70 year old neighbour being ripped off by roofer 'friend', what should I do?

ormus

roofing contractors are currently working on my MIL estate. council refurbishing work.
ive been told they are replacing all the semi detached house roofs, for an average of 6k each.

trickys77

Thanks Ormus, that also ties in to my qoute range. So they are charging an elderly guy nearly 3x what he should be paying.

I will speak to next door again and try and follow up.

roddydogs

trickys77 wrote: »

Midlands. I had 6 qoutes ranging £3200 and £5800. Using most of the old tiles so just batton, felt and re-lead:

Full house scaffold for a week - £500
Felt - £500
Battons, nails, cement etc etc - £300
Lead - £200
20% wastage on tiles - £100
1 days work for 3 guys (remove tiles & setup) - £600 (assuming £200 a day per person)
3 days work for 2 guys (felt, batton & tile) - £1200 (assuming £200 a day per person)

Total - £3400

I don't see why it would cost much more than this?

....£18,000 is totally out of the question for installing roofing felt and still using all the old tiles.

Thanks, I thought you meant a "New" Roof with new tiles, still a good price, thou.

mackemdave

Why not take the bull by the horns and talk to the guy that is doing the work and tell him how much you paid and that you know how much they are charging your neighbour and as you feel your neighbour is vunerable then you are going to get a third pparty involved to monitor the situation.....Also could you get the company that did your roof to look at what is happening with your neigbours roof to see if it justifies the £18,000......the cowboys next door are going to know that any outside intrusion has been initiated by yourself so be honest....Id also get your roof checked out after the cowboys have finished their work

misgrace

Part of me wants to tell you to front them as I cant stand anyone getting ripped off, specially seniors, and I always jump in lol
Similar happened to me when I was decorating an old ladies lounge, she had her wits about her, but came across as very nervous and highly strung.
She had answered an ad in the thompsons local, or local paper, she was after a handyman/gardener of sorts, just to come and cut/clear her trees and bushes, she didnt have any grass so there was no weeding, as her little back garden was paved.
So she calls the guy up who advertised himself as handyman/gardener, and as I was working in her lounge on a lovely summers days the patio doors were open so I could see and hear everything.

Anyway, 3 men turned up, and they were big bruisers, so this started alarm bells straight away, as she was under the impression it was a man on his own.
She was telling them what she wants doing, and the 3 men were talking at her all at the same time, and I could see she was getting stressed.
I waited a bit so I could hear what they were saying, it turns out they wanted £500 between 3 of them to cut the bushes/trees and take it away, it would take the 3 of them just the 1 day.
The were trying to hurry her up to make a decision, and I could hear her saying, 'I'll have to think about it', but they were keeping on at her.

In the end I went out, and am only little, but I turned to the men and said the lady wants to think about it, your not giving her a chance to think etc, one of them bent down to me and spoke in my ear and said, 'why dont you get the f&&& out of here and mind your own business' 'its f&&& all to do with you', and a few more choice words into the bargain.
I was shaking, as I did feel threatened by them, but I wouldnt let them get away with it, so I said if you dont %$&* off, then I am calling the police.
The left, but with some threats to me, 'if i see you around on a dark night' that sort of thing.
The old dear was shaking and very upset, I was only there to decorate her lounge lol, and now I'm taking on 3 bully boys.
I said to her I will do it for her after I have finished her lounge, but will have to be at the weekend.

I go back and I did the job, I started at 8am, cut back trees/bushes, bagged up, swept up, loaded it in my van, and was finished by 12-30 -1.00.

The old dear only tries to hand me the £500 :eek:, I thought, flippen eck, has she lost it, I told her I dont want £500, thats the reason I offered to do it, so she didnt get ripped off by them, it only took me a few hours, so I charged an hourly rate for the job, bless her, she gave me a tip as well.

But I was watching my back for the next couple of weeks, just incase....

If the old boy is a little bit senile, then it might pay to contact Age concern, as he might be on thier records, or you could get thier details and pass it onto the police, as its not right.

QTPie

Hope that you do something about it - absolutely disgusting: people who abuse kids of abuse (or take Advantage of) really ought to be shot...

Good luck.
QT

Errata

You could talk to these people http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/About%20AEA/about_us.htm who would advise you on a courses of action which would protect both you and the old chap.

trickys77

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Unfortunately it gets worse! I saw the roofer standing on the top of our fence and jumping between mine and my neighbours garden several times. The fence was not that strong in the first place so I had a word as they were starting to damage it. Whilst the scaffolding was being taking down they smashed the fence by standing on the top of one of the panels. (It's my neighbours side fence). My neighbour came around Monday to tell me that the roofers damaged it and that he was therefore going to have to replace it. The roofers are doing the work and charging him £6000!

I feel physically sick that people can do this and still sleep at night. They turned up yesterday and already been using access from my house gate and broken the door (as I locked it). They've ripped all the old fence down and dumped it on my lawn/flower beds, soil everywhere on my land, the holes they’ve dug go around my neighbours paving (so not in a straight line and stealing some of my land), and they’ve smashed 2 of my large patio slabs. Total mess. The fence turned up today and it's cheap thin rubbish.

I spoke to his neighbour on the other side and she said that she was also concerned and has already contacted trading standards about them. I just hope they do something about it fast!

Errata

Call the police.

suisidevw

Now.......