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

margaretclare

You don't have to be 'old' or senile to be ripped off by cowboys. I recall it happening to us (my late first husband and me) in the hot summer of 1976. No rain for 3 months, just as well, because the 'roofers' we engaged were using it to sunbathe!! If it had rained at any time in that summer we'd have been flooded out.

We recently had the roof of this 2-bed bungalow re-done, former asbestos tiles completely replaced with modern concrete tiles, extra strengthening to the joists, breathable membrane, the lot. Approx £3600 if I remember correctly.

DH and I always ask for opinions from those who know. We're lucky in that we're surrounded by people in the building trades. To find a reputable roofing firm we asked a man 2 doors down, who immediately recommended a small local firm. Since then 2 of our neighbours, seeing the work being done, have had theirs done by the same firm. All are completely satisfied.

£18,000 is way, way, way too much. Also it is not acceptable to invade your premises to get at the neighbour's roof, not without your permission. Your local Trading Standards Authority may be helpful.

jwil

Errata wrote: »

Call the police.

I agree, they can't get away with that, and damaging your property as well, surely?

Yorkie1

Definitely call the police. They have committed criminal damage.

If you can get their vehicle registration number, any photos of them without them knowing, that would be useful evidence if identification was an issue. Also photos of the damage.

I know that Trading Standards are generally very interested in people being ripped off. Contact them too.

You could perhaps tell your elderly neighbour that you don't want paying for the fence but that you will be contacting the authorities about the cowboys. Sort of pay-off if you like. He's so upset about your fence that he may not mind as much about that now.

trickys77

Thanks everyone.

Not sure I have enough evidence to call the police so would be a waste of time and could cause alot of trouble. I've taken all the registration numbers, found a local ad for them, got their phone numbers and some photos. I've reported them to trading standards and I hope that they will act on this.

Unfortuantly however the guy involved next door still thinks that this cowboy is a personal friend and that he is looking out for him. It turns out that he has known him for years and he's been doing all his DIY for him over the years! He still believes that the roof and fence were a reasonable cost and he paid extra for a 'quality product' that will last years....I hate to think how much much he's been charged for the other DIY jobs!!!

By the way the fence was my neighbours responsibility not mine so I have not had to pay. I would have paid half but no way to these guys. The finished fence used concrete posts only dug in around 1 foot and using 4 foot fence panels (installed the wrong way around as I now have the unfinished side). It looks crazy as the posts extend way past the fence panels by about 2 or 3 feet and all the posts finish at different heights.

Errata

At least you've done something and if TS have anything untoward on file about the builder it will add to their interest.
I can't imagine what £6k of fencing in a suburban garden looks like, despite your description. Perhaps it's more a modern art installation than summat to mark a boundary ?

omen666

When you contact Trading Standards and inform them it is a elderley person they will attend immediatley there is a new teamthat deal with this withing TS. I would call them ASAP and they will inform you to contact them when the builders are next onsite, they will also bring the old bill with them. Have yuou contacted TS as I only skim read

Edit: I see you have, did you do this verbally/phone or online?

27col

I am not quite sure how you can have someone in to do your DIY jobs. By definition, DIY is something that you do yourself.

trickys77

omen666 wrote: »

When you contact Trading Standards and inform them it is a elderley person they will attend immediatley there is a new teamthat deal with this withing TS. I would call them ASAP and they will inform you to contact them when the builders are next onsite, they will also bring the old bill with them. Have yuou contacted TS as I only skim read

Edit: I see you have, did you do this verbally/phone or online?

I did this online. No result seen so far.

The guy has now forked out for a new gate to his drive, when there was nothing wrong with the old one...Again it was recommended by his 'friend'. I didn't want to ask how much he was charged for it.

skiddlydiddly

Its disgusting how people take advantage of others like this, especially the elderly.The lowlifes that do this are nothing but scum.