Dorset: Building firm clients describe losing life-savings

Mr Varghese said he had been saving for months to pay for the work

A building company has reportedly been charging customers thousands of pounds for work that was either sub-standard or never completed, the BBC was told.

Multiple clients of Transform Dorset Ltd have claimed to have been left out of pocket after hiring the firm for household renovations and repairs.

Customers have described having "sleepless nights" after the company claimed to have gone bust.

The owners of Transform Dorset Ltd have not responded to requests for comment.

The BBC later found evidence that the firm has not gone into liquidation.

'I cannot find peace'

Mr Varghese said he asked another builder to complete the work

Jismon Varghese saved for months, worked extra hours and gave up time with his wife and children to pay for a living room extension.

The 37-year-old, from Poole, said he signed a contract with Blandford Forum-based Transform Dorset Ltd in January 2023 and work began at the end of that month.

But he said builders stopped turning up regularly after four weeks.

Mr Varghese said the company blamed illness and staff shortages.

"They turned up maybe one day and they wouldn't even stay a full day - they just wanted to show me that they turn up some times, they hadn't forgotten me," Mr Varghese said.

He paid £25,000 as a deposit in January, according to bank statements seen by the BBC. He then transferred the £25,610 balance in the following three months - in the hope of speeding up the work.

Instead Mr Varghese said it became harder and harder to contact the company and said he lost his life-savings.

"I had no peace at all. I couldn't even speak to my wife, speak to my kids," he said.

"I felt guilty because I think I am the one who is responsible for all this, even though I didn't do anything though."

Mr Varghese contacted another builder to complete the work.

He said he later discovered he was not the only Dorset resident who had complaints about Transform Dorset Ltd.

'Sleepless nights'

Mr Young said work at his house never began

Dan Young, a graphic designer from Sturminster Marshall in Dorset, contacted the company in September 2022 to get his porch repaired.

The 48-year-old said he paid £10,710 up front as a deposit.

Mr Young said the work never began and that he was given a number of excuses, including illness, technical issues and the business moving warehouse units.

"There was a moment where I thought I'm not prepared to put up with any more of his excuses and I want my money back," Mr Young said.

"But I didn't really realise the extent of it."

In July 2023, Mr Young was told its directors had decided to put Transform Dorset Ltd into liquidation.

"I'm really embarrassed, frustrated and angry," he said.

He explained that dealing with the situation was "super stressful".

"There's been a lot of sleepless nights and worry," he said.

"It was a big deal to us. This shouldn't have happened to us and it shouldn't happen to anyone else."

One Dorset resident - who has spoken with the BBC but did not want to be identified - said she also approached Transform Dorset Ltd and ended up paying the company for work that was never completed.

Another saw the work he asked for completed - but said he had to contact a second company to get it redone because of its poor quality.

Liquidation

In July Mr Young was sent an email from the company informing him that directors "had to make the hard decision to place the business into a sad situation of liquidation".

According to the email, seen by the BBC, the company said it was "unable to pay or finish any ongoing jobs/accounts/bills" as there was "no more funding available in the business".

The BBC contacted Transform Dorset Ltd via email in November but received an email back saying the company was "in final stages of liquidation".

However, the BBC found evidence suggesting that the company had not gone into liquidation at that time.

According to its entry on Companies House the firm is still "active" but has no directors.

The Insolvency and Companies List - formerly known as the Companies Court - also confirmed they had no details about the company or any potential winding up petition.

There is no notice about the firm in The Gazette, which is where administrators usually publish a notice of their appointment.

Simon Bonney, a licensed insolvency practitioner, explained that people can check Companies House and The Gazette to see if a company has gone into liquidation.

Talking about Transform Dorset Ltd, he said: "From what I have seen there's no information to suggest the company's gone into liquidation."

A Dorset Council spokesperson said the authority's Trading Standards team received "multiple complaints in relation to the company operating under the name Transform Dorset Ltd".

In a statement the spokesperson added: "These complaints allege that the company has taken large pre-payments for high-value building work and not completed the work as promised, and that any work that has been done has been sub-standard.

"Dorset Council Trading Standards is continuing to monitor the complaints against the companies and individuals named. If it is believed any criminal offences have been committed, the team will liaise with Dorset Police to ensure any relevant action is taken."

Dorset Police told the BBC it received a report in July "involving a builder in Poole".

It also said it received another report in September "involving a building company in the Blandford area".

The force said it would not confirm if an individual or company was under investigation.

But it said the two reports received were deemed to be a civil matter.

The BBC tried to contact Transform Dorset Ltd several times by phone, email and in person but received no response.

Robin Austin, a chartered surveyor, gave the following advice: •Don't pay too much money upfront•Get the advice of a surveyor before proceeding with any building works•Just be careful as to the terms of the contract•Seek professional advice before you go ahead with it

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