Builder must pay £16k for job he refused to do

DELAYS AND EXCUSES LEFT HOMEOWNER THOUSANDS OUT OF POCKET

- JAMIE BRASSINGTON

A COWBOY builder must pay a court bill of more than £16,000 after misleading a couple over brick work to their property.

Thomas Hickin, aged 38, was approached by the Stourbridge couple to install brick slips to the front of their property in 2021.

Trading under Brickslip Brothers, he quoted them £4,250 for the work and took a deposit of £3,187 but provided no receipt.

The work was due to start in June of that year but it was delayed until September as a result of delays related to the Covid pandemic.

Hickin then made several delays due to personal circumstances and the couple eventually asked to cancel the work in December 2021.

But they were informed the contract could not be cancelled as the materials had already been cut to size.

However, despite repeated attempts from the homeowners to get the work done, the service and materials were not provided.