nothing else, please make sure that you get at least three quotes, use a contract, and don't pay for the work in one big upfront payment."