Shocked at roofers response to rejected quote

higgledy-piggledy

Been browsing this forum for a long time and first time posting so please be gentle ☺️

Short version - just told a roofer (out of politeness I thought) we were going with someone else for some roofing works rather than blank him. Response = “thank you for wasting my time and I really hope they do a poor job”. Is this normal? I feel quite shocked and upset at this and not sure whether to respond. I also want to make sure if I have made a mistake here that I don’t repeat it when looking for future tradespeople. I genuinely want to learn from this unpleasant experience.

Long version - I need some works done to a shared parapet wall and chimney and as normal obtained more than one quote. This was with much difficulty, especially as I had to liaise with next doors landlord who I had never met before (he is completely reasonable thankfully!) as this is very much a party wall and problems are equally on both sides.

One roofer (found on Nextdoor app) was quick to come out and quote and at first seemed the most professional (most didn’t respond or had too much work already). The only issue was he didn’t seem to grasp the fact this was to be joint with next door (I made this very clear). 

The first quote appeared to be for both sides and he then kept chasing me almost daily to respond to him as he wanted to put the works in the diary, but I said we still hadn’t received other quotes yet and so needed more time. 

I started feeling a bit uncomfortable with his pushiness but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially as it was proving difficult to get any other interest for the work. 

He offered to meet my neighbour so came back round and then revealed that the quote he sent me was for my side only. So of course the quote goes up by quite a lot! He also wanted a large upfront deposit of around 65% for materials (total quote c. £3.6k). 

We naturally continue to pursue other quotes at this point (which proves difficult), and the roofer continues to chase me / try to persuade me to have my half done separately. I tell him this isn’t an option. He also tried to suggest that my neighbour was being difficult/unreasonable and he thought I was ok with the quote before he came out the second time (I was ok with it before he clarified it was only for half and always told him it would be a joint decision). 

He often kept me on the phone for 15-20 minutes at a time (I am terrible at being assertive when trying to end a conversation). Getting more and more nervous at why he seemed so desperate for the work, I asked him if he would provide a reference if asked and he said yes (though I never actually asked him to go ahead with this). I also asked if he would consider a lower upfront payment as 65% seemed high before any works took place (total quote c. £3.6k). Reasonable questions I thought and I hadn’t ruled him out completely at this point.

We finally got another quote through this week which seemed much more reasonable (as he said the lead work almost certainly didn’t need to be replaced) and from someone my neighbour had personal experience with. After several messages and 3 missed calls this afternoon I messaged him to say we had gone with someone else and thanked him for his time etc. He then came back with that very rude and unprofessional message! 

This all took place over the course of 1 month and if anything I feel like he wasted my time, not the other way round. 

What did I do wrong (if anything)? I really want to avoid something like this again and really struggle with any bad feelings like this 😔Should I reply (my instinct is no)? Might I need to worry that he’ll come and damage my property (ok an impossible q to answer really!)? I feel really uncomfortable about it and can’t forget about it easily but perhaps that is the only thing to do!

If you’ve made it this far then thank you and I appreciate any opinions or advice 🙏

Swipe

Don't worry about him and don't reply. It sounds like you had a lucky escape IMO.

Jeepers_Creepers

You really don't know what you did wrong?! Lawdie!

You asked him for a quote. You kept him informed that you were obtaining other quotes. You kindly allowed him to blab on and on and on and on whenever he wanted to try and coerce you into going with him. And then you let him down gently when you went with someone else.

Come on! Next time, be a completely inconsiderate coward like the rest of us. Shield phone calls and ignore them when it's a tradespeep you don't want to hear from. Simply go quiet when you choose someone else and leave the others wondering what's going on. Put the phone down if they drone on for more than 4 minutes. Cross the road if you see them on the same street. Blab out something like "Must dash - my child's been kidnapped" if they try and accost you.

I really hope you've learned from this experience, and will sink as low as the lowest of the low folk you ever have to deal with in future.

Or, as Swipe says - you've had a narrow escape. That all smacks of desperation for work, and you don't have to wonder why.

What a twit. (No, not you - 'im :-)  )

higgledy-piggledy

Thank you for your brutally honest (and amusing 😂) post. I will absolutely follow your advice from now on - I am a newbie homeowner and am finding my feet! It now all seems so obvious where I went wrong... I have now blocked him so he can’t contact me anymore and hope that’s the last I’ll hear of him.
Now I just have to hope that the guy we are going with does a good job. At least he is not asking for anything upfront (though I would understand being asked for something, especially with the materials shortage I understand the industry is facing!). Thanks again and to you too Swipe. 

Rosa_Damascena

OP its clear you're better off without this roofer, he would have been nothing but trouble.

Mickey666

higgledy-piggledy said:

Thank you for your brutally honest (and amusing 😂) post. I will absolutely follow your advice from now on - I am a newbie homeowner and am finding my feet! It now all seems so obvious where I went wrong... I have now blocked him so he can’t contact me anymore and hope that’s the last I’ll hear of him.
Now I just have to hope that the guy we are going with does a good job. At least he is not asking for anything upfront (though I would understand being asked for something, especially with the materials shortage I understand the industry is facing!). Thanks again and to you too Swipe. 

I entirely agree with the previous posts - a narrow escape indeed!

Any tradesman asking for money up-front would be a red flag for me.  This is because any reputable tradesman or building company will have a credit account with all their regular suppliers, so there's really no excuse for a reputable tradesman asking for money up-front . . . unless there are no builders merchants who will give them a credit account.  If that's the case you have to ask yourself why that would be?

The currently reported shortage of building materials is irrelevant to being asked to pay up-front. 

If the job is large and spread over many weeks/months then of course it's reasonable to make stage payments, but the golden rule is to never pay for any work that isn't completed or for materials that are not in your control (ie delivered to your property).  Imagine if the builder disappeared into thin air tomorrow, never to be seen again (it happens!) - it would certainly be inconvenient but as long as you haven't paid for anything up-front then at least you won't have lost any money.

Anyway, good luck with your roofer - the fact that he's not asking for money up-front is a good sign!  And don't think that all builders are rogues because they're not.  In fact there are some really good ones out there.  The problem is that they are hard to find because they ARE really good!    Basically, beware of anyone who can start work tomorrow and asks for money up-front!!

Jeepers_Creepers

higgledy-piggledy said:

Thank you for your brutally honest (and amusing 😂) post. I will absolutely follow your advice from now on - I am a newbie homeowner and am finding my feet! It now all seems so obvious where I went wrong... I have now blocked him so he can’t contact me anymore and hope that’s the last I’ll hear of him.
Now I just have to hope that the guy we are going with does a good job. At least he is not asking for anything upfront (though I would understand being asked for something, especially with the materials shortage I understand the industry is facing!). Thanks again and to you too Swipe. 

NOOOOOOO! I was kidding! Remain your thoughtful self. This twit was a one-of, and most will be great. So keep 'nice'

higgledy-piggledy

Thank you Mickey - wise words. 

Jeepers, I’ve obviously a balance to strike 🙄 (and have never been good at spotting sarcasm 😂). The plan is to spot the signs (much) earlier and not get into this situation again so I can remain my normal self 😊Thank you! 

Rosa_Damascena

If there is any learning to be done I would suggest it sits with the roofer. Perhaps he should give some thought to his methods of engagement?

twopenny

"This twit was a one-of," Nooooooo

Took 18mts to find someone to paint my house.

One didn't like heights and needed a friend. not using him resulted in him not speaking to me for a year.

One did't want to come in good weather because he wanted to be out on his boat. Not using him resulted in not speaking to me for more than a year.

In the end I went with a neighbour in the profession. He didn't turn up, didn't inform me, didn't answer phone calls.

When I found someone the neighbour stood outside his door and watched. Though we're still speaking.

I too thought I should inform people if I wasn't taking their quote but was told by a friend in trade on no account to do this. They were used to it. And to be fair I've had more blank me with not informing me they didn't want the work than I have rejected.

You are not alone Higgledy Piggledy! All a mystery to me.

FreeBear

twopenny said: You are not alone Higgledy Piggledy! All a mystery to me.

I have had quotes for work ranging from the "OK, that's reasonable" through to the "F.... me, waaay to much". Had one guy quote me for some groundworks and flew off the handle when I told him his price was way over budget... Lost count of the number of roofers I've contacted to give a quote and haven't turned up. If any started to hassle me for a response, they would get told to go away. I'll decide in my own good time.