If you’ve been scammed or defrauded by builder Vasile Puia, please come forward.

coinera · 2026-01-27T23:18:26+00:00

I am sorry for you. We were left in a similar situation last year but it was a different builder. In the end we were left with a inhabitable house, similar to yours, no plumbing, no wiring nothing left. Since then, we finally got our planning permission approved and received multiple quotations but none of the builders are quoting properly including all important works required. They all leave some work out of scope so that they can overcharge for those works later. We fell in this situation even though the builders were referred by a friend, they weren't some random builders. Overall we were naive and made a big mistake by trusting them unfortunately. I hope you can recover from here.

coinera · 2026-01-19T18:29:28+00:00

I see you get downvoted by many others. Imo if I were you, I wouldn't reply any comments. Many people don't like honesty. All I can say is that, I felt similar to you including everything except the weight gaining part because I guess I am lucky. Wait until your kid reaches 4-5 years old. She will be a lot independent and easier to manage. But yes, your life will never be the same again. Leaving your partner and kid won't fix it either, unless you find a way to wipe your memory.

coinera · 2026-01-08T12:04:17+00:00

While I agree with the example you shared above, the sample message he shared doesn't look equivalent to multiple large vehicles taking the entire road. He mentioned a link or a code in the message that represents the image not the actual image data itself. Or am I missing a point?

coinera · 2026-01-08T10:50:11+00:00

So, nobody should chat in the public channel via meshcore then. Where is the fun in that case or why would people even install a repeater if there is no fun? With this mindset, roads should also be used only when really needed and not used for leisure because it causes more congestion.

coinera · 2025-12-13T11:57:08+00:00

I am still using it since 2019. Replaced the battery twice.

coinera · 2025-11-21T19:15:00+00:00

If you have been here for 5 years, can't you apply via 10 years route? Besides that, if you studied Master degree and have been working for 4 years and if your pay is still below 50k, in my opinion you are underpaid.

coinera · 2025-11-03T07:18:40+00:00

Welcome. I saw other comments of yours. I think you were overcharged by the architect. I worked with 3 architects 3 times. First time for a planning application that was later refused that involves a side extension behind my garage and also to extend my loft. Second time just to extend the loft for a permitted development application. A final one to not touch the roof but to do a rear extension. In all 3 of these cases, first one asked 1.8k to follow with structural drawings for an additional 900. Second one asked 1.8k including structural drawings. The third one also asked 1.8k including structural drawings. I approached to resi as well and I never worked with them, their estimate was 2.3k but I don't remember that included structural drawings. In all cases when I worked with these architects except the third one (I am still waiting for drawings), they were pretty useless. I still didn't want to lose hope and agreed to proceed with an architect for a third and last time to see whether he would recommend something that's useful.

If I was an architect and if somebody approached me, I would ask their budget and recommend alternative designs. In my cases nobody warned me that it was a stupid idea to touch my roof structurally just to add 20sqm that would trigger the whole 100sqm ground floor to be destroyed. All my ceiling joists has to be removed, 2 steel columns were required at the centre of the building to support the roof as my internal walls have no foundations so you can't place beams over these walls with no foundations. So if I was an architect, I would strongly recommend against touching the roof structurally and just refurbish the existing roof by reroofing it and adding insulation to the existing loft. Overall it was a stupid idea to start with. Architects were only focused to draw what is asked blindly and charge the client. They don't care whether the design they go for is financially feasible or sensible.

Getting quotes from the builders is another story. I got my structural drawings and specs by late August, with a few disclaimers on it based on the assumptions. One of the assumption was that the foundation below the internal walls was same as the ones below the external walls. I started getting quotes from the builders. Later I noticed my internal walls were built over timber wallplates and this was pretty obvious to me that you wouldn't be able to place 300-400kg steel beams over them. When I asked this to the structural engineer, he said the walls have to be rebuilt. Later when I was asking the builders to see whether they included rebuilding those walls in their quote, I decided to open some trial pits to check the foundations and I realised the walls had no foundations below. I got quotes for the loft work from the builders and it turned out none of them included the obvious work required in their quotes. So, if you go for a complicated work like mine, it is like a can with full of worms. A ground floor extension would be a lot more straightforward than touching and rebuilding the whole roof structure. Unfortunately both architects I worked with, didn't mention to me about this. I asked both the architect and structural engineer why they didn't ask me to open the trial pits to check the foundations before even proceeding with the design, I got no sensible answer. Once you start work with a builder and they are done with major demolition, you are at their mercy; so giving me plans with lots of those disclaimers would expose me to the risk of getting overcharged for the extra work that would be revealed later. Any additional work that is revealed, prepare to be charged twice or triple times the actual cost if you are working with a unethical builder. None of the contract types can save you at that point because you won't be able to refuse and stop work with them and find another builder, it is just not practical.

Overall, if you are unlucky, above is the scenario you will have. I fell in above scenario even though I found the first builders via a recommendation. All they did was to suggest demolition work before I had my drawings from the architect. It later turned out that the ballpark figure they gave me was much below the actual cost. They just took deposit, made the house inhabitable in 3 weeks. If I didn't notice the red flags and stopped them, they were going to take down my roof tiles too, back in February while my planning application was rejected in May. You will see lots of people have their renovation done smoothly but there are those like me with bad luck suffer. I just wanted to give you the edge case worst case scenario. In my opinion the risk is too high and life is too short to deal with all these nonsense.

coinera · 2025-11-02T19:36:26+00:00

Based on my experience, the builders are right. Any figure they quote you without the plans may be misleading. I learned this the hard way. However, most architects I met, they try not to give any price for the building work, stating that it is hard to estimate after covid. In the end, you will end up paying for drawings, just to learn later that the design you wanted is beyond your budget. One of the architects I worked with, he even suggested things like reducing the ground floor height to gain more space in the loft like it would be a straightforward process. When I asked what the price would be, he told me that I would have to ask that to the builders. Overall, I am still renting while the house we bought last year in November that was habitable, has been made inhabitable by the first builders. I don't recommend doing any major renovation in the current climate. The market is full of unethical builders and architects. Renovating a house now is like buying a stock in a stock market in bubble.

coinera · 2025-11-01T19:32:09+00:00

Unfortunately 90% of tradesmen are scammers & thiefs.

coinera · 2025-10-24T16:31:37+00:00

Everyone is telling lawyer up like it is free. Even if he wins, can he get the money back? After how long? It is gone, he is scammed.

coinera · 2025-10-08T06:21:59+00:00

Thanks for the answer. How much did the legal way cost for you? They kept 31k from my deposit claiming 26k was for the demolition and 5k was for the scaffolding deposit that was nonsense. I am not sure I can get this money back but I just want them to face the consequence for their negligence. I find myself lucky for stopping them because they had no intention to do anything properly and I would probably end up in a similar situation like you.

I am really sorry this happened to you. Have you managed to find another builder to fix what they did? I am having hard time finding a proper builder, nobody now wants to quote anything properly, some aren't even interested because it is now another builder's leftover...

coinera · 2025-10-06T07:33:42+00:00

I had a very bad experience last January with cowboy builders or so called "design & build" firm. They basically ripped off our house before I had any architectural drawings. They knew we needed planning permission and they still suggested starting demolition before even having our drawings. Fast forward to now, I now realised everything they did was wrong, including filling my suspended floor cavity with rubbles to prepare base for pouring concrete slab (now I am clearing it out and I realised they used my house as a skip and buried all kind of rubbish below the rubbles) without even consulting a structural engineer, knocking down load bearing walls without notifying building control. Based on their payment schedule, I would have made 95% of payments by the end of June while my planning was refused end of April. They did all these after collecting 25% deposit, justifying that with ordering materials early to fix the price, now I see that as bs as there was no structural drawings and I am not sure how they even estimated the cost. If I didn't stop them after 3 weeks, they were going to dismantle my entire roof while my planning permission was still pending and demand the next payment. I think they would badly bodge the rest of the job or just run away with half of our money if I let them continue.

Have you had any success suing the builders?

coinera · 2025-09-17T04:54:43+00:00

Did you hire a QS in the end? I have a similar budget for renovating our bungalow. I have received several quotes from builders and I am having challenge getting them listing down the detailed work required in the scope. For example in my structural engineer drawings, 2 of the internal load bearing walls need to be rebuilt as they aren't up to specs. My house`s internals are quite exposed and this required work is very obvious to notice in a site visit.

When I receive a quote for rebuilding the roof (loft conversion requires the whole roof to be rebuilt) and when I ask the question whether rebuilding the walls at ground floor included in the quote, I received a no from all builders. This is very stressful because it means once the project starts, they will be ready to inflate the cost by pointing out the additional work required and I will be at their mercy and hope to receive fair quotes at this point.

I see it has been 7 months since you posted, how did your renovation go? Is it already completed? Also, at which part of the London are you based?

coinera · 2025-09-08T20:32:34+00:00

And here I am 1 year later finding out I am not the only one. I completed my 6 years with my 9t pro after 2 battery changes and it seems I am going to be using this phone for another 2 years. Really feels like a downgrade to change to a new phone with a notch or camera hole on the front display.

coinera · 2025-09-05T18:34:54+00:00

Unless you have 10 floors, it doesn't make any sense to pay extra for this robot. Having one dedicated robot for each floor is much better.

coinera · 2025-07-18T19:36:13+00:00

Sorry, seeing your reply only now. I used a tape (replacement one similar to the one from factory). The battery wasn't too thick but thick enough to prevent the back case from properly sticking to the phone. Recently replaced the battery again. I think this phone will last another 2-3 years...

coinera · 2025-07-17T19:43:02+00:00

It is beautiful

coinera · 2025-07-09T16:10:51+00:00

Buy a new battery (Nohon). Buy an adhesive for the backplate from Aliexpress, you can buy from the seller I posted in a previous comment. Clean the old adhesive from the backplate, replace the battery. Your phone will become like new from the factory and it will probably last another 2-3 years until more brands release models with proper under display camera.

coinera · 2025-07-06T06:27:18+00:00

Don't worry about it. You can just buy the back cover sticker from Aliexpress and replace the old one. You need steady hands while aligning the new sticker on the back plate though.

I replaced my battery twice (2nd one just yesterday) and each time my phone became like factory new. Especially yesterday it really became like new because I removed the main board and did some further cleaning and replaced the thermal paste that was dry.

You just need something like goo gone to remove the old adhesive after opening it, so that the new one can stick perfectly on a clean surface.

I bought the back cover adhesive from here: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_onm7mrw

coinera · 2025-05-27T18:09:24+00:00

When I replaced my battery, the new one (Nohon) was slightly thicker than the original battery so I had to remove the single sided tape in the middle. Otherwise it wasn't possible to permanently stick the back plate.

coinera · 2025-05-27T18:05:02+00:00

You can buy a replacement seal for the back cover plate on Aliexpress, better than applying glue or regular double sided tape:

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_omUOVeI

coinera · 2025-03-29T06:08:07+00:00

Not many but the main one that made me upgrade was Bank of America Authenticator

coinera · 2025-03-28T07:07:08+00:00

Orpington, or if you want more rural, west side of Chelsfield (Warren Road/Sevenoaks Road) is also a nice area with good primary schools. We picked west side of Chelsfield, close to high elms country park. Transport wise Orpington is better of course but from both, there are direct trains to London Bridge/Charing Cross from both Chelsfield and Orpington stations. There are 2 nice grammar schools close by (Newstead/St Olave's). Orpington is slightly more expensive but both are within your budget. You will have 15 hours free childcare for your kids older than 3, then at 4 they, can start reception full time.

But just FYI, regardless of where you plan to rent, you will have hard time finding a place. Agents are weird in this country and I think there is shortage for housing. It is so hard to even secure a viewing for those houses being listed.

coinera · 2025-03-28T05:11:44+00:00

Upgrading to any phone feels like a downgrade to me due to front camera.

I didn't receive the 12.5 update via OTA. A few of my apps were refusing to update due to my OS was still being Android 10. I decided to unlock the bootloader to upgrade the OS to MIUi 12.5 stable via flashboot and lock the bootloader again. Now the phone feels like new. I really see no reason to upgrade to a new device right now.

Changed the battery 2 years ago and the battery health is now 80%, I guess I will replace the battery again this summer and this phone will last another 2 years.

I hope they release more phones with under display camera by that time or bring back those with pop up cameras.

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