I am building the house for the first time and my builder has tricked me to spend some money from my pocket but he is not re-reimbursing the amount now.
The trick he used is for some work he would say that he doesn't have money at the time and asked me to spend from my pocket (cash withdrawn from my account) to fasten the process. Thinking that delay would cost me more rent (As I was renting then; builder didn't have clause to pay rent if delayed) I would pay him cash. The builder would say he will pay me back after the final payment. Now that final payment has been made the builder is saying that that there no money left for reimbursement.
He has not given me any single individual invoices or proof (I guess he was dealing with all tradies with cash). He has given me only builders invoices (which comes upto to the initial quoted amount). Is there any way to get all the invoices towards my construction cost to understand where I have overspent according to my builder.
I don't have any proof of money handed over to him as it was cash and he would only talk over the phone at that time.I know I am at fault here for not taking anything in writing. I am living in Australia only for the past 6 years and have never experience such thing from anyone so didn't expect this type of thing.
Any suggestion to recover the money is greatly appreciated.
Please don't discourage as I'm already under a lot of stress.
I call BS on this story.