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Reader Muly got in touch with our Money team after being ghosted by his bathroom fitter...

I paid a bathroom fitter £10,000 for a new bathroom and he has left the job halfway through, took all the products and closed his social media and phone line down. What can I do?

We are really sorry to hear your story, Muly. Sadly, you're not alone in messaging in with experiences like this. While most tradespeople are trustworthy and reliable, a minority give the rest a bad name.

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We asked consumer rights expert Scott Dixon, AKA , to look at your case. He said...

A lot of this hinges on how you paid.

If you paid cash, you could unfortunately be without recourse unless you got a receipt. If you did, I suggest you report this case to the police and and get a crime reference number.

Cheques are treated like cash once the funds have cleared, but a bank may be able to trace the account that received the funds if you report it as fraud and a scam. Having a police reference number will also help here.

Most people will make payments this large via bank transfer, so your main recourse is contacting your bank and telling them you've 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

This seems unlikely in your case, but 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 .

If you paid via cheque or bank transfer, this will help you track down the rogue builder.

You can also find out if they are registered as a Limited Company on .

I would also report this trader to Trading Standards and leave reviews online.

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General advice with tradespeople

The most important thing whenever you get a quote from a tradesperson is to 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.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• WhatsApp us
• Email moneyblog@AG百家乐在线官网.uk with the subject line "Money Problem"

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