Making a complaint to a tradesman

Don't delay discussing the problem with the tradesman - you can't complain if you haven’t given them a chance to put things right, to an agreed deadline.
Make sure you complain to the person in charge, especially if sub-contractors are involved.
If it's not sorted by the deadline, make your complaint again, but this time in writing. If the tradesman belongs to a larger company, also send a copy to the head office.
Keep copies of letters, notes of conversations, photos, and a diary of events.
 
What to do if you’re unhappy with the response
Consider getting a 'second opinion' by asking an expert to assess the work and, if they agree with you, back your complaint. This is particularly useful if legal action is being considered.
If you agreed a contract with the tradesman before work was started, refer to this with regard to withholding all or part payment until the matter is resolved (see our What to ask section). Get receipts, including VAT where appropriate, for any payments made as work progresses.
Contact the relevant trade association (see our Links section), if your tradesman is a member, and go through their formal complaints procedure.
If your tradesman is not a member of any association, and has no formal complaints procedure, contact your local Trading Standards Office in order to take legal action (see our Links section). You may still be unable to recoup any costs or get the work finished - but you could prevent this happening to someone else.
The last course of action to take is to sue the tradesman for breach of contract, but this can cost a lot of money and time and even if you win your case, you may still find it difficult to recover what you are owed.