Would we be within our rights to put up a sign in our front garden advising people not to use the firm that botched our driveway? What guarantee do we have that we would get our money back if we were successful in bringing a case against them in court?
If you put up a sign in your front garden you will have a defence against a libel action if what you say is true but you would probably gain more satisfaction from winning compensation from the firm in court. You could discuss your complaint with the council’s trading standards officers initially. You will have to decide for yourselves whether the company would have any money or assets to meet a judgment against it (assuming you have an address). There’s no point in going to court if you think it wouldn’t.