Our own story is that we agreed back in December 2009 to have an extensive remodel of our driveway and rear patio area (around 150 sq mts). The contract value was £7000 (although we also added the erection of some walls etc at additional £1250). We paid £700 on signing in Dec having agreed the project would start in April 2010 - giving him and his team the chance to get everything in place and with assurances that they would stay on our job until complete.

The job began on 6th April 2010 and I paid a further £3150 as agreed with the balance of £3150 due at completion.

The first few days went well but by the start of week 2 we were getting a few worries about his and his workmen's ability to actually do the job. For example he set out the run off TOWARDS our 300 year old cottage rather then AWAY from it (basic stuff!) and we started to find that fewer men were on site each day, materials weren't showing up when promised, skips weren't being delivered/collected etc etc. 

There followed a monumental series of excuses - family illness, death, his own depression and so on.

By the 4th week after several conversations both on the phone and in person Woolner confessed that he couldn't complete the job and introduced 2 new workmen that he said would do the job. The agreement was that he would pay them and for the remaining materials but when they came to start they informed me that they wouldn't work unless I paid them directly as Woolner "has a history". I agreed and thank God they saved the day and we have a completed project - unlike so many others.

The rub, however, is that the final bill exceeded the residue (£3150) by just over £1600. Woolner met with me on site, agreed the overspend, apologized profusely about the job and how it had gone. He agreed to pay me the £1600 by weekly installment. Guess what? I've never seen him since!

At the end of the day for me its not the money that is the main point. He has a son with quite severe autism (and we met him so know at least that was true) and we have a son with the condition too. So we have been left as a family feeling that he preyed on that and our good will.

Anyway - the above is a salutary lesson! I am sure if you haven't already heard of him .... you soon will. He is still trading - setting up yet another company (he's had many over the years) and taking in deposits on jobs he's no intention (and is incapable) of completing. He's operating in at least 5 Counties but I suspect more.