There was no point in me asking questions about a job I knew I couldn't do at that short notice, but I did say I would stick it out on a forum for anyone who was interested.
It's not the first time a job of this sort has gone t-ts up. These types of organisation have little organisation skills or communication skills for that matter. I've had another member of this forum all set up for a joint job with myself months in advance, only for the contractor to cancell the job a couple of days before the date required. hence why I tend to steer away from them now.