DODGY BUILDERS - CAN WE NAME & SHAME THEM!!?

> I've just seen a large advert for a builder in a Costa magazine. This particular builder (the word builder is a compliment) completely and utterly ripped me off and left my house a ruin. This was back in April of last year and I thought they had closed down and left, but then I saw this big advert. I don't normally get acrimonious and I am pretty relaxed about most things, however, the extent of the terrible workmanship, cheating and lies they told is unparalleled - the question is.... can I name and shame them on the forum to protect other innocent ex-pats from their clutches?



It might be safer to just state what your own personal experience is in detail with facts which you can prove otherwise the builder could possibly take legal action against you for defamation and also the web site as well for that matter.

set up your own blog and you can shame then , but only whats has happen two u .

One option is to report them to Hacienda ( Tax authorities ) As I guess they are not even registered and paying tax. Have you any VAT/ IVA invoices ? Go to Hacienda web page, they have an English option. Be prepared to provide all details but it's a sure way of giving them a headache. At the very least they will suffer a Tax inspection.

I think they should be named.

Another option is to tell your Story (in Spanish) on any local Paper, in the section called "Cartas al Director".
And tell us who they are, please.
Daniel.

I am all for naming and shaming - not just builders, but anyone who rips off another.

I have posted regarding my personal experience of no win in injuries claim (after an RTA and both parties were fully insured, and a comprehensive police report put the other person totally at fault, infact it became a criminal matter).
LIBERTY SEGUROS totally mishandled everthing from start to finish, including thier lawyer giving me bad advice, LS making me undertake a medical examination - which was then used against me. Etc, etc.
I tried to take the story to the local English press, but due to LS being one of the main advertisers in all these papers, not one would write anything negative about them.

It still smarts to think they can just get away with it. (Even the Insurances Ombudsman backed them not me.)

I just don't have the energy to write a full blog of my experience, so limit it to forums like this to warn others.

PS THE INSURANCE CENTRE in Coin were part of the problem (and just made matters worse in their handling of the claim.)

SHAME ON THEM!

name and shame, my son. we should all help each other avoid misfortune. wise is the man who doesn't tread in another's dog poo, as i once read in a fortune cookie.

EDITED by The Don:

Name and Shame - we will all benfit from this - But not on the forum - wirte to local ( free weeks papers ) that most read.

Or email me and I will do it...............

The Don

Don you cant name and shame here ,
befor you name and shame the monunt investing that has to be done , and say outher thinks , investing in these companies, partly because of practical issues that come up , bad builders , ripped off , workmanship, cheating and lies
if i was you you sould alwas ask around about them , , then google them ,

most this people will have used many names , company names and so on , we not watchdog from the bbc
this comapny are big Media Corporation with big investing teams , to do all the production

we dont have this here

so please becareful what you post here , posts can be EDITED

you can name area you in what type of van area the person live in , what type of work the builder dose ''BUT NO NAMES''
many want to read the rules on the site , all off use did click the box for the T&C

> Don you cant name and shame here ,
befor you name and shame the monunt investing that has to be done , and say outher thinks , investing in these companies, partly because of practical issues that come up , bad builders , ripped off , workmanship, cheating and lies
if i was you you sould alwas ask around about them , , then google them ,

most this people will have used many names , company names and so on , we not watchdog from the bbc
this comapny are big Media Corporation with big investing teams , to do all the production

we dont have this here

so please becareful what you post here , posts can be EDITED

you can name area you in what type of van area the person live in , what type of work the builder dose ''BUT NO NAMES''
many want to read the rules on the site , all off use did click the box for the T&C


Reply:

Jurdyr, point taken and say guilty of not reading the T&C ( which I have just done right now ). being a "Mod" on a few forums myself I understand your warning and also how diffcult it is to please everyone.

I will watch my "wording" in future...

Kindest regards The Don

I do appreciate that forums such as this have to be careful when we start posting personal gripes.

I will certainly go down the route of a private blogg (sticking just to the facts of my case ;) if it happens to me again.

I was shocked though when I took my story to The Olive Press, Costa del Sol News etc at the negative response.
I.e They would not print any story regarding Liberty - as one openly admitted Liberty were their main advertiser and
they didn't want to p them off.
Oh well.. As long as I can tell people in another place, then it does the job.

A blog is probably the best option.

I would assume that the company concerned advertises online and has a website? Many expats will search online for companies in their area, so if you set up the keywords well, your blog will be up there next to their company website via any search engines.

If you have conclusive proof of all your issues with the company concerned, there will be absolutely nothing they can do about your blog. Likewise, if you provide a comments section on your blog page, others can share their views too. ;)

Wow - I didn't expect as much interest as this. Actually I don't need to name and shame them, as anyone typing Rose and Thistle Construction into google will find blogs from other people who have obviously had terrible problems too.
Thanks for all the advice though :)

As an estate agent we are often asked to recommend builders. We use a couple of Spanish builders who have got very used to what the English expect, everyone who we have recommended these to have been happy with the work. We have never recommended any of the British builders in our area, as most of them had other occupations before they came here. I would love to be able to recommend a British builder, especially in these hard times, but have yet to find one in my area who's work matches up to his Spanish counterparts.

Sadly, that's so true cazzy. In the time I've been here, I've seen them come... and I've seen them go, whilst we've also picked up the pieces from the mess that some have left behind, far too often.

One of the first things we did when establishing our own business, is network with local Spanish tradesmen and suppliers. All of them are totally reliable. My own specialisation is interior reform work... and that's what I stick to. For example, I'm not an electrician, so why would I undertake electrical work?

No, I stick to my skills and work in partnership with local Spanish companies. We've gone into partnership with a Spanish constructor who has been established for over 25 years. We've also a close working relationship with another local company who covers plumbing, electrical and green energy solutions and installations.

Indeed, having built strong bridges with local tradesmen and companies, roughly half of our business these days is split between expats and locals.

Having run a business successfully prior to my move to Spain, I set out to do the same things here, based on my experience and knowledge. Sadly, it seemed that anyone who'd picked up a trowel, thought they were a "builder" when I first arrived in Spain. Whilst it may seem harsh to say so, certainly where I live, thankfully the economic crisis has seen pretty much all of the cowboys ride off into the sunset.

We're still here and with our Spanish trading partners, we're still busy and working hard. Whilst we get offers of work in M?laga province, we stick to our "home" area, which is Granada province and southern Cordoba and Jaen provinces.

The key with any tradesmen or companies people are going to engage, is check references, check work and speak to past clients. Make sure they're legal and insured. Not everyone does this.

Likewise, the cheapest quote isn't always the most economical in the long run.

Yes I think they should be named, like they do on WatchDog! I would definitely buy a domain which is his/hers/their name and blog about your experience, back it up with photos, we are allowed to speak about our experiences on the internet but naming and shaming could sometimes get you into trouble.

Having said all that, it should not right for builders to take your hard earned cash and not give you the service you were promised, I think this problem is synonymous worldwide. I have had bad experiences with builders myself and in the end my husband decided to learn most of what we needed!

I am sorry to read such bad stories about builders and I think their name will be tarnished for years to come!

Simone

UK hit TV show Cowboy Builders is currently searching for cowboy builders abroad.

Have you been ripped off abroad? Has a language barrier cost more than it should have?
Has your dream place in the sun become a nightmare of shoddy workmanship?

Ricochet Television is currently producing a brand new series of Channel 5's Cowboy Builders and is keen to hear from British Ex-Pats who have fallen victim to rogue builders away from home. We would like to hear from anyone who has lost money on building or renovating a dream new abode or holiday home in Spain as a result of under qualified workmanship. So if you've been ripped off by a British or British speaking builder and you want us to expose them and maybe even help to fix your property, then please contact the Cowboy Builders team on consumeraffairs@ricochet.co.uk .

Ricochet Television is one of the UK's leading independent television production companies that produces high quality Factual and Entertainment programmes for broadcast by major networks in the UK and the US . Recent, award-winning shows include Food Unwrapped, Britain's Empty Homes, Hollywood Me and Cowboy Traders. For more information please visit our website http://www.ricochet.co.uk