Shoddy workmanship

MalonsMilk

Ah got you. Citizens advice have said to us to get 2/3 quotes which we have done. We also found that The roofer also did unnecessary work and tried to charge it but there is no documentation of this on paper. Would we have to pay for this on top? The roofers who have come by have said they have never seen such shoddy workmanship in their careers. Feel so naive at the moment. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

MalonsMilk said:

We also found that The roofer also did unnecessary work and tried to charge it but there is no documentation of this on paper. 

That one is probably more complicated. 

Can you advise what work specifically and how much extra he was trying to charge.

MalonsMilk said:

 Feel so naive at the moment. 

For years "roofers" having been going up in lofts with a piece of rotten wood in their back pocket and then telling the homeowner their roof is done and needs a complete redo. 

The average persons knows next to nothing about roofs unless there's water coming in or they can see tiles/slates falling off. 

Very easy to get caught out IMO, don't be too hard on yourself  

born_again

MalonsMilk said:

Hi since this post I have contacted citizens advice as the guidance suggested to get it sorted diplomatically. I don’t think it’ll get sorted diplomatically though as he is a complete rogue trader. They have advised to ask for a refund and directed me to do a chargeback on the payment. We are due to send the termination letter to him and then the next step is to send a 14 day refund letter. After that point we go onto claiming the money via visa and if that doesn’t work small claims court. I’ll keep updating you as we go. 

How did you pay for the work?

As chargeback only cover debit & credit cards.

MalonsMilk

We paid via debit card

MalonsMilk

The extra work was adding strengthening batons to the base of the rafters as he found they were wet however he kind of put us on the spot and said at that point he wouldn’t be able to give us a guarantee for the work he’d done which is laughable now that I think about it. We found him on checkatrade so thinking about going to then as well to tell them that he’s a complete cowboy. 

born_again

MalonsMilk said:

We paid via debit card

Speak to your card provider before you take any other action. Or you risk making any option for a chargeback void.

MalonsMilk

I think we will play it safe and just get the difference. I just want this whole debacle to end and have a roof that isn’t leaking. I have contacted the police today after roofer low key told us that he had been doing drive bys of the house and said he wants what he is owed. We have young children and im scared that he will move to threatening us or destroying our property. Sleepless nights and money worries are stopping on me from even eating at the moment. I just hope it works out for us. 

PHK

Did you get a surveyor to check the work (as you first said) or another roofer (as you've now said)?

Reason being the first would give you a strong case should it come to court, the second is a weaker case as the first roofer can characterise the second's comments as equivalent to a cowboy sucking in air and saying "this is going to cost you mate"

Best to be prepared for a defence. 

MalonsMilk

The roofer we have got is what is known as a competent roofer meaning he is able to Sign off all of his work to building ref standards rather than getting a building inspector to come by afterwards. We have taken photos etc of all the mess they’ve caused and I’m confident that we are in the right and doing things accordingly enough if it were to get to court. I’m more worried that he will get violent if anything and for our roof just to get fixed. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

MalonsMilk said:

The extra work was adding strengthening batons to the base of the rafters as he found they were wet 

I'm not expert but that sounds a bit odd to me.

I would have thought your rafters should only be wet if there is a leak (or your roof has been stripped in the rain), wet wood isn't a problem, rotten wood, caused by wood becoming wet and staying wet, would be a problem so either new roof = no more leaks so no more wet rafters or problems from old roof = rotten rafters which need (perhaps in part) replacing. 

I don't see what difference some extra battens are going to make if the rafters are/start to rot. 

MalonsMilk said:

The roofer we have got is what is known as a competent roofer meaning he is able to Sign off all of his work to building ref standards rather than getting a building inspector to come by afterwards. 

Do you mean the new person who looked at the first person's work? 

MalonsMilk said:

 I’m more worried that he will get violent 

Hopefully the first guy is just bluster rather than genuinely unhinged