Dodgy builders are just about getting away with murder!
Building Quotes
from local builders
Dodgy builders are getting away with just about anything thanks to poorly run systems and directory websites that let them lie to your face!
A story recently run in The Age outlined the problems 2 families had when a dodgy builder showed his true colours and made a mess of their renovations. They had a tough time bringing him to justice and are still trying to pay for the repairs to be made. It's not the first time this has happened and unless something changes soon, it certainly won't be the last time.
When the Keighley's wanted a bigger house they did what many people are doing today - they went online and found a registered builder. He sounded good, offered a good price and they trusted that he would be everything he said he was.
Years later, the Keighley's are stuck trying to work out where and how things went wrong while they're spending a fortune trying to pay for repairs to a building job that went wrong.
Turns out the builder they hired wasn't as trustworthy as he appeared. According to The Age, Tim Watson is a bankrupt who had a criminal record. Plus, his insurance certificate was fake, and while some of his reviews on Truelocal.com.au might appear glowing, it's obvious that's he's just posted them himself.
It is the problem with relying on a system that doesn't do any background checking or restrict reviews to actual customers. Service Central personally checks every insurance certificate (and trades license) that comes through our system. We only allow customers who have actually interacted with the business to review and when a dispute or severe negative feedback arises, we always investigate.
The builder hadn't just done the dodgy on this one customer - he'd left a string of bad jobs and unfortunate victims behind him, at least one of which according to The Age he had actually assaulted!
So how does it come about that a single builder can be able to keep operating despite being bankrupt and even having criminal charges against him? Because the system's in place to stop him are slow moving, and as long as there are sites and directories allowing him to register and pretend to be 'squeaky clean and honest' there will be people falling into his trap.
Here at Service Central we're appalled that this has occurred and recommend that in future people go to sites like Service Central to find their contractors. Don't risk your dream project on a dodgy builder like the one above - utilise Service Central's job posting system and you'll benefit from our strict Quality Control. We guarantee it.
Get rid of dodgy builders. Post your job with Service Central.
Read the full article, "When the system doesn't work, it appears dodgy builders can get away with almost anything."
Have you had a dodgy contractor give you a hard time? Tell us about it in the comments below.
-
The system doesn't work partly because of a 'half-baked' office of fair trading. They don't properly investigate defective work and they usually give support to the builders because the builders are paying a substantial fee to the office to be licenced. Unlike other regualtory authorities, there is no onus for builders to maintain currency with technological changes or update their knowledge base. I know of builders who obtained their licence 30 odd years ago just by working as either concreters or plasterers. They don't even have basic carpentry skills. The only study they've done in all that time is looking at 4wd vehicle magazines. It doesn't bode well for the future of building.
over a year ago by Janet Hutton -
i had employed a concretor for a job in upwey - the concretors name was curtis , sounded as though he knew what he was on about but was all talk, he came out started the job , then seemed like job was too hard and decided that he was going to buy some lunch but never came back.. concrete was just poured and not trowed , i had to go buy trowels and finish job myself... I rang tade connect who gave me his number and complained about the situation and they stated they only provide details and have no responsibilty to who comes out..... I say DONT USE TRADE CONNECT ... Just rubbish....all contacts which i have been given through them are trades which are not busy and the reason why is because they are hopeless trade connect does no checks.....
over a year ago by Nik -
Keep away from the net when you want some building work done. Use someone local who's previous work you can inspect. There are plenty of buiders out there who are honest, the shonks use the net for anonimity.
over a year ago by J galloway -
I am a registered contractor on service central, and I have recently had trouble with a dodgy builder. I was to tile a bathroom after the bath and vanity where installed. Wow the bath could rock you to sleep it was so loose. (I have video proof) the builder said it was the tilers job to stop it moving. What a load of rubbish! They are nothing short of criminals that the law has not caught up with yet.
over a year ago by Damian
Building Quotes
from local builders
