What can i do about my dodgy builder?

I'm in the middle of having my kitchen done by a friend of friend, not on the books, cash only. We agreed a price and half way through, he has had to add an extra 拢500 to build extra cabinets and to hire a skip which he has over priced me as i called a skip company myself. He has also smoked in my non smoking flat, answered my telephone and left my front door on the latch when he left for the day. He wants his money on sunday, what should i do?

As a carpenter and kitchen fitter myself, if I under-price something I have to take it on the chin. Its my mistake. He should finish the work before you pay ANYTHING! I never ask for payment before the job is done. Good builders don't need money up front, they should have a good track record and have accounts with suppliers. If he needs to make extra cabinets is it because you changed the plan or because he got it wrong. In future always make sure that any tradesman/woman is just that ... A TRADESMAN not a cowboy, as it seems to me that you have been unlucky in this case and got a cowboy.
For future reference..
Always get the price in advance, not after work has started.
Never pay more than 10% deposit
When the work is finished keep back 10% of the payment (a retainer) to make sure that he comes back to correct any faults you find later.
Get references from other customers (a good fitter will have a list as long as your arm of satisfied customers)
As for the smoking, the phone and the door on the latch, he needs flogging.

tell him to p---iss off he,s a cowboy who gives good builders a bad name

I'd be very reluctant to pay him everything until the work is done. Can you agree to pay him in stages?

ya gonna have to pay him, else ya might find ya got NO Kitchen if ya don't. But I would suggest as far as the skip concerned get the price in writing from the company you phoned & present the builder with that and tell him that's the maximum ya gonna pay for the skip. As far as the rest goes in future I would go to a reputable builder as then you will have a come back if there is any problems....oh and by the way I would suggest you have your locks changed if ya know what I mean !!!!!!!

Don't pay him until he has done all the work and refuse to pay the extra 拢500. It is his own fault for underpricing you. He should have done his sums first!!

if it's a friend of a friend, maybe you could ask the friend who recommended him? Don't say 'I think your mate's trying to rip me off', just casually bring it up. And tell the builder that it's a no smoking flat, and if he does it again you're perfectly happy to find yourself another builder, and they can have the extra cash.

Don't be bullied!

You can say no, change your locks and kick him out. he cannot prosecute for non payment, since he is not legal , and you can report him. then go out and get a legitimate company to do the work - it will cost you more but you won't have this guy cheating you.