A grandmother has been left with a leaking roof and a half-built extension - after paying a builder almost 13,000 to create a room fit for her dying friend<\/p>\n
Sandra Robinson says she spent her life savings and her funeral pot to provide 56-year-old pal Andy Hey with an en-suite bathroom and balcony at her Glan Conwy home. <\/p>\n
But she says she's been left with water flowing through her unfinished roof, damaging her kitchen and disrupting the electrics, and a builder who is no longer answering her calls.<\/p>\n
The 79-year-old formersecretary said she was now unable to sleep because of the \"nightmare\" but help is at hand after her plight went viral on socialmedia.<\/p>\n
A fundraising page received 800 in hours and several horrified local tradesman have volunteered to repair and finish the work for free.<\/p>\n
Mrs Robinson said all she wanted was an en-suite bathroom to make life a little easier for former cancer sufferer and live transplantee Andy, whom she cares for. She also wanted a small balcony so Andy could enjoy some fresh air as he is largely housebound.<\/p>\n
She said in August she employed a building firm who she had found recommendations for online.<\/p>\n
But she's been left with a half-finished extension covered by tarpaulin.<\/p>\n
Mrs Robinson, who helped bring up her two grandchildren following her daughter's death to cancer at the age of 28, said: \"All my money has gone, as has my daughter's and Andy, whom I'm caring for. He used money inherited from his mother so I feel just awful.\"<\/p>\n
\"The builder quoted me at first 10,000 then it became 11,000, and then I had to use my own funeral pot to find almost another 2,000 to get to the stage it has got to.\"<\/p>\n
She says she was then asked for another 1,000 but the bank refused because she was overdrawn.<\/p>\n
Since Mrs Robinson couldn't withdraw the extra money, her builder hasn't come back to complete the job and she said he is no longer returning her calls.<\/p>\n
\"It's a nightmare of the worst kind, I can't sleep as I'm constantly worried,\" she added.<\/p>\n
However after calling a local bricklayer David Spencer to review the situation there may be light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\n
Mr Spencer was so horrified by what he saw, he took photographs and posted them on social media telling people what had happened.<\/p>\n
Within hours he was contacted by scaffolders, plumbers and plasterers and others from the building trade - all offering their services for free. He also launched a fundraising page which raised 800 for Mrs Robinson in just hours.<\/p>\n
He said: \"I couldn't believe the state the housewas in. I felt so sorry for her and I wanted to help.<\/p>\n
\"When I put the post on Facebook my phone started going mad with people wanting to help and we are determined to sort this in as SOS rescue kind of way.\"<\/p>\n
He added: \"But this goes to show you shouldn't pay in advance for a job like this.\"<\/p>\n
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Read more: <\/p>\n
Gran paid 13k for an extension and her home was left like this - Daily Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A grandmother has been left with a leaking roof and a half-built extension - after paying a builder almost 13,000 to create a room fit for her dying friend Sandra Robinson says she spent her life savings and her funeral pot to provide 56-year-old pal Andy Hey with an en-suite bathroom and balcony at her Glan Conwy home. But she says she's been left with water flowing through her unfinished roof, damaging her kitchen and disrupting the electrics, and a builder who is no longer answering her calls. The 79-year-old formersecretary said she was now unable to sleep because of the \"nightmare\" but help is at hand after her plight went viral on socialmedia Continue reading