L
ladyapprentice
Having worked with a main contractor for the last 18 months we were excited to be starting a couple of large projects - 53 bedroom student accommodation and a 21 bedroom student accommodation along with a few other smaller jobs. The main contractor was always a bit slow paying and would get quite irate if I emailed asking for invoices to be paid to enable us to buy more materials and pay the workforce. He requested my partner, head engineer, asked.
Anyway, we were working our socks off over the summer and had to put up with threats of non payment and fines if we did not complete. We were confident we would but stress levels were high. My partner used to go to main contractor asking for payments in order to buy further materials - abit like a child asking dad for pocket money.(I regularly invoiced the company and so payments should have been flowing but for the last 3 months we have only been getting money on account so I do not know which invoices they relate to so cannot see what vat we have been paid or confirmation they have paid cis). We would get small amounts and really struggle getting required materials. Despite this we got them and had extra labour to help with the project.
We used to supply and install all materials until the contractor decided he could get things cheaper (and much lesser quality) so he provided sanitaryware for these projects. Shower enclosures were particularly poor quality and main contractor being on site everyday saw them from day one. Halfway through project he asked us not to fit any more of the poor quality ones and he would get replacements. An hour later he changed his mind and said carry on with the initial enclosures and if the clients wants them changing later then he would charge him.
Last week we had men on the 21 bedroom project who were sorting the water booster pump and would have completed that day. A day ahead of schedule. My partner was on another of the contractors jobs due to complete that day (again a day ahead of schedule) when he received a call from the main cointractor saying he wanted all the enclosure taken out and replaced the next day. My partner advised him it would be cheaper to get his men to do it rather than pay us plumbers wages. The main contractor then said he was not intending to pay to get them changed anyway and it was our responsibility to tell him they were poor quality. My partner said we would not change them free of charge only to be told if we didn't we would not get a penny. Moments later my partner was suspended from site as were our other men at the other site, therefore we were not able to complete the jobs.
We were emailed by the main contractor asking why work was not complete. Silly question seeing as though we had been thrown off site. We said if 80% of what was owed to us was paid we would return and complete all jobs. We didn't get it. The main contractor asked for a meeting after I had sent numerous emails asking that we set aside differences and just get these jobs sorted. He only wanted to meet my partner, I suspect because he knew he could manipulate and bully him, I said I would attend as would the site manager but this was not good enough. We have sent in final bills and desperately need the money to pay our suppliers.
Through the grapevine we have heard that other plumbers have been in to try to finish our work. What I need to know :-
Am I correct thinking that all of our guarantees and warranties are now void following other plumbers working on our system (we did tell the main contractor this would be the case)
If we did not sign anything agreeing to fines due to delays can the contractor charge us £10,000 every day the jobs ran over schedule as he had threatened numerous times. Incidently they would have all been complete had we not be asked to leave the site.
Should we sit patiently and wait for a letter explaining the situation which the contractopr has promised? Or should we start legal proceedings now?
I am concerned he will put ridiculous fines against our invoices to try to justify non payment.
Horrible situation to be in. Think he intended all along to screw us over and tried numerous obstacles to do so. The free labour to change enclosures was the last straw.
Any advice greatfully received
Anyway, we were working our socks off over the summer and had to put up with threats of non payment and fines if we did not complete. We were confident we would but stress levels were high. My partner used to go to main contractor asking for payments in order to buy further materials - abit like a child asking dad for pocket money.(I regularly invoiced the company and so payments should have been flowing but for the last 3 months we have only been getting money on account so I do not know which invoices they relate to so cannot see what vat we have been paid or confirmation they have paid cis). We would get small amounts and really struggle getting required materials. Despite this we got them and had extra labour to help with the project.
We used to supply and install all materials until the contractor decided he could get things cheaper (and much lesser quality) so he provided sanitaryware for these projects. Shower enclosures were particularly poor quality and main contractor being on site everyday saw them from day one. Halfway through project he asked us not to fit any more of the poor quality ones and he would get replacements. An hour later he changed his mind and said carry on with the initial enclosures and if the clients wants them changing later then he would charge him.
Last week we had men on the 21 bedroom project who were sorting the water booster pump and would have completed that day. A day ahead of schedule. My partner was on another of the contractors jobs due to complete that day (again a day ahead of schedule) when he received a call from the main cointractor saying he wanted all the enclosure taken out and replaced the next day. My partner advised him it would be cheaper to get his men to do it rather than pay us plumbers wages. The main contractor then said he was not intending to pay to get them changed anyway and it was our responsibility to tell him they were poor quality. My partner said we would not change them free of charge only to be told if we didn't we would not get a penny. Moments later my partner was suspended from site as were our other men at the other site, therefore we were not able to complete the jobs.
We were emailed by the main contractor asking why work was not complete. Silly question seeing as though we had been thrown off site. We said if 80% of what was owed to us was paid we would return and complete all jobs. We didn't get it. The main contractor asked for a meeting after I had sent numerous emails asking that we set aside differences and just get these jobs sorted. He only wanted to meet my partner, I suspect because he knew he could manipulate and bully him, I said I would attend as would the site manager but this was not good enough. We have sent in final bills and desperately need the money to pay our suppliers.
Through the grapevine we have heard that other plumbers have been in to try to finish our work. What I need to know :-
Am I correct thinking that all of our guarantees and warranties are now void following other plumbers working on our system (we did tell the main contractor this would be the case)
If we did not sign anything agreeing to fines due to delays can the contractor charge us £10,000 every day the jobs ran over schedule as he had threatened numerous times. Incidently they would have all been complete had we not be asked to leave the site.
Should we sit patiently and wait for a letter explaining the situation which the contractopr has promised? Or should we start legal proceedings now?
I am concerned he will put ridiculous fines against our invoices to try to justify non payment.
Horrible situation to be in. Think he intended all along to screw us over and tried numerous obstacles to do so. The free labour to change enclosures was the last straw.
Any advice greatfully received
