Builders complain of cowboy customers

 Builders have complained that they are falling victim to “rogue customers” who ask for discounts and demean their work. Some have even been attacked by owners’ dogs.

A survey of almost 400 builders and other tradesmen and women by insurance firm AXA revealed that four out of five had costs disputed after work was finished. Gareth Howell, managing director of AXA, said: “We live in a society which tends to look down on skilled manual work. It’s hard to imagine someone in a white-collar role encountering such high levels of harassment or casual disrespect.”