Help! I think I'm about to be ripped off by a Roofing Company...

Lauraou20

Hi All

I wonder if anyone can help me please. Long story short I own a flat in a converted house, we self manage. We employed a roofing company to fix a parapet, some tiles, and paint the building for a fixed sum. They turned up for 2 hours, 'say' they replaced the tiles, and could not do the other work. That was nearly 3 weeks ago. They said they would call me ref the remaining work (parapet) repairs and have not, despite me chasing them many times.

They have called today asking for £1200+VAT for the scaffolding and tiles that they say they have replaced. I have photos of the roof before and after and have had a builder look at the roof, all which say they have not done any work whatsoever. I did not agree to this price. I'm not even sure they would need the scaffolding for just the tiles. The previous quote I recieved for the tiling alone was £220+VAT.

The boss is meant to be calling me back today. Can anyone help me assess where I stand or what I should do?

Many, many thanks.

PS The original quote was 'all in', not broken down...

macman

Did the original quote include the scaffolding?-that alone would be more than £220.

Acc72

Just a few questions :

Do you have a contract / quotation as to what work be done and for what cost ?

Was the work broken down ?

What work have they claimed to have done ?

What work have they done ? - did they just erect the scaffolding and not do any work ?


Also, they "rang" you for £1,200 + vat - again, is there any paper trail : have they given you a vat invoice ? (a vat invoice must include the companies vat registration number - this can be checked by ringing HMRC).

On the face of it, this "company" sound dodgy and you and the other flat owners need to stick together on this.

Firstly, I would not get involved in telephone conversations etc. The next time they call, ask them to put everything in writing (adressed to the comittee or whatever) and include a vat invoice.

You will then reply in due course, again in writing.

Your reply would then state that you haver had the roof inspected and it appears that no work has been done (or at least the work is not to your satisfaction).

You will not pay until the work has been completed to your satisfaction - you could even put in that you will firstly have any work inspected by the Council / Trading Standards (this may not exist, but it might put them off).

Lauraou20

Thank you both very much for your replies - to answer your questions...

Macman - no, the scaffolding was £620 on top for hiring of scaffolding for the duration of the job (approx 3 days)

Acc72 - I have a quotation but the cost is 'all in' at the end, not broken down. The works descriptions were broken down but most of it they now say they can't do. They said they would find someone who could and get a quote for this but they have not. They claim to have replaced the tiles but they appear not to have judging by the photos and the builder. Plus I know they were only here for 2 hours... I am 99% sure they simply erected the scaffolding and that's it so far. I have not received an invoice (and did not agree the price for this bit of the work). I have asked for them to email me to confirm what they say the have done and for a breakdown of costs but have not received it.

I will definitiely get everything in writing. They're quite aggressive, I think they're going to try to bully me into paying so I'll be sure to keep a recird of everything.

phill99

If they haven't replaced any tiles and you can see thay haven't then thats fraud. Tell them so and that you have discussed it with the police. I wouldn't pay them a penny.

nickj_2

phill99 wrote: »

If they haven't replaced any tiles and you can see thay haven't then thats fraud. Tell them so and that you have discussed it with the police. I wouldn't pay them a penny.

i would have a word with trading standards at the same time

tpt

if you havent recieved a VAT invoice (forget the quote!) then dont pay!

ormus

if the tiling has been done properly then pay the original tile quote of 220 quid.
(assuming they supplied the quote) the above is not too clear.
(i assume they replaced the tiles from a ladder).

dont pay anything else and dont let them near the roof again. or the house.
find a proper builder.

Greenst

I had my roof checked back in the summer had a lovely roofer come and quote he was not only cheapest quote but did job following week sent me a quote to repoint the ridge tiles, replace any broken tiles put back any dislodged tiles and clean the whole roof and gutters of moss, it was really bad as had not been looked at for years. Admittedly they didn't need scafolding and I had spare tiles up in the garden, but all in it was about 3/4 days work for 2 men and cost £450.

Lauraou20

Thank you all, you're certainly helping me feel more positive about it all. I haven't been on the roof myself but my builder friend says nothing appears to have been replaced at all. They rang yesterday afternoon demanding payemnt but I said not until I get a phonecall and an email detailing all the work they have 'done'. So far no response.

tpt - I haven't had an invoice, nor did I agree these costs. They did the tiles THEN told me it would cost £1200+VAT just for that...

Acc72

Lauraou20 wrote: »

I will definitiely get everything in writing. They're quite aggressive, I think they're going to try to bully me into paying so I'll be sure to keep a recird of everything.

They will possibly continue to ring and try to force you to pay by being aggressive.

If they ring again, just say that they need to send you a full written breakdown of the work done and also a vat receipt and you will then go to the management committee, as you cannot just decide to pay or not pay on your own.

Don't take this all on your own. Let the other flat owners know what is happening and you all need to stick together and keep firm.

As others have said, at the first sign of any threat (even if it just being aggressive) then please report this to the Police and Trading Standards.