I am glad for you.but you must admit when you see some of the work that some people pass off it makes you cringe.so good advise for any one.recomendations and veiw some prviouse jobs. as you say.

Any Update

He's still not returned but then it is still the w/e - let's wait 'till monday and see then.

They should take legal advice, but consider putting a charge on the Builder's assets (which may include property in the UK). People can hide money and close companies but hiding property is difficult to do. An excellent and cheap service which can be carried out online is www.moneyclaim.gov.uk through which they can make a court claim and if necesarry progress to a charging order (fees are very reasonable). Compile as much evidence as possible as to what is effectively owed. They will not have to appear in court but the builder will probably need to appear to defend his position. If there are any tax discrepencies involved you may get the builder to co operate if you threaten to report them to the tax authorities. As a surveyor in Spain I often meet people with similar problems. The Spanish court system may be effective but slower. If the offending party does have UK property, it can be best to move quickly towards the charging order.

I saw a Builder on the run in Benidrom the other day, was in a UK Transit, reversed into the front of a nice Audi A3 then bolted off, had a high speed chase through the benidorm palace and then onto the main road, ten minutes later I see the Audi come back so I dont know how it got on, but the worse thing was the tranny driver was well out of control, another time could have killed someone, I knew something was up and then I saw the front of the Spainard's Audi, and then I knew why he was chasing them.

Nice English builders eh ??

well you would think that the guardia would have no problems spotting a english trani van.I can see who,s side the guardia would be on.

Bet the van is now owned by some Spanish Cooks reinventing themselves as Builders