My heart went out to this small contractor whose story I hear echoed by countless clients, some like him, others 鈥� often pensioners or those on low incomes 鈥� who have been ripped off by contractors less conscientious than Mr Danieli.

Neither side can any longer afford to seek 鈥淏ritish justice鈥� except in the small claims court, and even here claims frequently escalate once the full costs of restitution are discovered. Solicitor鈥檚 fees, even in the provinces, start at 拢140 per hour, rising to 拢240 plus VAT in the cities. Then they turn 鈥渇ast track鈥� trials into mockeries that drag on for months.

However, your own pages have frequently proposed what we鈥檝e found to be an excellent antidote for small contractors against this lawyers鈥� feeding frenzy 鈥� it is adjudication, as built into the JCT/RICS/RIBA homeowners contract and much advocated by 黑洞社区 columnist Tony Bingham. Had Mr Danieli employed it, contractually he would have had the right to press expert adjudication on his defaulters. For 拢750, and within 21 days of the adjudicator鈥檚 appointment, it would have been all over. He would have a decision that could be enforced without the help of solicitors.

Jay Webb, fenestration surveyor

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