Dispute with roofer over added labour costs.

lisaw01

Any advice appreciated!

I had a new roof last year and agreed the price given which included labour!! 

Work started later than expected. I was left with roof open to elements of weather for at least 3 weeks and had rain damage in 3 bedroom ceilings. Also had joist come through ceiling and a brick through the bedroom wall. We said not to worry these things happen. He came and went as he pleased doing other jobs elsewhere in between.  He said some joists were rotten and would be extra and out new noggings in roof extra and did a few bits of cement work and put a vent in roof we agreed the work needed to be done but no extra costs agreed. Finally he completed a 2 week job about 5 months down the line . We paid the bill in full of nearly £11,000 and we’re just waiting for the bill for extras.  He gave me a bill for nearly £400 materials which I can live with but £6,300 labour for 240 hrs.  I don’t think he spent that long on the whole job.  I have paid the £400 materials and questioning the labour  but he would not discuss and now is sending threatening and intimidating texts messages that he will come and remove my roof to recoup he's losses.  I’ve been to the police, no real help and had advice from citizens advice and consumer rights on what to do  and they will refer to trading standards. This is all well and good but he’s still threatening to come around.  What do I do? Can he legally start removing my roof.  I’m obviously stressed and very upset by this and he seems a nasty piece of work.  I have 7 days left till he sends a team around  and will also charge me for this too. 

Ectophile

240 hours would be 6 weeks at 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  If that just the extra work?

£11000 sounds like rip-off prices to me, but he's decided that he can rip you off some more.

tacpot12

He can't legally start removing the roof. He will be causing criminal damage if he does, and you can and should call the police to stop him.

His hourly rate is reasonable, but it's hard to see how he and his team did 240 hrs work on the extras if the roof was done in two weeks. it's also hard to justify a labour bill of £6,300 to fit £400 of materials. Normally the cost of materials and the labour that uses them aren't too different. What's your recollection of how long the extra works took to comeplete?  

If you have home insurance, check to see if you have legal expenses cover. If you do, call the legal helpline immediately for advice. They might mention you can still counter-claim for the damage to your property. 

You might need to offer him something, e.g. £2500  - this would reasonable if you accept that it took three people a week to do the extra work. 

What did Citzens Advice/Consumer Rights say to do? 

lisaw01

He had a labourer working for him for about 5 weeks . The hours were anything from 2 hrs to 6 hours max when they did arrive and he would not show up for days as he was off doing other jobs. It took him about 4-5 months to complete the work because of this.  

I will check my insurance as I’m sure I’m covered for legal advice. I have also contacted a solicitor.  

Consumer rights have told me to write him a letter , under the consumer rights act he should have given me a price and agreed before carrying out further work.  

They said to ask what he’s complaint procedure is.  (He won’t have one) 
to ask for a fair reasonable price for the extra work carried out.
they told me to get quotes from others for work done and quotes for damage too. 

I understand everything they are saying but I’m sure he will still come around.  I thought the same he can’t remove as would be criminal damage and I will call the police if he turns up. It’s just so distressing and intimidating I can’t even leave the house or go to work due to the stress it’s causing. 

I contacted the police again to see if they can just inform him of this and if he feels we owe him money then he should follow the correct procedures of court claim. I’m still waiting to hear from them.  I hate confrontation and I’m trying to prevent things from escalating.