Client Cancels Job Midway – Still Owes Me. I found her on this forum

[Buildmeup]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and was hoping to get some advice. I Took on a domestic renovation job after doing a smaller task (floor levelling) through a trade app. Client seemed nice, claimed she was “burned” by a previous builder and gave me the emotional backstory. I submitted a full quote after a site walkthrough, which she approved.

 

Then came the games:

 

• Pushed for a 10% deposit instead of 40%,
• Walked me through a stripped-down version of the job,
• Then started adding extras left, right, and centre once I was already committed.
  I agreed to help with a few extra bits because I felt sorry for her — bad move.

 

 

Despite delivering a large part of the work (painting, joinery prep, drainage digging, waste clearance, assembling units, skimming), she suddenly cancels the job because I reminded her about added labour and delays caused by missing materials (sink, tap, handles, paint).

 

Now she’s ghosting the final invoice and posting on this forum  about ongoing jobs and support  — asking daft questions undermining trades advice. She blocked me on all communication channels, LinkedIn, twitter, etc.. 

 

Meanwhile, everything stalled because of her own lack of planning and third-party trades walking through freshly decorated rooms i finished.

 

She already paid a partial deposit, so she clearly accepted the contract. I’ve issued a revised invoice only covering what was actually done — no padding. She’s now threatening to report me to Trading Standards for “fraud,” despite all comms being in writing.

 

Looking for advice from anyone who’s dealt with timewasters like this:

 

• Would a surveyor’s report be worth the cost now?
• Do I just proceed straight to Small Claims and let the judge read the chat logs?
• Any tips on how to deal with manipulative types like this, who abuse the system and lean on forums for free advice while dodging payment?

 

 

Fed up with these “expert clients” who exploit grey areas and sympathy to avoid paying what they owe. Cheers.

 

[ProDave]

Buildhub is not a place to publicly debate a builder / client dispute.

 

Personal information removed from the post, any further attempt at posting personal details will result in the tread being removed.  It is currently under discussion by the moderators

[Buildmeup]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

Buildhub is not a place to publicly debate a builder / client dispute.

 

Personal information removed from the post, any further attempt at posting personal details will result in the tread being removed.  It is currently under discussion by the moderators

Hi, thanks for the clarification. I was simply looking to get some advice from similar experiences. 

[ProDave]

As a sole trader it is indeed very annoying when a client does not pay.  It has only happened to me 3 times.  Usually a "letter before action" gets the bill paid or at least gets the client talking to you to agree a compromise.

 

The only time that failed was when a couple split mid job.  The man paid half the invoice but the woman paid nothing.  She claimed she had no money.  I did not take it to court as I thought it futile and I had already received enough to cover all the materials and most of the labour.  I did however have a bit of "satisfaction" when I later read the man had been found guilty of abusing the woman he left penniless.

[Mattg4321]

Letter before action and then small claims if that fails. 
 

If you have everything in writing and she’s not disputing quality of work then you will win. 
 

As above then hopefully the letter will open communications. Some people think it will just go away. Only happened the once with me. Letter before action sorted it. 

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, Mattg4321 said:

Some people think it will just go away

There are a lot who are bullies and try it on. Keep it civil and on the record as this becomes important if it does get legal.

[ProDave]

13 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

There are a lot who are bullies and try it on. Keep it civil and on the record as this becomes important if it does get legal.

If they are real bullies complaining for no reason, then word quickly gets around here and nobody will do work for them.

[Nickfromwales]

5 hours ago, ProDave said:

If they are real bullies complaining for no reason, then word quickly gets around here and nobody will do work for them.

I have worked for a few exactly as described above, and they are lower to the ground than a slugs ball-sack tbh. Big smiles, "can you do x,y,z", I carry on on good faith and then the bullshit and excuses begin.....

 

There are 2 in particular who I hope d1e soon. Everyone sympathises with clients and little GAF is given to the contractor when the offending clients pop out a few crocodile tears. Nothing satisfies more than them falling on their own sword; when the case is genuine of course. I equally hate people being taken advantage of when they need a decent tradesperson to look after them.

 

@Buildmeup, you can't come on here and actually name or pick someone out, unfortunately, but I completely get where you are coming from. I have been left with zero option other than to assume everyone will do you over, which is a sad state of affairs......but it does allow you to change the way you do business and learn (the hard way) from your mistakes.

 

"What doesn't kill you..." or so they say!

[Buildmeup]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I've sent a final demand letter a week ago and still have not received any response, i tried calling the client a couple times but there was no answer. It's unfortunate, but it looks like i will have no choice but to take it to small claims court. Again thank you for sharing 

[Temp]

Not always possible but I think where the work can be divided into very different parts or phases I would look to quote and invoice for those tasks/stages. As long as that's clear at the outset. At least then you get a warning if your first invoice isn't paid before you go on to the next phase. 

[ProDave]

All such documentation needs to be sent by a tracked postage service that gives you a proof of delivery.

[LDNRennovation]

It’s difficult. You won’t usually get much through a small claims court, it’s a last resort. 
 

I’d maybe try another letter outlining what she owes, offer some kind of agreement (mediation, negotiation) , then threat of adjudication. Then get a debt collector involved. 
 

Potentially write off as a learning experience anyway, sorry you learned not to trust people with a sob story. 

Edited April 16 by LDNRennovation

[Alan Ambrose]

>>> You won’t usually get much through a small claims court

 

It depends on the other party and the nature of the dispute - some people will pay up straight away, some people will argue and lose, some people are experienced / clever / shady and you may not get a result.

 

But ... it is a very quick, cheap and simple process, so worth considering.

 

I'll write up a guide on this when I get a few mins.

 

Edited April 16 by Alan Ambrose

[saveasteading]

3 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

it is a very quick, cheap and simple process, so worth considering.

I went to one once and so can agree that it is low key: compared to any other legal process anyway.