Roofers' ladders left in our garden

Lal05

Hello everyone. I would like to ask your advice as I am at a loss what to do...
We had ground workers doing some work in our garden earlier in the year. One of them turned out to be a roofer, we needed roofing work done so we agreed in August 18 an amount for him to do the roofing work. We thought he was trustworthy so gave him some money up front (won't do that again..) £600 in total - to hire a tower etc.
He dropped his ladders off at our house and then was let go by the ground workers company as he was unreliable. We haven't seen him since. He told me by text repeatedly that he was coming to do the work but never turned up so on 22nd October I asked for a refund. He agreed but the funds have never been returned. He has now claimed that he has a friend coming to collect the ladders and who will hand over cash - he has told me 10 different times now that his friend is coming so I think his friend does not exist.
I don't think I will get my money back - I don't have an address for him so can't go through the small claims process and I suppose if he has no money there's no point in chasing him for what doesn't exist.
How do I stand with the ladders? I don't want his roof ladders as they take up loads of room, can I dispose of them?
Thank you for any advice you may have - I am so fed up with the situation.

Rosemary7391

Have you tried asking for his address so you can return the ladders to him...? :whistle:

Lal05

Hello Rosemary7391, Yes, he won't reply and said he's moved to Leeds. The groundworkers don't know where he is. Also it would cost a lot to hire a van to take the ladders back to him. I think he wouldn't give me his address so I can't pursue him in the courts.

bertiewhite

Lal05 wrote: »

We thought he was trustworthy so gave him some money up front (won't do that again..) £600 in total - to hire a tower etc.
He dropped his ladders off at our house and then was let go by the ground workers company as he was unreliable. We haven't seen him since.

Sell the ladders to offset your loss. Keep all evidence of communication with him.

Lal05

Thank you bertiewhite, are we able to do that as the ladders are his property? Could we be liable for selling his stuff?

DCFC79

Lal05 wrote: »

Thank you bertiewhite, are we able to do that as the ladders are his property? Could we be liable for selling his stuff?

If it were me Id send a text saying if you don't collect the ladders by date x they will be sold.
Other posters will have some other advice.

powerful_Rogue

I'd keep/sell the ladders.
What's he going to do, take you to court?

Lal05

Thank you DCFC79 - I think that's the way forward. Yes powerful_Rogue - probably unlikely! Thank you both for posting.

bertiewhite

Lal05 wrote: »

Thank you bertiewhite, are we able to do that as the ladders are his property? Could we be liable for selling his stuff?

He owes you £600 doesn't he? You've already said he's ignoring you so I doubt you'll hear anything from him about anything, least of all about where his ladders are.

p00pieb0tt0m

It's a shame you don't have an address for him as an additional invoice for storage of his ladders could of been a lovely way of getting the money/more money from him.

George_Michael

p00pieb0tt0m wrote: »

It's a shame you don't have an address for him as an additional invoice for storage of his ladders could of been a lovely way of getting the money/more money from him.

That would be a good idea if it was legally possible but unfortunately it isn't.
For a contract (such as one for the storage fees for the ladders) to be binding, all parties to that contract must agree to the terms written into it.


If the OP tried to charge storage fees, the roofer could equally turn around and state that they were going to be charging for renting the ladders to the OP which is why they left them there.