Rubery couple’s bathroom ‘demolished by builder who took £3,700 and then vanished’ – Birmingham Live

An elderly couple claim their bathroom was left demolished by a builder they had paid £3,740 for renovation works – one of a string of complaints against him.
Susan and David Price have now reported Steven Davis to trading standards after alleging he completed just two hours work at their Rubery property – and has not been seen since.
Other unsatisfied customers have also complained about the builder who advertised on the NextDoor community app.
BirminghamLive has been unable to contact Mr Davis, who trades under the name Birmingham Plumbing Services Ltd.
Steven Davis
Retired Mr and Mrs Price say they contacted the builder after spotting a recommendation on the NextDoor site, where neighbours can connect online.
They wanted a new bathroom at their home in Callowbrook Lane to include a walk-in shower and on June 5 agreed a price of £5,740 with Mr Davis.
The builder, claim the couple, visited them with tile brochures and asked them to transfer £3,740 to his account which they did, with the remaining £2,000 to be paid on completion.
Susan Price in ‘demolished’ bathroom (Image: Birmingham Live/Darren Quinton)
Former NHS worker Mrs Price, 75, said: We needed a walk-in shower now so we decided wed have the bathroom completely refurbished.
He came and was charming and showed us tiles, sat with us and had a coffee. He was so convincing.
He was going to fit an entirely new bathroom for us, it was going to be completely refurbished, tiles, shower.
The builder, from the Rubery area, arrived to start work on Monday, June 15. Mrs Price said:
He came in, demolished the bathroom, took the sink out, bath out, the shower, took all the tiles off the wall.
He was here for about two hours, then he left saying he was going to go and get the tiles and the shower tray and never came back.
Its heartbreaking really.
The couple claim they repeatedly tried to call Mr Davis, and left messages on his phone, but he has not so far called them back.
(Image: Birmingham Live/Darren Quinton)
With an out-of-use bathroom, they relied on the generosity of neighbours to help.
Mrs Price said: Our neighbour came and put the bath back in for us.
We have to clean our teeth, wash our hands in the bath because he demolished the bathroom really.
I cant believe he would do that to an elderly couple.
Weve had to be in the home for so much of the time in the last few months. My husband did go out once a week for shopping, we were very uncomfortable about it and for the rest of the time we were stuck in here.
After detailing their case on NextDoor, the couple claim they have been contacted by other customers of the builder.
(Image: Birmingham Live/Darren Quinton)
Mrs Price said:  I did put a warning on the site about him when we realised what was happening and thats how I came to get lots of people contacting me about what hed done to them as well.
Jon Colley claims he paid £1,500 to Mr Price to take out a boiler at his home in Lickey, Worcestershire.
He said: “He came over and took a look and said he was happy to do the required work and gave me a price.
“Then he asked me for a deposit of £1,500 to buy the boiler from Worcester Bosch I believe. I transferred the money over and took text message screenshots. He said via text he would order it the next day with a view to start roughly about two weeks later.
“After around a week I called and text asking if he knew a start date. I havent heard from him since then. I have text and called and heard nothing.
“I messaged asking for a refund – but he still has not been in contact at all.”
Sound engineer James Collee, 36, claims he had employed Mr Davis to install a flat roof to his home in Worcestershire and paid £100 deposit.
But he said he asked for a refund when he read about Price’s experience on the NextDoor website – and has heard nothing since.
Obviously immediately I told him we wanted a refund and we wouldnt be using him, he said.
But Ive heard nothing from him, despite numerous texts. Ive contacted him on his Facebook page for his business, by email, nothing, no response whatsoever.
Luckily our case is not that severe, its more the principle of it if anything.
“But on hearing what he had done to the elderly couple I thought it was unacceptable.
Mr Collee added: Ive raised a separate trading standards query and Ive also reported it to Action Fraud.
Im aware of ourselves as victims, Mr and Mrs Price, theres certainly five or six Ive documented.
Its just disgraceful isnt it? You wouldnt want your mum and dad treated like that.
BirminghamLive was unable to reach Steven Davis for comment.
*Have you employed Steven Davis and were you a satisfied customer? Email [email protected]

Click here to view the original article.