Comments on: Is There Such A Thing As A Cowboy Customer In The Building Sector? http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector Builders Construction Chat Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:47:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Gareth http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-1113 Gareth Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:47:32 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-1113 I come accross Cowboy Customers regular. The excusses, Loans not come in yet, can't afford it as its near christmas, now not happy with the quote, even though it was signed for before work commences etc. Carpet damaged, walls marked, work tops scratched....the list goes on. We have a quality control tick sheet so after work has been completed the customer inspects the work done, with an opperative, and signs it, to eliminate any maintenance or comebacks. And before work commences an inspection is done on the property, so if there is a carpet damaged or worktop scratched etc it is photographed and a form is signed by the customer. By doing this the customer has no excusses at the time of payment (normally a week after completion). We are a Small Plumbing & Heating company with 4 Workers and a manager. Based in South Wales. We work for large and small builders, private customers and local authority. We don't advertise but do have a Website, and most work comes from refurals and word of mouth. People will do anything so they don't have to pay, even though a new Bathroom, en-suite and Central heating system has gone in to their home, leaving me with a £10,000 debt! They don't even feel bad. Could i go into Tescos and walk out without paying because my loan didn't come in or go to a restaurant and walk out and say i wasn't happy with the quote..... no because its there in black and white.. the price and it's stealing! Why is it different for tradesmen, its our boiler, kitchen, bathroom until they pay for it, they are breaking the law. I'm currently battling to get £8000 off small builders x 2 and a private customer. They think paying me a grand short is ok or giving me lies will be ok?? No.... if you can't afford it get someone else!or better still don't have it done at all!! If i was better at computers i would set up a web page and contact every builder or tradesman in britain, to name and shame these selfish idiots, even get a tv programme, anything.. I think people who don't pay are stealing off us, we can't keep this happening. So come on thats get this Rogue Customers idea going and punish the poor payers. I come accross Cowboy Customers regular. The excusses, Loans not come in yet, can’t afford it as its near christmas, now not happy with the quote, even though it was signed for before work commences etc.
Carpet damaged, walls marked, work tops scratched….the list goes on. We have a quality control tick sheet so after work has been completed the customer inspects the work done, with an opperative, and signs it, to eliminate any maintenance or comebacks. And before work commences an inspection is done on the property, so if there is a carpet damaged or worktop scratched etc it is photographed and a form is signed by the customer. By doing this the customer has no excusses at the time of payment (normally a week after completion).
We are a Small Plumbing & Heating company with 4 Workers and a manager. Based in South Wales. We work for large and small builders, private customers and local authority. We don’t advertise but do have a Website, and most work comes from refurals and word of mouth.
People will do anything so they don’t have to pay, even though a new Bathroom, en-suite and Central heating system has gone in to their home, leaving me with a £10,000 debt! They don’t even feel bad.
Could i go into Tescos and walk out without paying because my loan didn’t come in or go to a restaurant and walk out and say i wasn’t happy with the quote….. no because its there in black and white.. the price and it’s stealing! Why is it different for tradesmen, its our boiler, kitchen, bathroom until they pay for it, they are breaking the law.
I’m currently battling to get £8000 off small builders x 2 and a private customer. They think paying me a grand short is ok or giving me lies will be ok?? No…. if you can’t afford it get someone else!or better still don’t have it done at all!!
If i was better at computers i would set up a web page and contact every builder or tradesman in britain, to name and shame these selfish idiots, even get a tv programme, anything..
I think people who don’t pay are stealing off us, we can’t keep this happening. So come on thats get this Rogue Customers idea going and punish the poor payers.

]]> By: dksstebbings@btinternet.com http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-1088 dksstebbings@btinternet.com Tue, 17 May 2011 09:57:12 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-1088 hi there are alot of cowboy customers about basicaly fraudsters ive had several over the years they know how to play the game the best one i had was i laid a stone drive the customer said i had laid the wrong stone because as they drove off the stone flew into the air,it had nothing to do with the fact that they drove off to fast had to take these people to small claims it turn out the post man had told them it was the wrong type of stone i won my case didt get cost for the hassle this caused me also these people are doctors at addenbrookes hospital in cambridge they should have had more sence than that hi there are alot of cowboy customers about basicaly fraudsters ive had several over the years they know how to play the game the best one i had was i laid a stone drive the customer said i had laid the wrong stone because as they drove off the stone flew into the air,it had nothing to do with the fact that they drove off to fast had to take these people to small claims it turn out the post man had told them it was the wrong type of stone i won my case didt get cost for the hassle this caused me also these people are doctors at addenbrookes hospital in cambridge they should have had more sence than that

]]> By: 4k http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-1028 4k Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:18:09 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-1028 Hi Jackie. This an excellent post and one that other trademen and builders should take note of. Sadly, there are many builders falling victim to cowboy customers frequently and nobody gets to hear about it. Ironically, we hear about programmes being broadcast such as Cowboy Builders' but perhaps the producers of the show should also consider a spin off called 'Cowboy Customers'. Viewers may be surprised to see the flip side to the relationship between builder and client. How do builders fix this problem and not fall victim? Quite simply, they have to take all the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against these untrustworthy customers. I must also add that the majority of customers are a pleasure to work for and very sincere, but there will always be a handful that aren't. A contract should be put in plasce from the onset with all terms and conditions clearly documented. While this may not stop the problem from occurring, at least it will give builders some form of recourse in the eventuality of it taking place. The FMB, 4K Constructions trade union, offer free contracts that can be used by both homeowners and builders alike, to so that there is some sort of legal obligation between both parties prior to construction of the project. Graet post Jackie, welcome to the site and I hope to hear from you again. Kirk 4K Construction Hi Jackie. This an excellent post and one that other trademen and builders should take note of. Sadly, there are many builders falling victim to cowboy customers frequently and nobody gets to hear about it.

Ironically, we hear about programmes being broadcast such as Cowboy Builders’ but perhaps the producers of the show should also consider a spin off called ‘Cowboy Customers’. Viewers may be surprised to see the flip side to the relationship between builder and client.

How do builders fix this problem and not fall victim?

Quite simply, they have to take all the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against these untrustworthy customers. I must also add that the majority of customers are a pleasure to work for and very sincere, but there will always be a handful that aren’t. A contract should be put in plasce from the onset with all terms and conditions clearly documented.

While this may not stop the problem from occurring, at least it will give builders some form of recourse in the eventuality of it taking place.

The FMB, 4K Constructions trade union, offer free contracts that can be used by both homeowners and builders alike, to so that there is some sort of legal obligation between both parties prior to construction of the project.

Graet post Jackie, welcome to the site and I hope to hear from you again.

Kirk
4K Construction

]]> By: Jackie Askey http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-1027 Jackie Askey Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:36:37 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-1027 My son in law is a carpenter builder and considered one or the best in the area. He works very hard and always does an excellent job. Unfortunately he sometimes comes up against cowboy customers and needs some support when these customers refuse to pay him the last payment for work completed on trumped up reasons. I think it is time there was an inspector who comes in at this stage and arbitrates at the customers expense so that builders who have completed their work satisfactorily are not left without money - and vice versa. Customers seem to think they have all the rights and forget that these small buisiness men work from week to week and have to pay men who have families to care for. The stress involved is high and happens too often. It is amazing how many dishonest, supposedly upright citizens the are and I see the effect it has on my family. Spmething needs to be done that will bring these people to their senses before someone becomes seriously ill from the stress of it all!!!! My son in law is a carpenter builder and considered one or the best in the area. He works very hard and always does an excellent job. Unfortunately he sometimes comes up against cowboy customers and needs some support when these customers refuse to pay him the last payment for work completed on trumped up reasons. I think it is time there was an inspector who comes in at this stage and arbitrates at the customers expense so that builders who have completed their work satisfactorily are not left without money – and vice versa. Customers seem to think they have all the rights and forget that these small buisiness men work from week to week and have to pay men who have families to care for.
The stress involved is high and happens too often. It is amazing how many dishonest, supposedly upright citizens the are and I see the effect it has on my family. Spmething needs to be done that will bring these people to their senses before someone becomes seriously ill from the stress of it all!!!!

]]> By: 4k http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-295 4k Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:22:25 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-295 Yes Julie, some builders may request a deposit upfront, however, many customers are sometimes reluctant to want to pay this due to bad press with some 'cowboy builders' taking the money and running without doing any work. What may be better is payment in stages, whereby the client or customer will pay for the job as the work progresses. This is the method we employ at here at 4K Construction on any project that runs into thousands of pounds. Everybody is happy Yes Julie, some builders may request a deposit upfront, however, many customers are sometimes reluctant to want to pay this due to bad press with some ‘cowboy builders’ taking the money and running without doing any work. What may be better is payment in stages, whereby the client or customer will pay for the job as the work progresses. This is the method we employ at here at 4K Construction on any project that runs into thousands of pounds.

Everybody is happy

]]> By: julieg00 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-289 julieg00 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:04:21 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-289 Can you request a 25% deposit up front? That would cover the cost of materials, more or less. Then maybe you can get another 25% at another benchmark, and so on. If you explain to a customer your policies up front, and why they are in place, I would think the people who have good intentions will agree to the payment plan. Can you request a 25% deposit up front? That would cover the cost of materials, more or less. Then maybe you can get another 25% at another benchmark, and so on. If you explain to a customer your policies up front, and why they are in place, I would think the people who have good intentions will agree to the payment plan.

]]> By: knowhow http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cowboy-customer-in-the-building-sector/comment-page-1#comment-259 knowhow Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:26:13 +0000 http://4kconstruction.co.uk/blog/?p=140#comment-259 Cowboy Customer sounds like a new term to me, but you have given good explanation to clarify your point. So its the time to say that one should be aware of such customers. Cowboy Customer sounds like a new term to me, but you have given good explanation to clarify your point. So its the time to say that one should be aware of such customers.

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