Hi, I’m a pensioner and recently got a guy to build me a raised garden to make...

Hi Graham Goodnest look like they take a commission, so you could go back to them in the first instance. You should also get a second price to ensure what you’ve been charged is fair. At the end of the day, you have received a raised garden and even though the materials are not to the standard you expected (was there any discussion up front about this?), you have got something which has a value. I would suggest a fair compromise would be to pay the cost of the materials – ask to see receipts, and pay the tradie for his time.

Thanks Mark, I have been in touch with Goodnest yesterday, they seem to want to get this sorted. My main concern now is that I stipulated that the structure had to be tanilised timber, he has stated in writing it is H4 yet the end grain where it has not been trimmed has no markings stating the grade of treatment. The offcuts that were left behind had a very strong smell of pine where if it had been treated this would not be as strong and there would be a different colour to he timber. Not sure if one can put any pics on this site, but I do have a couple to show if that is possible.

Hi Graham I’m not sure you can tell H4 by how it smells! Good to know Goodnest coming to the party.

Goodnest has now removed this cowboy from their listings and gave me as a goodwill gesture $100 NZ as a non expiry credit. I have not heard anymore from the builder and I hope I don’t. He was invited in writing to come and remove this mess from my property, but it seems he has chosen to ignore me.