Geraint Davies, a 39-year-old father of three, shared his heartbreaking story of being scammed out of £17,000 by a rogue builder he found on an online trader’s marketplace. The money he lost was an inheritance from his late father, and he had planned to use it to transform their home in Flint, North Wales, into a dream abode. The builder had promised to complete the work within two months after being paid an upfront deposit of £17,000 to cover labor and materials.
Initially, everything seemed promising as the builder showed up to take measurements at their home and had his company name displayed on his van. However, things took a turn for the worse when the builder failed to show up to start the work, citing various excuses such as bad weather, other jobs, and even a family bereavement. As time passed with no progress, Geraint began to suspect that something was not right and attempted to contact the builder to request a refund, but received no response.
Feeling “empty inside” and regretful for trusting the builder, Geraint sought legal help from CEL Solicitors, who discovered that his bank had failed to detect the suspicious transactions. Despite initially feeling scared to transfer the money, Geraint had believed that the builder would fulfill his promises to transform their house. CEL Solicitors argued that Geraint had acted reasonably by verifying reviews and speaking to the builder in person, but the bank failed to intervene despite red flags of fraud.
After a legal battle, Mr. Davies was reimbursed for his losses and expressed relief and gratitude for the support he received. He felt a sense of lightness and regained hope as he could once again plan for a brighter future without the burden of financial loss. The ordeal had left him financially and emotionally drained, but with the help of legal experts, he was able to recover some of the money he had lost. His story serves as a cautionary tale for others to be vigilant and do thorough research before engaging with tradesmen, especially online.
