"IMO scaffolders are one on the most difficult / untrustworthy trades"
100% agree. We had our Scaffolder confirm in writing the costs, and even then he added on extra and threatened to take scaffold down if we didn't pay. In future, I am considering avoiding brick-block construction, just so I won't need a scaffold. Or buy and install scaffold poles myself, and go as far as taking out professional indemnity insurance. That's the lengths I will go to, to avoid using Scaffolding companies.