Welcome to Money, Sky News’ consumer and financial news hub. We help a reader who was seemingly ghosted by a builder in today’s Money Problem. Send us yours to moneyblog@sky.uk and we’ll see what we can do for you.
Tuesday 15 April 2025 07:04, UK
Every Tuesday we get an expert to answer your financial problems or consumer disputes. WhatsApp us here or email moneyblog@sky.uk.
Today, we are tackling this issue sent to us by Sue…
I got a quote from a builder to do some work in my house. They quoted £2,000 and asked for £500 upfront to buy the materials. Six months later he has never come to do the job or return my money. What can I do?
Consumer rights expert Scott Dixon, AKA the Complaints Resolver, answers…
I’m sorry to hear this. Although most tradespeople are trustworthy and reliable, the minority give the rest a bad name.
Whenever you get a quote from a tradesperson, always ask for it in writing and insist on a full written contract (not just a quote) before work begins.
Always get any promises or verbal confirmations put in writing. Don’t feel guilty by insisting on it. It protects both parties and eliminates any confusion over what was discussed and promised.
This creates a paper trail of evidence if you need to escalate a complaint.
If they don’t confirm what was verbally agreed, write or text them afterwards so you have that written confirmation.
If the quote was made verbally, and you have no written contract, you could try and rely on any text messages or emails as part of your evidence if you need to escalate your complaint.
A trader will often ask for a deposit to buy materials and agree staged payments in a contract to provide you with peace of mind if any issues arise before making a final payment.
Many builders and tradespeople have multiple jobs ongoing and work around the weather. Sourcing materials can also be problematic, so ensure the contract covers this and any delays completing the work and disputes that may arise on quality of work. Seek a deadline for completion in writing.
I suggest you try and contact the builder first if you haven’t already done so and ask for an explanation with any promises confirmed in writing.
If they don’t respond, write to them asking for your deposit to be returned within seven days and cite “breach of contract” under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
How did you pay for it?
If you paid by debit card, you would normally have two options.
You could either raise a chargeback to temporarily reverse and dispute the transaction as a breach of contract under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or you can say you were scammed.
You are out of time on raising a chargeback as you only have up to 120 days from the date of payment to dispute the transaction.
You could contact your bank to say you have been scammed. There are two types of payment scams – one where you have fraudulently paid money direct to a scammer and one where your account has been hacked.
The Contingent Reimbursement Model code is a voluntary code banks have signed up to where you have fraudulently paid money direct to a scammer.
It sets out a number of circumstances in which firms are required to reimburse customers who have been the victims of certain types of scam.
You need to push hard on this and say you were scammed, as claims often fail on the first attempt with staff not fully understanding how it works.
It can and should be resolved within days, but some banks are much better than others.
If your bank refuses to reimburse you for your losses, ask them for a deadlock letter. This is their final response, so you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for review.
Banks don’t like complaints being referred to the Financial Ombudsman as it costs them money and they risk negative publicity.
Trade associations
Check to see if the builder is a member of a trade association such as the Federation of Master Builders.
The FMB conducts a vetting and independent inspection process for prospective members to ensure they meet the high standards expected of a Master Builder company.
If they are a member of a trade association or a trader recommendation site like Checkatrade, you can contact them and ask if they can help you resolve your dispute.
Small Claims Court
If all else fails and you cannot secure a refund of your deposit and agree for the work to be completed, you could take your case to the Small Claims Court if it was England, or follow Simple Procedure in Scotland.
Prepare a Small Claim form as a draft setting your case out demanding a refund within seven days and attach it to your letter with proof of payment.
Put them on notice that if they do not refund you within the next seven days, you will proceed with legal action. Retain a copy for your records and send it by recorded delivery as proof of receipt.
Before you file a claim, send screenshots of the court papers setting your case out and demanding a refund within seven days. Tell the company that if they fail to do so, you will lodge a claim in the Small Claims Court.
This may resolve the dispute. If it does not, you can proceed and file the Small Claim papers online.
This is a last resort though if you cannot resolve your dispute.
I would also report this trader to Trading Standards and leave reviews online.
Homes in England and Wales spend an average of 36 days on the market, but the time it takes to sell in each region varies significantly.
Properties in Waltham Forest, northeast London, are selling the fastest, appearing on the market for 19 days before having a sale agreed, according to Zoopla.
This is despite homes having a high average price tag of £525,000.
Zoopla said the London borough was accessible and had good schools, green areas and low burglary and crime rates, making it a popular location for families looking to stay within commuting distance of central London.
Areas in the North West and North East made up the list of the five fastest places to sell.
You can see the top 10 below…
When it comes to the four nations of the UK, homes in Scotland tend to move the fastest, taking an average of 21 days to sell.
This is 13 days faster than the UK average of 34 days.
“It currently takes just over a month to agree a home sale across England and Wales, but this varies widely across the country and by property type with smaller family homes the fastest selling homes,” Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said.
“Households that are thinking about listing their home and moving in 2025 need to set their asking price at the right level and take the advice of local agents.
“Buyers have a lot more choice of homes for sale than a year ago. Aiming too high on the asking price is likely to impact saleability and how long you may have to wait to agree a sale.”
If you are looking for something to do with the kids on a budget this Easter, this might be an activity worth considering.
Pets at Home is offering 45-minute free pet pal workshops for children aged four and over.
During the session, your little ones will be able to meet some of the store’s animals and take part in craft activities.
They will also learn fun animal facts and the importance of being a responsible pet owner.
At the end of the session, they will be given some activity sheets to take home and a My Pet Pals certificate.
It is available until Saturday 19 April and requires you to pre-book a space.
Pets at Home also makes it clear that you must stay to supervise your children throughout the session.
You can check where your closest class is here.
The government has suspended tariffs on 89 products in a move it hopes will mean lower prices for consumers.
Pasta, fruit juices and spices are among the goods that will not face levies for two years, saving British businesses £17m a year, the government said.
The decision comes after Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all UK goods exported to the US, alongside a 25% tariffs on steel, aluminium and car imports.
“From food to furniture, this will reduce the cost of everyday items for businesses, with savings hopefully passed onto consumers,” Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, said.
British negotiators had hoped to secure a deal with the US to soften the levies, but the Trump administration has said it would take an “extraordinary” offer to beat 10%.
“In a changing world we know families are anxious about the cost of living, and businesses uncertain about their future,” Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said.
“That’s why we’ve announced lower prices on imports of everyday essentials – helping businesses to thrive and pass on savings to customers.”
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
It might not sound like a large number (it isn’t really), but the fact typical mortgage rates are falling 0.02% a day shows how the turmoil following Trump’s tariff announcements and pauses is shaping life in the UK.
Now traders are pricing in three interest rate cuts this year, the first of which is expected next month.
This anticipation is filtering down to the mortgage rates lenders are quoting: mortgage rates are becoming cheaper as borrowing costs look set to fall faster.
The typical five-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 5.27% today from 5.29% on Friday, according to financial information company Moneyfacts.
There had been weeks with little movement in the rate at all; 0.01% decreases were not even daily occurrences.
By Faye Brown, political reporter
Four more people have attempted to take their own life in relation to the loan charge scandal, which has left tens of thousands of contractors facing huge bills for tax their employers should have paid, Sky News has learnt.
HMRC has made 17 referrals to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, over the suicide attempts of 14 people, up from the 13 referrals of 10 people previously known about in October 2023.
The figures, revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request, come on top of the 10 known suicides of people caught up in the controversial tax crackdown.
The loan charge was announced in George Osborne’s 2016 budget and made freelancers liable for years of retrospective income and national insurance tax after being paid their salaries in loans.
HMRC has been accused of harassing ordinary people who were victims of mis-selling as the arrangement was widely promoted by lawyers, accountants and tax professionals in the 2000s and 2010s.
Read the full story here…
Our weekend feature on the art of complaining in restaurants provoked dozens of you to write in with your experiences.
If you didn’t see it, read the feature here…
Here are some of your stories…
We all live around the country and go home to Grimsby every Christmas. My mother takes us all out and regularly makes a show of complaining. Last year the whole table’s fish and chips were not warm enough. She hadn’t asked us how ours were before waving the waitress over. The waitress took the fish and chips away and was then ordered back to get the mushy peas. It’s mortifying. This is how not to complain. Quiet and discreet or not at all.
Paul
The US has the best way to solve contentious issues that could be applied to UK restaurants… it’s called “diplomatic negotiation”, although it’s easier in the US since the UK already has the service charge or tip included in the purchase, holding the customer hostage.
Panco Villa
Dining out in the UK is mostly a poor experience and l avoid it if l can help it. As an ex-chef l never send anything back as l knew chefs who would put food on the floor then under the grill and send it back.
Lemmy
I prefer to tip separately after the bill is settled, rather than have a fixed amount automatically added to my bill. This allows me to show my appreciation for good service; if I decline to leave a tip, it is a suggestion to the staff that some improvement is needed.
IanB
When the restaurant is crowded and there is going to be a long wait before the first course is served, very few restaurateurs have the nous to serve some tit-bits to nibble – olives, nuts, sliced chorizo or cubes of cheese, for example. The customers tend to drink more as well.
Jim G
I went to a high-class restaurant in London recently and l asked for my ribeye steak to be well done. I was visited by the chef who told me he would make me the steak but only if l changed my order to rare or medium…
Jacqui w
Finally, Hogan wrote in with proof that our experts were right to suggest Britons are bad at complaining…
Our local restaurant does not permit dogs but a lady with a dog slipped in. The dog jumped up and stole some meat off my plate. The dog owner was truly sorry and the restaurant owner said my experience was “bad luck”. I abandoned my meal but paid for it.
Hogan
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
The stock market rally continued today as US markets opened.
On the first day of trading since Trump said smartphones and other electronics would be temporarily exempt from tariffs, all major US stock indexes rose significantly.
The tech-company-heavy NASDAQ grew 1.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index of 30 major companies listed on US stock exchanges gained 0.8%, and the S&P 500 index of companies relied on to be stable and profitable rose 1.2%.
Sony has hiked the price of the PlayStation 5 by 25% as Donald Trump’s tariffs hit the industry.
The digital edition of the console now costs £429.99 due to “a challenging economic environment”, up from £389.99, said Isabelle Tomatis, Sony’s vice president of global market.
The PS5 Digital Edition is a slimmed-down version of the console that comes without a disc drive.
There have been no changes to the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive or the PlayStation Pro price tags.
The “tough decision” was taken after high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, Tomatis said.
Trump’s move earlier this month to impose tariffs on nations around the world has roiled global manufacturing supply chains.
News on the weekend that imports of electronics like smartphones and laptops are getting a temporary reprieve until the administration figures out a new tariff approach specific to the semiconductor industry has added to the confusion for exporters.
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Uncertainty is good for gold.
This morning, the metal reached another record high as investors again flocked to assets seen as safe havens as uncertainty unleashed by Donald Trump’s tariffs rocked markets.
An ounce of gold cost $3,223.7 in the early hours of this morning, surpassing the last high set on Friday evening.
A weaker dollar helped push up that price, as did the escalating trade war between the largest and second-largest economies – the US and China.
As stock markets across the world woke up and turned positive, the price fell back.
Stock market wobbles and policy confusion about what happens next for tariffs could yet push gold up to a new record.
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