The Dodgy Builder
For all intents and purposes, the predatory builder appears normal to start with, the first job might even work out ok but if you look closely you will see the glint of the gold tooth in the rats mouth, if you listen carefully you will hear whispers of what he has done to his chippie of 2 years, at smoko you will hear him talk about the Sparky who he took to QCAT and won a settlement against for shoddy workmanship, as he becomes used to you he will start bragging, you will hear him bignote about how he belted his painter last year but when you think about it, he is the builder overseeing the job and if he is doing it properly, how can the Sparky, chippie or painter get away with an indiscretion that warrants such harsh treatment?
Most subbies who make a mistake will happily rectify a problem when it is highlighted during the defects period but when a unprincipled operator gets a sniff of blood he goes for the jugular, he is merciless, there is no possibility of rectification, only retribution because he doesn't work within the same moral boundaries that normal people do, it is all about him and how much he can gouge from the subcontractor.
Heed The Talk
If you hear talk on a jobsite in regard to how the subbies are treated or how regularly they are paid, heed it and know with certainty that one day, you will be his next victim because there is nowhere to hide, the writing is on the wall. I have a mate who is a builder who heeded the talk and read the warning signs then respectfully declined to do anymore work for a Hope Island developer who subsequently went broke owing hundreds of millions of dollars, listen carefully and read the signs. If he had not been alert, he would now be bankrupt like so many others who fell into the clutches of this shonky operator.
Complacency
The successful predator becomes so confident in their ability to manipulate the system that they make elementary mistakes that an honest person can use to their advantage, they get careless with the truth and they coerce employees and others to dance around the truth for them, it is usually not difficult to expose the lies and this website can tell you how to do it.
Avenues Available for Dispute Resolution
Most subcontractors have little or no idea how to defend litigation, in many cases they just give up and walk away. Avenues available to subcontractors are your solicitor, the QBCC which cannot offer much help other than contractual advice, QCAT and BCIPA. You can chase your hard earned money through these entities but most first timers don't know the ropes, unlike the voracious builders who are hunting you. The claim against you will not go away, If you ignore it, the predator gets a default judgement therefore you have no choice but to mount a defence.
The predator doe not care what damage he inflicts on the subcontractor or his family, as long as he pockets a little extra at the end of the job so you must defend your position. It can be done successfully and let me tell you it's intensely satisfying watching a beaten predator slink out of court like the “Keer” that he is.
Membership
Joining us will be of immense value to any subcontractor but if you find yourself under siege by an unprincipled builder, or in the unenviable position of being litigated, your costs will be a fraction of a first timer because the resources we offer here will help you mount a solid case. Membership will help safeguard you from these ruthless people in the first place and will go a long way towards showing you how to recover what is yours if you are forced to go down that path.
If you wish to join the brotherhood and become a member of Subbies United, this link will take you to the membership options page, for as little as $100 per year, it is a cheap income protection plan.
I am not offering legal advice, it is based on my own experience, if you feel you need legal advice please contact your solicitor or choose one from our resources page.